Games and Gaming #37: Get Your Game On @ The Library

If your idea of library ambiance is “quiet as a tomb,” you may need to re-think your current model. How about “quiet as a Tomb Raider”? Gaming is making a loud impact on the library scene in a big way. Libraries all over the country (and even here in Harris County) are hosting Game Days, Guitar Hero Parties and Runescape events to generate an interest in what libraries have to offer and also to foster and encourage community partnership. One librarian even offered to waive late fines if a teen patron could beat her at a game of Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)!

Do Games Belong In the Library?

While still a controversial topic, statistics show that introducing video, console and web-based games into library settings promotes an interest in the other traditional services libraries provide. In other words, get the kids in to play and they’ll want to read. Natural progression…or wishful thinking? The other rationale is that games provide many of the same benefits as books:

• Games require advanced literacy
• Games overcome achievement gaps
• Games build critical workplace and life skills
• Games teach planning, strategy, goal-setting, competence, personal power, etc.

The New York Times also recently published an article on gaming in the library: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/books/22games.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Shifted Librarian has devoted an entire web log to technology trends in libraries. You can read more about gaming in her very informative blog: http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/04/21/more-on-how-gaming-promotes-reading-and-library-usage.html

Virtual Reference Desk

In 2000, Librarea, the first virtual 3-D library world was introduced by ActiveWorlds. Like social interactive games of today, users could log on as a character and access web-based reference materials and share professional ideas. Librarea is no longer active but librarians are finding new life in Second Life Library Project: http://infoisland.org

Library Related Games

Okay, so you work in a library and don’t “get” the whole gaming thing. You’re stubbornly attached to the idea that libraries are all about BOOKS. Period. Lucky for you, Carnegie Mellon has developed some on-line games that are right up your alley…or, shelf, as it may be:
http://www.library.cmu.edu/Libraries/etc/index.html

Exercises:
1) Choose one of the articles above on gaming in the library to read.

2) Try one of the library-related games on the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries website and play for about 15 minutes. Was it harder than you thought it would be?

3) Write a blog post on your thoughts regarding gaming in the library and how you think it will evolve. Do you agree that games belong in the library?

This post was brought to you by Michele McKian and Abigail Buchold.

Games and Gaming #36: The Wide World of Online Role Playing Games

Now that we've had an introduction on online games, we'll discuss Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, or MMORPGs. MMORPGs are computer games that involve large number of players interacting in a virtual world. As with other role playing games or RPGs (you've probably heard of Dungeons and Dragons, which is a good example of an RPG), players take on the role of a fictional character and control that character's actions in the game.

MMORPGs are distinguished from other computer games by the large number of players and the persistent world of the game, which continues to exist even when a player is logged out. Most MMORPGs are set in a fantasy world and contain common themes, some type of progression (developing a character and gaining experience and treasure), involve player interaction, and usually have some kind of in-game culture. Social interaction within the game is common, but usually is not required unless you need assistance from another player.

Let's look at just a few examples of the MMORPGs that are out there:

Runescape

Simpler to learn and play than World of Warcraft, Runescape does not require software purchase or a subscription fee. A good portion of the game is free and it can be played entirely online. Like WoW, the game is set in a fantasy world where players create a character and can interact with other players. With Runescape, however, players can decide what is important to them in play. They can complete quests, participate in combat, build craftsman skills, trade goods, or simply explore the landscape.

Players can choose to purchase a membership to Runescape that allows wider access to the world, but it is not required.

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft, or WoW, is the largest pay-to-play MMORPG at 10 million subscribers. The current edition is the fourth installment in Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft series, and takes place in a world called Azeroth after the events of Warcraft III. In WoW, you create a character avatar and work to gain experience by completing quests throughout the virtual world. When creating a character, you can choose from ten different "races" in two factions, the Horde or the Alliance. The character's race determines your abilities, appearance and starting location within the game. In addition to completing quests, you can join a guild to explore dungeons and fight in battles that allow you to gain more experience and acquire better items. You can also acquire special abilities and helper pets. Player interaction is mainly done by text-based chat, but there is also an option for voice chat that some players use. The rich storylines and complex landscape of World of Warcraft are what keep players coming back.

To play WoW, you must purchase software to install on your computer, and you must pay a monthly subscription fee, which is why we won't be visiting WoW in our exercises.

Chore Wars

Unmotivated at work or with your household chores? Chore Wars may be able to help! Chore Wars combines the drudgery of housework with an online role playing game that allows you to gain experience points or XP for chores you complete. Just like with other online RPGs you create a character, but you also create "adventures" for yourself such as doing the laundry, paying bills, or sweeping the kitchen floor. You can assign a specific amount of XP to each chore and then claim XP for that chore when you complete it. In game, you can also fight monsters for additional XP and treasure. You can turn your household chores or work tasks as a competition with members of your household or coworkers.

Chore Wars is entirely web-based and free to use.

Second Life

While technically not an MMORPG, Linden Lab's Second Life is still worth mentioning as it is a large-scale environment where people from all over the world can interact and explore a virtual landscape. You create an avatar, just like in a MMORPG, only you do not complete quests, fight monsters, or gain experience. The main purpose of Second Life is a higher level of social interaction. Users of Second Life are known as "Residents," and users interact through local chat and global instant messaging. Residents mainly get around by walking, though they can even fly!

The most notable thing about Second Life is its connection with the real world. The virtual world has its own economy and a currency known the "Linden." Residents of Second Life can buy and sell goods and services, own virtual "land," or even run an in-world business. Second Life also consists mostly of user generated content, which is created by Residents. Residents own the rights to content they create, much like copyright. Artists can create works of art in Second Life, and live music performances have taken place in the world. Recently, Second Life has started to offer virtual classrooms for several major universities, and many educators have taken advantage of this opportunity. Libraries are not immune to the Second Life bug. A virtual reference desk staffed by volunteer librarians exists in-world, and library users can visit many libaries on the Info Islands (a zone in Second Life).

Exercises:

1) Spend 15 minutes (not including the time it takes to set up an account) exploring Runescape by going through the tutorial. Did you find it easy to learn how to get around?

2) Write a blog post describing the Runescape character you created. Alternatively, if you are already a gamer and play an MMORPG, describe the character you play with and relate a fun experience you had playing the game.

Take and post a screenshot of your Runescape character, or the character you play in another MMORPG.

This post was brought to you by Michele McKian and Abigail Buchold.

Games and Gaming #35: Games? In the Library?

Summer is on its way, and summer is a time for fun at the library! When you think about summer fun, games probably come to mind. But games in the library? There has been a lot of talk about gaming in the library world lately, and gaming events for kids and teens are becoming more and more popular. In this post, we'll look at a few benefits of gaming and try a few web-based games. In the second post, we'll explore Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games or MMORPGs. In the third post, we'll take a look at the relevance of gaming in the library. Finally, in the fourth post, we'll look at console gaming. All posts for this module will be made in May, but the module will last through though the end of July. If you complete the exercises for these four posts, you will receive 2 hours of training credit.

Let's get the fun started.

If you can't see the video, watch it on YouTube.

Games aren't just a way to pass the time. When Windows debuted, using a mouse with the computer was a relatively new thing, and Microsoft came up with a way to teach people to learn about pointing and clicking, dragging and dropping. What did they come up with? That's right, Solitaire! If you've used a Windows PC, you've probably played Solitaire or Minesweeper. For first time computer users, these can be a great way to become comfortable with using the mouse!

It may be difficult at first to see the value of games in teaching information literacy. Recently, at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor Public Library gave a presentation about this very subject. He said that common perceptions of gaming are that it is an antisocial activity, that they are a waste of time, that most video games are violent and that they are an enemy of literacy. He went on to discuss that video games actually require advanced literacy, that only 15% of the video games sold are rated M for Mature, and that gamers tend to be more successful in the workplace than non-gamers. He also outlined the critical workplace skills that games tend to help develop, which include comprehension, spatial reasoning, research skills and perseverance.

For quite a while now, we've been talking about all sorts of web-based tools that allow us to increase our productivity. Games are no different--there are a variety of games available online that you can play anywhere without burdening your computer with the huge files required to play them. They can be found almost anywhere online.

For example, FreeRice is a vocabulary game where you are given a word and must choose the correct definition from a group of four answer choices. For every word you get correct, FreeRice donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to end world hunger. You can have fun and help others!

WordSplay is a word-building game that first appeared under the name WEBoggle. When you start the timer, you are given an assortment of letters. You form words using adjacent letters and type them in, pressing ENTER or the spacebar to score. After three minutes, the game ends and you receive your final score.

You may have noticed the popularity of the Japanese puzzle game known as Sudoku. In Sudoku, your objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9 only one time each. Each puzzle is partially completed to get you started, and the degree of difficulty determines how many spaces are filled in for you. The Houston Chronicle offers Sudoku online along with crosswords and other puzzles!

In addition, there are many online games available for kids. The PBS Kids site offers a few educational choices, as does FunBrain. Cool Math 4 Kids offers fun math games and puzzles as well as math lessons from addition and subtraction up through pre-algebra and geometry.

Exercises:

1) Spend 15 minutes trying out one of the web-based games mentioned: FreeRice, WordSplay, online Sudoku, or try one of the games meant for kids.

2) Make a blog post about your thoughts on the benefits of gaming and the game you played. Did you find it easy to learn the rules and get started? Can you think of any skills the game might help you build?

This post was brought to you by Michele McKian and Abigail Buchold.

Maps #34: Geocoding and Geocaching

Part 1 What is Geocoding?

Geocoding is the process that assigns a latitude-longitude coordinate to an address. Mapquest has a good page explaining how they geocode addresses at:

http://www.mapquest.com/features/main.adp?page=geocode

(You will use geocoding when we move to Part 2, Geocaching)



Step 1:
Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocode and type in an address to any public location.

Choose Google as the primary source instead of Yahoo, and then click Geocode it. We want to use public locations and not personal locations such as homes for this assignment since we will be posting the coordinates to your blog.

Here is the output we got when we entered the Barbara Bush Library's address into the geocoder.

At the bottom of the results, look at the coordinates listed. This is the GPS Coordinates to this address. The top number is in Decimal Degrees (DegDec) and the bottom number is in Degrees and Minutes (MinDec).

Step 2:
Copy either the top or the bottom coordinates. You can do this by highlighting the entire row including the commas, right clicking on the highlighted row and choosing Copy.

Go to http://maps.google.com/ in your browser window. Right Click in the search field and choose Paste.

Click the Search Maps button. Switch to Satellite View using the button at the top right corner of the map and then use the zoom tool on the left hand side of the map to view your location.


Part 2 What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world.

View the video below to get a glimpse of what geocaching is all about.

Click Here if you have problems viewing this video

Read about the history of geocaching on http://www.geocaching.com/about/history.aspx

Step 1. Find a Geocache

Log into Geocaching.com by going to http://www.geocaching.com/login/

You can create your own account to log in or use hcpl for the username and password.

After logged in, click on the Hide and Seek Cache button on the left side menu. Once on the Seek Cache page, put your zip code into the Search By Zip Code field.

You will go to a page that lists all the geocaches in your area. Click on the description link of one of these items.

Step 2. Learn about the Geocache

This page will list more details about the particular geocache you clicked on. Notice that the geocode coordinates are listed in Degrees and Minutes (MinDec).

Scroll down to see what the person who hid the geocache wrote about the location and the geocache itself. Scroll even further down to see the cache logs from people who have found this geocache.

Step 3. Find the Cache

To see where this geocache is located, go back up to the top of the page and click on the View Map link below the Send to Phone Button.

Click on the Satellite button on the top right corner of the map and then use the zoom tool on the left side of the map to view your location closer.

This will get you close to where the geocache is. It could be hundreds of feet away, and that's where your GPS receiver will come in handy if you actually want to go searching for this geocache.

Discovery Exercise:

1. On your blog, tell us the name of the location you chose to find and list the GPS coordinates for that location.

2. Find a geocache that you would be interested in finding. Copy and paste the url of the geocache into your blog like this:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ac76e133-c89e-475d-ab4a-b0f7dcfc8338.
Copy the GPS Coordinates onto your blog.

3. Write about your thoughts on geocaching. You can write about anything. Some suggestions are whether this is something you would like to do for fun, or what potential dangers you might want to be aware of.

This post was brought to you by a member of the Barbara Bush Branch iHCPL Team: Jennifer Jones.

Maps #33: Relocating with Online Maps

People move everyday. Sometimes the lease runs out and the rent is raised significantly. Sometimes a young person is just going to college or is just finishing college and is ready for his (or her) first apartment. Sometimes there is a divorce and one spouse gets the house while the other starts apartment-hunting. Sometimes a family outgrows their present dwelling and needs a house with more bedrooms. Sometimes it is just time for a new place.


Searching by zip code and/or by distance (within X miles) helps narrow down the possibilities quickly and efficiently. Sometimes you can see the various floor plans or virtual tours online before getting in the car and going to see apartment complexes or houses in person!
DISCOVERY RESOURCES:

APARTMENTS:
Apartments.com : Search by map, zip code, city/state, plus X miles radius. Amenities search include pets allowed and wheelchair access. Includes street map, satellite, & hybrid maps.

Apartment Finder: Search by address or by zip code. Amenities search includes pets allowed and garage/covered parking. Includes virtual tours & floor plans.

Apartment Guide : Search by city/state or by zip code. Advanced search allows you to choose amenities like pets, accessibility, public transportation, etc. See virtual tours, emercials, etc.



HOUSES:
Har [Click Find a Home. Click Map Search.] Search for listings by zip code or within a proximity of an address. Search by School District, by stories, by garage(s), by highrise condos, by whether it is in a cul-de-sac or on a corner, etc. Includes Neighborhood Information Finder, Senior Living Finder, Foreclosures, etc. Both houses for sale and for lease.

Urban Living [Click Home Finder. Click Map Search] Search by zip code. Look for houses for rent or for sale. Look for houses in subdivisions or condos in highrises. Search by stories or whether it has a garage, etc.

Google Maps [Directly under Google logo, click My Maps. Then click Google Real Estate Search.] Find rentals, sales, & foreclosures. Follow the realtor's links and watch a virtual tour.


BOTH:
Discover our Town: Comprehensive city guides that include travel information, area attractions and restaurant listings for towns across the United States. Search by clicking on map for state and then city. Click Relocation tab.

Walk Score: Shows you a map of what's nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Find out what amenities are in walking distance for any address!


ACTIVITY 1:
APARTMENTS:

1. Look for an apartment which allows pets or is accessible for the disabled (such as wheelchair bound) by zip code and then by radius from a given address.
2. Discuss your search and whatever suitable apartment listings you found in your blog. Include a comparison of the different map views available: street, aerial/satellite, bird’s eye, hybrid (combination satellite & street). Which view did you find the most helpful?
   
   OR...

HOUSES:

1. Look for foreclosures or a highrise condo or senior living or for houses in the subdivision you prefer (good schools, low crime, etc.).
2. Take virtual tours and see how much information is available on the various properties.
3. Discuss your search and whatever suitable listings you found in your blog.
   

ACTIVITY 2:

1. Select a potential new home or apartment. Check out what is nearby (or within walking distance) for any given house or apartment complex.
2. Discuss what schools, restaurants, stores, etc. would be in your new neighborhood in your blog. Discuss which site you found easiest to use to look for a new place to live and which you would recommend to others and why.
   

This post was brought to you by a member of the Barbara Bush Branch iHCPL Team: Margaret Davis.

Maps #32: Current Events

The internet has redefined current events. Clipping articles out of an area newspaper is not as immediate as finding out where an airplane went off the radar ten minutes ago. Explore a brief sample of current event sites and look at the world in a new and exciting medium. From earth to space, internet mapping is interactive and fairly up to date.

DISCOVERY EXERCISES:
100 Google Maps Mashups
Marylaine Block, the "Librarian Without Walls" (http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html) listed this "neat, new" site for Google Map mashups. According to her, "I believe that the future of reference service lies not in finding information, but in helping people understand it through visualization. These Google Maps mashups demonstrate things like finding wi-fi hotspots, a public toilet, world hostels, webcams, etc., and tracking packages or US or Canadian flights in real time."

Global Incident Map
Are you a news junky who likes to track the latest airline crash, chemical attack, or sniper incident? On this site, you can check the map for the 30 most recent events, or scroll down and search by type or place of incident. You can find a map of locations, plus details of what happened.

National Atlas
Or are you the scientific type? These dynamic maps are innovative illustrations of geographic phenomena, combining the science of mapping with today's multimedia to offer maps that are useful, understandable, and that stimulate interactivity. Look for American volcanoes, growth of vegetation over the course of the year, or maps illustrating geologic timetables.

Terra Server
Maybe you are a curiosity seeker. Then you will like this site that has stored aerial photos and satellite images of celebrity homes, historic sites, the Seven Wonders of the World, and more.

ACTIVITY 1:

1. Look through the list of "100 Things To Do With Google Maps".
2. In your blog, note a hypothetical question that you could best answer through visualization, and list the site you would use to answer it. (Example: Question -- "I need a career change! Got any ideas?" Answer -- Go to http://jobmaps.us and type in "Bartender" and "Las Vegas.")

ACTIVITY 2:

1. Explore Global Incident Map, Terra Server, or National Atlas.
2. Find a map or image that interests you.
3. Post it or a link to it in your blog and write about something you learned.

OPTIONAL BONUS ACTIVITY:

EarthNow Landsat Image Viewer
"Slip the surly bonds of earth" using the EarthNow Landsat Image Viewer. Ride aboard a satellite traveling over portions of the U.S. to experience a birdseye view of our country.

This post was brought to you by members of the Barbara Bush Branch iHCPL Team: Shawn Howes, Brenda Williams, and Nancy Agafitei.

Maps #31: Have Map, Will Travel

Many of us have used Mapquest, one of the first online mapping applications, to reach a particular travel destination. It was one of the first and best ways to get from point A to point B. The four weekly exercises in the Maps modules will let you explore and have fun with the exciting ways in which online maps are developing. We will use the maps to plan a travel route, track current events, gather information for relocation, and learn about the new sport of geo-caching. Completion of all four units will be worth two hours of training credit.

If you haven't tried some of the new map applications such as Google Maps, Yahoo Maps and Live Maps, the following exercises will give you a chance to see just how much online maps have progressed.



Google Maps is a very versatile mapping site. With Google Maps, you can map almost anything.

View some helpful video tutorials on Google.

Yahoo Trip Planner helps you build an itinerary for any travel destination in the world. There are reviews available for hotels, restaurants and even entertainment spots. Once you plan a trip, you can view it in either schedule view or map view.


DISCOVERY EXERCISES:

1. Watch the Google Create a Map Tutorial. Learn how to add place marks to your own customized map. These could be place marks of your favorite places to shop or travel, places where your family and ancestors have lived, or any other places you want to display visually.

2. Create a customized map using your own place marks.

3. Embed your map onto your blog or write about your experiences creating a map with Google Maps, Yahoo Maps or Live Maps. List creative ways you could use this feature.

Below is an example of all the Harris County Public Libraries on one map:

HCPL Locations


View Larger Map

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
You can find more than just directions with new interactive maps. Use Google Maps to act as both a yellow pages and a map. Do all or some of the following activities to learn more about traveling with online map applications.

1. Put in an address.
2. After you get to the map of that address, search for businesses by typing them in the search field. For example, once you've found your location, look up pizza, libraries, schools, etc.
3. Zoom out and in to see how the search expands and decreases according to the map area.
4. Use the street view when available to be able to see your destination before you get there.
5. Get directions to one of these locations.
6. Modify the directions by dragging the direction lines to the streets you want, or dragging it away from streets/highways you want to avoid.
   
   

This post was brought to you by members of the Barbara Bush Branch iHCPL Team: Jennifer Jones and Jennifer Nandlal.