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UNIT TWO

Page history last edited by twitchyfox@... 14 years, 11 months ago

 

UNIT TWO!

 

 

Videos

 

I've made some videos that focus on interactivity, one of the themes of my paper, that I personally deal with when playing my

favorite game, Poke'mon. The sound is kinda scratchy and laggy and youtube cut them a little short, but it's my first time

playing with videos, so I'm just psyched that they're even up. Enjoy!

 

Episode 1.....Episode 2.....Episode 3(cut out a good chunk >.< about wi-fi).....Episode 4.....Episode 5.....Episode 6

 

 

 

 Cover Page 

 

What is the purpose of your paper?

My purpose in this paper is to show people how modern video games connect people all over the world. It covers the pros and cons of this "international interactivity" and details why this can affect just about every gamer out there. 

 

Who is your target audience?

My target audience is mostly other gamers, but probably parents as well as it tells how their children can end up interacting with people all over, and why this could be good or bad.

 

What is your thesis statement?

Playing modern video games causes players to become part of an international, interactive network.

 

Did I learn/try anything new while growing this composition?

This is something that I've been thinking about for awhile. I was absolutely astounded when I realized that my little DS let me trade with people all the way in Japan. I've also always thought it was kinda cool that video games could connect people across continents. The guy that I just blew up with a grenade may well be plotting revenge against my character all the way in Russia or something. It's just a crazy new thing to me.

 

What did I like best about my composition and the composition process?

It's a fun concept to play with. And I actually liked covering the history of online console gaming, as well as talking about my own DS and Xbox online adventures.

 

Where would you like to see the most feedback/advice on your final draft?

The usual, anything and everything. I'd prefer less about sentence structure and commas and more about the paper itself. I was kinda let down by the last workshop because all I got were a few comma errors and stuff like that. I felt like I was giving a lot more than I was getting.

 

 

 

 

Rough Draft

 

Modern Video Games Cause Greater International Interactivity

       Let’s face it. Modern video game consoles, and even some video games, just aren’t worth it without online capabilities. Playing online has long been a delectation that PC gamers have enjoyed, but it only became widespread on consoles in the United States with the release of the Playstation 2, closely followed by the Xbox. Next-Gen systems, short for Next Generation Systems, all have online capabilities and many of their corresponding games are played largely for their online play. These systems include the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360, and the Wii. Even the Next-Gen handhelds have wireless fidelity, more commonly called Wi-Fi, connections. The Next-Gen handhelds are the PSP, short for Portable Playstation, and the Nintendo DS, short for Developers’ System or Duel Screen. Another handheld coming out soon is the Nintendo DSi, which includes internet surfing capabilities (as well as two digital cameras, hence the “i” in the name) for better gameplay.

       Online gameplay, now dominant in the console world, is unavoidable. With kids, teens, and adults clamoring for Next-Gen systems and the extra gameplay provided by playing these systems online, players are bound to interact internationally. One minute you’re knifing a sniper on Call of Duty live, the next second you and a team member are blown apart by the sniper’s martyrdom grenade, and then your team member starts angrily cursing in German. It’s a common enough occurrence. In most first person shooter games that I’ve played online, I’ve encountered players from other countries. In my experience, while in online PC games, like the MMORPG that I also play called Guild Wars, players tend to stay in zones where the players that they interact with speak the same language. This is because the PvP, or Player vs. Player mode, often requires planning and tactics, which in turn requires communication. In online shooter games, while players are put on teams together, it is often every man for himself and communication is not as vital.

       In some games, the only way to complete the game is to go online. I’ve had to do this while playing a few of the new Poke’mon games. Poke’mon is a game where the object is to catch as many Poke’mon, which are basically animals with superpowers, as you can and battle against other trainers. Most of the Poke’mon can be caught without using a Wi-Fi connection, but to obtain rare Poke’mon or Poke’mon from older games, a player must connect to the internet and trade with other real players. In my online trading, I’ve received Poke’mon from Japan, Germany, and probably other English-speaking countries as well. Poke’mon Ranger also cannot be beaten until the final mission is downloaded from the internet. These games create a particular concern about online gaming because they are mostly popular among children, which I will talk about later on.

       In addition to the widespread phenomenon of online gaming, there are a variety of other things that the console’s online function offers. Music can be downloaded onto the Xbox 360 from a computer, allowing the player to listen to their music while gaming, or have it on like a radio with psychedelic visuals while not gaming. Players can create avatars for themselves that their online friends can see, and oftentimes interact with. Games and goodies can be purchased from the internet right through the console, which allows players to buy new games without having to go anywhere. Free samples of games and goodies are often available for download, so players can try out a new game to see if it’s worth buying. As you can see, going online with a video game console offers the player a lot of cool tools and extras. It also connects them to other players all over the world, creating a network of international activity, which can be good or bad. 

       Connecting to other players can be a positive experience. Many serious online gamers are on teams composed of other players from all over. This allows the serious gamers to play with others who want to get good ratings online as well. It is also an example of how online gaming causes people to branch out, as players on these teams can be from different states or countries. Online gameplay also allows players to play with their real life friends, whether they be near or far, in or out of country. Players keeping in touch this way can play their games together, teaming up against a common enemy or trying to beat each other. Then again, there are always players online to challenge when your friends aren’t around, and sometimes these players will be across the globe. .

       The downside of connecting to network of international activity is that not all of the people you’ll interact with will be mature. The main problem in this case is profanity, mature content, and sometimes racial slander. Many popular shooter games that are often played online, like Call of Duty and Halo, mix players together randomly, meaning that young players are in game with older players. There is usually a lot of cursing and belittling during these online sessions. Of course, the fact that these kids are playing violent games, in some cases rated Mature, means that a parent would have had to buy the game for them. For the parents that do want to restrict their child’s online gameplay, there are passwords that can be set up so that getting online is only possible with an adult around to unlock the feature and supervise their child‘s gameplay. .

       Similar to the controversial “violent video game” before it, I believe that online gaming is here to stay. It is an ever-present entity that has a large part in most modern consoles and video games. When playing these modern games, players will continue to be connected to other players all around the world. For better or for worse, this creates a system of international interactivity between gamers everywhere.

 

 

Peer Reviews of this Paper

 

  Jillian's review 

 

Aldijana's Review 

 

Earl-

Michele, you definitely got a interesting paper on you hands. You provide me with some very colorful visuals in regards to interacting with our fellow gamer through online play. You provide clear examples of how online game play are advantageous and essential to today’s gamer. You touched on a point that I’ve always wondered. Why do people think it’s acceptable to drop racial slurs while playing online games? That’s a case study waiting to happen. Anyways, your paper had some B traits to it. I feel that some of the paragraphs needed to be cleaned up a little but overall you got an A. Good job.

 

Reflections on Peer Reviews

I got some great feedback from Kristie and Aldijana during the in-class workshop. I've got a head full of ideas thanks to some of their suggestions. Jillian, who witnessed my frustration with this paper, also gave me exactly what I wanted and needed review-wise. I'm gonna work on the overall comprehension of the piece and make sure that all of my subjects are clearly related back to interactivity. Both Jill and Kristie told me to mention more on the competition aspect of online play, which makes a lot of sense. And, as they are my specialty, I will be adding more descriptive examples. I've got a lot of good stuff to add to this paper thanks to these reviews.

 

 

 

Peer Reviews of Peers' Papers by Michele

 

Aldijana- I enjoyed reading this paper during the in-class workshop. I really got to go through it and talk about the possibilities with Aldijana. Initially, I had suggested combining the first two paragraphs for a strong introduction and adding more details of how exactly a predator works their way into the life of a child. Upon looking through it again, I thought of a few more things for the final draft. Maybe research to try and find examples of people who were assaulted by sexual predators that started out online. Also, I had mentioned looking up some of the ways that parents may protect and moniter their children while they are on the computer, such as Net Nanny and similar programs. I like that you give the names of organizations that can help with this problem, as well as some of the operations to try and catch some of these people, like To Catch A Predator. Another cool idea for this project would be a sort of pamphlet or cluster of information at the end of the paper that offers addition help for parents worried or people affected by sexual predators. In this sort of piece, statistics of how many children have been affected, etc. would be good to add. Overall, a good paper that'll only get better. :)

 

Lydia- No one likes to work with a lazy person. Least of all when the lazy person gets away with it. One of the most interesting things about the rock in this case is how they can be blissfully ignorant to the turbulance that they are creating. Of course, this doesn't just happen at work, but all over the place. Another interesting trait of the turbulance, or ripples in this case, is how they travel. You get flicked off on the way home from a crappy day at work by a bad driver, then take it out on the cashier who can't process your coupon at a store, and the cashier gets upset and walks out, which of course only frustrates the manager who is already short-staffed and fires the cashier. Is it the person who flipped the bird's fault that the cashier got fired? Of course not, they are strangers, but it certainly had a round-about affect. This is an interesting piece and no offense, but I believe that it was mostly written in personal frustration, which I can hardly blame you for (read my blog, I feel ya), but it would be really cool if you went further in explaining other aspects of the ripple effect, maybe with more examples and emphasis on the effect itself. Maybe even find a way to describe how the water settles again once the ripple has passed through.

 

Jill & Kevin- Okay, I'm gonna address each of you separately and then as a whole. Jill, I love how you start by making the comparison between a simple game like Pong and signs of addiction early on. I think it would be cool if you maybe dug up some research on older games that have ties with the addiction question. So far, it's a great introduction for your paper, but try to be a little clearer on whether you're focusing on MMO's in general or just WoW because it's a bit hazy. You could always throw in other games like Guild Wars or Second Life as well if you're just doing MMO's. Also, specify which consoles in particular you're using as examples, like instead of just Xbox, say Xbox 360, for clarity's sake. There are some spelling and grammatical errors, which reminds me, I was thinking that we should get together before these are due, either online or meet up somewhere, just to bang out any errors in each other's papers that we ourselves may miss. But all in all, I know you'll be adding some great stuff, include some specific examples, and by the look of this introduction, it'll be an interesting read. (P.S. to Jill, I found out that I can basically use my DS as a free phone, how badass is that, both in real life and relating to my paper? :P) Kevin, I didn't realize that you were teaching high school kids! I was thinking that it was middle school or something. Because they are that age, they're the perfect age to correlate with the paper because that's the age that fancy scientists most worry about with game addiction. :) I liked the interviews a lot and I think you should add to them. A really cool thing would be to get the kids to keep a log of how much time they spend playing WoW over spring break. It'd be like your own personal scientific results for this project. Also, a small dictionary section for those who don't know MMO slang would be useful. I take it that the middle part of your page is sources and the bottom is the beginning of your paper. It's a strong introduction, but it'd be easier to read if cut into two paragraphs. I really like the deeper sort of look into what aspect of the game draws people into it. It correlates well with what your students gave you. It looks like it's gonna be good as well. Both of you, I know that your papers are just the tip of the iceburg, but I was just curious how they are going to be put together? It'll be tough because you both write very well, but also very differently. You both also seem to have great research and resouces at your disposal, so I'm not too worried, good luck and I'll see you soon. Oh, and hit me up on the comments section of my page or my USF email or AIM=twitchyfox if you want to have me look at your paper again or have more feedback on mine. :)

 

 

 

Final Draft 

 

Modern Video Games Cause Greater International Interactivity

     Let’s face it. Modern video game consoles, and even some video games, just aren’t worth it without online capabilities. Playing online has long been a delectation that PC gamers have enjoyed, but it only became widespread on consoles in the United States with the release of the Playstation 2, closely followed by the Xbox. Next-Gen systems, short for Next Generation Systems, all have online capabilities and many of their corresponding games are played largely for their online play. These systems include the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360, and the Wii. Even the Next-Gen handhelds have wireless fidelity, more commonly called Wi-Fi, connections. The Next-Gen handhelds are the PSP, short for Portable Playstation, and the Nintendo DS, short for Developers’ System or Duel Screen. Another handheld coming out soon is the Nintendo DSi, which includes internet surfing capabilities (as well as two digital cameras, hence the “i” in the name) for better gameplay. Playing these modern consoles and games online causes players to interact with an international network of other gamers.

     Online gameplay, now dominant in the console world, is unavoidable. With kids, teens, and adults clamoring for Next-Gen systems and the extra gameplay provided by playing these systems online, players are bound to interact internationally. One minute you’re knifing a sniper on Call of Duty live, the next second you and a team member are blown apart by the sniper’s martyrdom grenade, and then your team member starts angrily cursing in German. It’s a common enough occurrence. In most first person shooter games that I’ve played online, I’ve encountered players from other countries. In my experience, while playing online PC games, like the MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) that I also play called Guild Wars, players tend to stay in zones where the players that they interact with speak the same language. This is because the PvP, or Player vs. Player mode, often requires planning and tactics, which in turn requires communication. In online shooter games, while players are put on teams together, it is often every man for himself and communication is not as vital for victory.

     Communication is, however, more advanced in today’s consoles than ever before. Many players use headsets, with microphones and headphones, to talk to each other while playing games. In multiplayer online games, such as Call of Duty mentioned above, it is common for many players to be bunched together, in which case they can talk to each other while playing on the same online team in a particular game. This is how lots of gamers interact with people of different nationalities, because they can hear different languages from their own teammates in game. Voice messages can be pre-recorded and sent to other players, sort of like an audible email. Handheld game systems also enable players to use a limited amount of online communication. The Nintendo DS Lite, I was surprised to find, can work as a speakerphone, using a small, built-in microphone and speakers. Once the DS is connected to a Wi-Fi network, the owner is able to verbally communicate with other DS systems that are registered in the same game and also connected to a Wi-Fi network. This is safe for children because the DS only allows this kind of connection with another DS that it has had contact with, which means that the people communicating in this way would have to know each other in real life.

     In some console games, the only way to complete the game is to go online. I’ve had to do this while playing a few of the new Poke’mon games. Poke’mon is a game where the object is to catch as many Poke’mon, which are basically animals with superpowers, as you can and battle against other trainers. Most of the Poke’mon can be caught without using a Wi-Fi connection, but to obtain rare Poke’mon or Poke’mon from older games, a player must connect to the internet and trade with other real players. In my experience with online trading, I’ve received Poke’mon from Japan, Germany, and probably other English-speaking countries as well. Poke’mon Ranger also cannot be beaten until the final mission is downloaded from the internet. These games create a particular concern about online gaming and interactivity because they are mostly popular among children, which I will talk about further on.

     In addition to the widespread phenomenon of online gaming, there are a variety of other things that the NextGen console’s online functions offer. Music can be downloaded onto the Xbox 360 from a computer using an internet connection, allowing the player to listen to their music of choice while gaming, or have it on like a radio with psychedelic visuals while not gaming. Players can create avatars, or personalized characters, for themselves that their online friends can see, and oftentimes interact with. Games and goodies can be purchased from the internet right through the console, which allows players to buy new games without having to go anywhere. Free samples of games and goodies are often available for download, so players can try out a new game to see if it’s worth buying. As you can see, going online with a video game console offers the player a lot of cool tools and extras and is often a popular reason for the use of online capabilities. It connects players all over the world, creating a network of international activity, which can be good or bad.

     Connecting to other players provides a unique competitive gaming experience. Many serious online gamers from all over the world join clans which permit them to play online with members of their clan instead of playing with strangers. Being part of a clan allows gamers to both play with others who also want to get good ratings and to play with others who are around the same skill level. It is also an example of how online gaming causes people to branch out, as players on these teams are often from different states or countries. Some players and clans take competitive gaming a step further, participating in official or sponsored tournaments. Many of these tournaments offer prizes and money to the winners, who are usually professional clans. Competing in tournaments, with many clans and players from different places, is also a way in which players are connected to a wider international pool of gamers.

     Going online also allows players to keep in touch with their real life friends, whether they be near or far, in or out of country. Friends connecting to each other through their online consoles can send text or voice messages and share pictures. They can check out each others records and games achievements. Or they can play their games online together, either teaming up against a common enemy or trying to beat each other. Handhelds connect to each other automatically using Wi-Fi when they are near each other. This enables the gamers to play with each other when they are around each other, and to appear in the handheld game of their friend. So while online gaming connects players to a huge network of international gamers, it can also give the player the ability to keep in touch with far-away friends or play with nearby friends.

     The downside of connecting to a network of international activity is that not all of the people you may interact with will be mature. The main problem in this case is profanity, mature content, and sometimes racial slander. Many popular shooter games that are often played online, like Call of Duty and Halo, mix players together randomly, meaning that young players are put into online games with older players. There is usually a lot of cursing and belittling during these online sessions, most often towards low-level players, which are most often going to be younger. Of course, the fact that these kids are playing violent games, in most cases rated Mature, means that a parent would have had to buy the game for them. For the parents that do want to restrict their child’s online gameplay, there are passwords that can be set up so that getting online is only possible with an adult around to unlock the feature and supervise their child‘s gameplay.

     Similar to the controversial “violent video game” before it, I believe that online gaming is here to stay. It is an ever-present entity that has a large part in most modern consoles and video games. When playing these modern games, players will continue to be connected to other players all around the world. For better or for worse, this creates a system of international interactivity between gamers everywhere.

 

 

Peer reviews for Final Paper 

Aldijana

Jillian

 

 

Michele's Final Draft Grade Reviews  

Lydia- Wow, this came a long way and it has it's Lydia factor now :P. I like the explanation of the ripple effect because it's something that everyone deals with every day. You added some great techniques for the readers to enjoy. I liked the nicknames a lot, like "Bossy" and "Punky". Everyone who has to work with other people calls them by something other than their name occasionally. I also liked the single lines describing what the rock was doing. They gave a sort of feeling of movement to the paper which I thought was well done. All in all, I really liked it. A

 

Jill & Kevin- Holy information Batman! And I know that this is after cutting back some of Kevin's work! I love watching your pieces come together from both of your ideas. They always mesh so well. There is too much to even freaking comment on. I love the layout, first of all. The order in which the information was presented is perfect, not too much of anything and it flows really nicely. I'm a fan of definitional papers, so I like that you described what contitutes addiction, with emphasis to video games. I definately believe that most of gaming is usually grinding. I hate doing it, but I know I've spent hours on Guild Wars doing it and I can really relate to that. I had no idea that there were so many detox sites for WoW addicts! Overall, the paper is very well written and has a great flow and structure to it. It was well researched and clearly made it's point. Awesome! A+

 

Aldijana- As usual, I found Aldijana's paper interesting and well-researched. It's come very far and I'm glad some of my suggestions helped. The grammar and structure was superb. I found no mistakes and I really like this topic. Not meaning that I like sexual predators, but I love watching the show To Catch a Predator. It's a real eye opener. I love that you point out that some of these guys are respectable, like doctors and priests, and they're not all people who you would think are sleazebags. I love it! A+

 

 

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