Get Your Game On: Video Gaming the Library

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Get Your Game On Video Gaming _at_ the Library

• Instructor
• Beth Gallaway
• informationgoddess29_at_gmail.com
• An Infopeople Workshop
• Winter 2007

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This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople
Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project
supported by the California State Library. It
provides a wide variety of training to California
libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered
around the state and are open registration on a
first-come, first-served basis. For a complete
list of workshops, and for other information
about the project, go to the Infopeople website
at infopeople.org.
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Workshop Overview

• Defining games
• Benefits of games at the library!
• Defining the gamer
• Creating the gamer friendly library
• Collecting games
• Game programs
• Lets play some games!

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What is a Game?

• GAME activity engaged in for diversion or
  amusement synonym see FUN
• VIDEO GAME an electronic game played by means of
  images on a video screen and often emphasizing
  fast action

Merriam-Webster Online. http//www.m-w.com
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Game Components

• Console/Playing Device
• PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo
• Screen or Monitor
• Controller
• mouse, joystick, keyboard, peripheral device
• Power Source
• Game
• CD-Rom, cartridge, digital

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Game Play Devices

• Xbox
• Playstation
• Nintendo
• PC

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Game Controllers

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Mat
• Guitar
• Steering Wheel
• Drum
• Joystick
• Camera
• Controllers

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Game Screens

• Monitor
• Television
• Projector/Screen

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Ways to Play Video Games

• At an Arcade
• On a PC or Mac
• On a Plug n Play Device
• On a Mobile Device
• On a Handheld Device
• On a Console

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Plug n Play

• Plugs into your TV
• Play begins immediately

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PC/Mac Gaming

• Computer with a hard drive
• PC or Mac Platform

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Console Gaming Devices
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Handheld Gaming Devices

• 32 of households own a handheld device that
  plays games

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Mobile Gaming Devices

• Mobile gaming is expected to quadruple to 11.2
  billion by 2010

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Why Games at the Library?Games

• Are just like books, they are just another new
  format
• Are the medium of choice for the millennial
  generation
• Meet developmental needs of teens
• Build adolescents developmental assets
• Are literary
• Reinforce new literacy's

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Gaming literacy

• Environmental print
• signage
• labels
• maps
• Reading about the game
• instructions
• walkthroughs
• Writing about the game
• forums
• websites
• Chat
• WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g

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Gaming Meets Developmental Needs of Young
Adolescents

• Positive social interaction with adults peers
• Structure and clear limits
• Physical activity
• Creative expression
• Competence and achievement
• Meaningful participation in families, school,
  communities
• Opportunities for self-definition

NMSA. NMSA Research Summaries. Young Adolescents
Developmental Needs (1996)http//www.nmsa.org/Res
earch/ResearchSummaries/Summary5/tabid/257/Default
.aspx
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Gaming Builds Developmental Assets of Adolescents

• Support
• Empowerment
• Boundaries Expectations
• Constructive Use of Time
• Commitment to Learning
• Positive Values
• Social Competencies
• Positive Identity

The Search Institute. http//www.search-institute.
org
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Does This Sound Like Any Gamers You Know?

• Social
• Competitive
• Wired
• Self-aware
• Always On

• Heroic
• Multi-taskers
• Global
• Collaborative
• Risk Takers

Beck, John and Mitchell Wade. Got Game How the
Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever.
Harvard Business School Press, 2004.
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Learning Principles in Games

• Risk taking in a safe environment
• Rewards practice
• Use of affinity groups
• Probing cycles
• Situated meaning
• Self-knowledge
• Identity formation

Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to
Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.
Palgrave McMillan, 2003
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Gaming Reinforces New Literacies

• Exposing knowledge
• Employing information
• Expressing ideas compellingly
• Ethics on the Internet

Warlick, David. The New Literacies. Scholastic
Administrator. Mar-Apr2005 http//www.scholastic.c
om/administrator/marapr05/articles.asp?articlenew
lit
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1. Exposing Knowledge

• Find information
• Understand and explain found information
  regardless of its format
• Evaluate information
• Organize information

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2. Employing Information

• Computation
• Measurement
• Analysis
• Application

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Lemonade Stand

• Estimating
• Basic arithmetic
• Averages
• Statistics

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3. Expressing Ideas Compellingly

• Mechanics matter
• Creativity efficiency highly rated
• Text, images, audio, and video are used to
  express ideas in many digital formats

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Ways Gamers Express Ideas Compellingly

• Fan Fiction
• Machinima
• Web Comics
• Fan Forums
• Clan Websites

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Ethics on the Internet

• Modding recreating game content
• FanFic writing stories about characters
  created/owner by someone else
• Machina films/videos created through recording
  video game play

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How Can Libraries Serve Gamers?

• Use games to do readers advisory 
• Be a strategy guide
• Embrace your inner technogeek
• Be flexible embrace change!
• Immerse yourself in pop culture especially
  video game culture
• Try some games!

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1. Readers Advisory to Gamers

• INSTEAD OF
• What authors do you like to read?
• What are the last 3 books you read and enjoyed?
• What did you like about them?
• ASK
• What movies do you like?
• What TV shows do you watch?
• What games do you play?

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Roleplaying/MMORPG Games

• Games
• Everquest
• Runescape
• World of Warcraft
• Dark Age of Camelot
• Ultima
• Characteristics
• epic fantasy setting
• good vs. evil theme
• Suggest?

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Simulations

• Games
• The Sims
• The Urbz
• Characteristics
• Character driven
• Suggest?

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Historical Sim Games

• Games
• Civilization
• Caesar
• Age of Empires
• Oregon Trail
• Americas Army
• Characteristics
• Simulation elements
• Historical setting
• Alternative history possibility
• Suggest?

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Strategy Puzzle Games

• Games
• Myst
• Tetris
• Bejeweled
• Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?
• Characteristics
• Problem to solve
• Logic, math, reasoning
• Suggest?

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First Person Shooters (FPS)

• Games
• Doom
• Quake
• Halo
• Characteristics
• Warfare
• Strategy
• Violent
• Suggest?

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Japanese/Manga tie-in

• Games
• Katamari Damacy
• Final Fantasy
• Dragonball Z
• Pokemon
• Characteristics
• Anime style
• Japanese culture
• Suggest?

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Sports Games

• Games
• Madden Football
• NBA Street
• Need for Speed
• Tiger Woods
• Golf
• Characteristics
• Sports theme
• Competition
• Suggest?

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Superhero Games

• Games
• Spider-Man
• Fantastic Four
• City of Heros
• Characteristics
• Heroes/villains setting
• Good vs. evil theme
• Film tie-ins
• Suggest?

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Dont Forget Print Resources for Gamers

• Magazines
• Strategy guides
• Nonfiction about gaming
• Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot

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2. Be a Strategy Guide -- Not an Information Maven

• Dont be a level boss
• Show, dont tell
• Make it interactive
• Get them started with a free-for-all
• Ask for a demo of expertise
• Be open-minded

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3. Embrace Your Inner Technogeek

• Upgrade
• Get a screen name
• You cant break it
• Pilot projects
• Read tech news

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4. Be Flexible Embrace Change!

• Change the space
• Flexible furnishings
• Say yes
• Go meta
• Customize
• Change yourself

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5. Immerse Yourself in Pop Culture

• Pop Culture
• Hot High Tech
• Crossovers

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Especially Video Game Culture

• Watch Red Vs. Blue
• Read Penny Acade
• Read PvP
• Set a Google Alert
• Subscribe to a gaming podcast or blog
• Skim gaming magazines
• Pay attention to gaming around you in public
  spaces

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More Ways to Immerse!

• Join the LibGaming Google Group
• Email discussion for gaming in libraries
• Game On! Video Games in Libraries blog
• Blog about gaming news of interest to libraries
• Join YALSA and the Teen Gaming Interest Group
• YALSA interest group dedicated to gaming
• Celebrate Teen Tech Week
• Annual celebration of teens technology in
  libraries, March 4-10, 2007

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6. Try Some Games

• On the Internet
• On a Console

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Collection Management

• Storage depends on
• format
• staff
• space
• budget
• Theft
• start with programs
• start small
• Troubleshooting
• replacement/repair

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Theft

• Choose secure storage
• Build community
• Examine circulation policies

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Secure Storage

• Kwik Cases
• Locking Caps
• Locking Security Straps

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Troubleshooting

• Clearly label format
• Collections are self weeding collection
• Games can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol
• Scratches can be removed with cleaning devices
  for use with CDs DVDs

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Best Practices Collections in CA

• Rockridge Branch, Oakland Public Library
• Ages 13-18 year olds
• PS2 games
• Limit of 2 games per patron.
• No holds and no renewals.
• 7 day free checkout
• 1/day late fee
• 50 / replacement fee
• Genres sports, adventure, racing, fighting, and
  shooters.

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Best Practices Collections in US

• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit Public
  Library
• Games Rated E, E10 and T
• PS2 and PC games
• 14 day circ
• .25/day late fee
• game cost5/replacement fee
• Genres compilations, sports, racing games,
  platformers, unique and quirky titles

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Evaluating Games

• Plot
• Setting
• Character
• Graphics
• Soundtrack
• Modification/Customization
• Uniqueness
• ________________
• Replayability

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Plot

• Unique plot
• Compelling story
• Creative gameplay
• Multiple modes of play

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Setting

• Real physics
• Believable and consistent detail
• Physically plotable
• True to life

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Character

• Customizable
• Diverse
• Representation of the player

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Graphics and Game Physics

• Smooth
• Seamless
• Realistic
• Appropriate

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Soundtrack

• Music
• Speech
• Ambient Noise

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Support
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Finding Good Games

• Game Awards
• Websites
• Magazines
• Organizations
• Networks
• Game Reviews
• Magazines
• Library Journals
• Websites

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Exercise 7What Makes a Good Game?
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Collection Policy Considerations

• Formats
• Console
• PC
• Internet
• Subscription
• Breadth Depth
• Genres
• Styles
• Age ranges
• Budget

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Collection Management

• Storage depends on
• format
• staff
• space
• budget
• Theft
• start with programs
• start small
• Issues
• replacement/repair
• resistance

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Best Practices Collections in CA

• Rockridge Branch, Oakland Public Library
• Ages 13-18 year olds
• PS2 games
• Limit of 2 games per patron.
• No holds and no renewals.
• 7 day free checkout
• 1/day late fee
• 50 / replacement fee
• Genres sports, adventure, racing, fighting, and
  shooters.

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Best Practices Collections in US

• Helen McGraw branch of the Irondequoit Public
  Library
• Games Rated E, E10 and T
• PS2 and PC games
• 14 day circ
• .25/day late fee
• game cost5/replacement fee
• Genres compilations, sports, racing games,
  platformers, unique and quirky titles

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What Makes a Successful Gaming Program?

• Do your homework
• Provide variety
• Open up to the community
• Spread the word
• Play

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Program Tips

• Choose games appropriate to age group
• Choose multiplayer games
• Choose games with short rounds
• Offer two to three games in conjunction with
  board or tabletop games

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Free Play vs. Tournaments

• Both are structured
• Both may include other activities
• Emphasis is on fun
• Free play more casual, self-competitive
• Tournament more rules, competitive tone and
  prizes for winners

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Model Gaming Programs CA

• Santa Monica Public Library, CA Counterstrike
  LAN party
• After hours program
• 50 teens lined up around the block to play
• After School Zone, Benicia Public Library, CA
• Hanging out, snacks and playing games encourages
• Kids and teens who have gotten parental consent
  can play Halo 2 and Ghost Recon on the XBox 360
• Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Melee are
  popular on Gamecube

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Model Gaming Programs US

• Ann Arbor District Library (MI) Mario Kart,
  Super Smash Bros, DDR
• Tournaments for all ages
• Regular programs
• Online community
• North Hunterdon High School (NJ)
• Student-run game night in the cafeteria

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Evaluations

• Beth Gallaway
• informationgoddess29_at_gmail.com
• 603.247.3196
• http//informationgoddess29.com