Battle of the Titans Katrin Becker K Becker

Battle of the Titans: Katrin Becker K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster University of Calgary September 2006 1

REMEMBER : Table of findings K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 2

Overview 1. Why Do This? 2. How? 3. What is a “good” game? 4. Why these games? 5. The Games Mario / Math Blaster 6. Game Play Experience 7. What I Learned K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 8. Next Steps Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 3

0. Introduction Games teach. People learn from games. Are Games Educational? (I don’t care) K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 4

0 b. What are the Questions? What must be learned to get through this game? How does this game facilitate that learning? K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 5

1. Why Do This? Ultimate goal: Design good instructional games (GIG) Teach people how design GIG IF good games teach, then we can learn how by studying the masters. K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 6

2. How To Do This? (methodology) Most good games were not designed to be educational…. . at least not on purpose. SO, their designs are not framed in educational terms. BUT, to design instructional games, we need that…… K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7

2. How To Do This? (methodology) One Answer: PRETEND it was designed that way. Can re-capture design through reverse engineering. K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 8

3. What is a “good” game? Popular: • good sales (really good) • Critical acclaim That makes it good because: - don’t get awards & sustained sales if the game is frustrating; no fun; too easy; too hard; annoying; too predictable…. . K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 9

4. Why these Games? All the teachers love Math Blaster – (don’t ask the kids…. . ) Mario – Same genre & style – Small console (handicapped graphics & power) – Good Game K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 10

5 a. The Games: Mario K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 11

5 b. The Games: Math Blaster K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 12

6 a. Playing Mario K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 13

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1 K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 16

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1 -toad K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 24

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1 -* K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 26

1 -A K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 27

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3 -C K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 31

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D K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 33

Field K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 34

6 b. Playing Math Blaster K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 35

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7. What I Learned Similar learning requirements. Obstacles are arbitrary. Differences in graphics/sound/animation not central (although play a role). Learning Mode is trial and error. Game vs Learning elements learning elements arbitrary K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 57

7 -1. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays Choice K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Action Feedback Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 58

Summary of Findings Mario Math. Blaster Status Displays • Obviously tied to gameplay • Persistent, running • Always shows % completed, lives left, power-ups, points. • Tied to learning objectives • Summary, after course • Never shows progress except shield strength. Action Feedback • Every interaction associated with a sound – collisions, hits, inaccessible paths. • Shooting goombas makes them go away. Choice • All courses repeatable any time. • Each ‘world’ is different. • “Game over” and lost life returns you to main map. K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 • Some interactions associated with a sound – right & wrong answer sounds very similar. • Shooting robots slows them but has no other effect. Choice • Single path through courses – only choice is equation set. • Paths and ‘worlds’ are same for each set. • Loss of shield power returns you to beginning of course. Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 59

7 -2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 60

7 -2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 61

7 -3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 62

7 -3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 63

7 -4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 64

7 -4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 65

8. Next Steps (or, so now what? ) K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 66

Image / sound Credits: Super Mario Bros. http: //www. gamespot. com http: //www. gamespy. cim http: //www. ign. com http: //mario. nintendo. com/ http: //marioevolution. free. fr http: //www. infendo. com http: //forums. nintendo. com/ Sound captures from http: //mario. nintendo. com/ by Sound. Forge 4. 5 Math Blaster K. Becker (screen captures by Screen Shot Deluxe 7. 0 http: //www. broderbund. com/ ) Sound captures by Sound. Forge 4. 5 Nintendo DS http: //www. nintendo. com/ http: //www. gameinformer. com Monitor Screen http: //www. hp. com K. Becker Ed-Media ’ 07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 67