November 6

Imagine a time when instead of someone burying their head in a text book, they will be encouraged to play Sim City to learn about architecture and city planning.



Or instead of students studying sport science textbooks, they are told to play Pro Evolution Soccer.

Imagine still instead of a person sitting GCSE and degree exams, evidence of them defeating the ‘boss’ at the end of a computer game would warrant a pass grade.

Welcome to the future – according to some of the countries top academics.

It may sound outlandish, but there is an increasing consensus that computer games

should be taken seriously as both learning and assessment tools.

‘Unlimited Learning: The role of computer and video games within the learning landscape’ (released by the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association and the Department for Education and Skills) explores the benefits of using computer games as a teaching tool, and aims to provide a resource for teachers and educationalists, games developers and publishers.

Leading academic, Henry Jenkins of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has recently described computer games as being the ‘most powerful learning technology of our age’.

Now, to a 28-year-old self-confessed console junkie the very thought of computer games being used as a means to learning conjures up all manner of thoughts.

Do I now have proof that all those years spent tip-tapping away on keyboard, joysticks and joypads were actually time well spent?

Did I actually learn valuable life lessons from perfecting my running and jumping techniques of Daley Thompson’s decathlon?

Were large parts of my mis-spent youth actually well-spent?!

You know once upon a time in the Nichols’ house the sound of mum screaming at me to ‘stop playing games and get on with your homework’ would be an all too common occurrence, as her voice echoed around the neighbourhood.

To think that one day soon mothers across the country will be screaming at their kids to ‘stop playing outside with your friends and come inside and play your computer games’ is just plain weird to me.

I mean, are these researchers saying that the next Wayne Rooney could be discovered as a direct result of a kid being addicted to the FIFA franchise?

Or stranger still, could the next secret agent be bred from being force-fed Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell game?

Hmmm, the mind boggles.

One thing’s for sure is that I learned a whole new set of tricks and combos from finger-bashing my way through the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.

Alright, tapping away on a joypad is nothing compared to actually getting out there and trying the tricks on an actual skateboard, but the information to actually achieve the feat is processed into your brain as a direct result of playing games.

One thing I do know (having played Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith to until my fingers bled) is that I would make a pretty nifty Jedi knight should the opportunity ever arise.

Very early on in my life I also learnt a lot about anger management – thanks largely to the infamous Spectrum 128K computer.

Remember the annoying dial-up sound when you loaded a game that lasted for exactly 99 per cent of the load sequence before it stopped without warning and crashed?

I remember vividly my eager child eyes glazing over in a red rage and my small hands pummelling the grey Spectrum keyboard. (In fact the rage is filling up inside me now just thinking about it… Grrr…)

When the games did load they weren’t great – visually or anything else. The very early titles boasted a few colours and basic game play (although considered advanced for the time – circa 1982).

It was the game play – and not the graphical quality – which certainly kept me entertained for hours on end.

Looking back now games such as Crazy Golf and Snooker taught me about distance, power and patience which anyone will argue are good things to know at an early age.

Anyways, looking back I can honestly say that computers, and computer games especially, have taught me any number of skills over the years.

Aside from the ‘game’ games that have been available over the years there have always been ‘educational learning games’ on the market.

You know, titles such as ‘Teach Yourself Spanish’, or ‘Learn Hebrew on-line’.

These prove that there have been learning titles for many years, though it is a first for the Government to actually recognise and announce that computer games may yet help to generate the next Enstein.

Given the fact that over the past 20 years, the UK’s computer and video game industry has grown into a multi-million pound business, with experts claiming that nearly 60 per cent of six to 65-year-old Britons playing games every year, it is hard to believe that the Government has not done more recently to join the revolution.

Anyhow, here we are now with Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE – launching the report – calling for debate about games assisting learning.

In the 66-page Government-adopted report, the document states: “In an educational context, play is regarded as an important part of the development of knowledge.

“Computer games take this further by situating formal or informal learners in complex circumstances which may be relevant to the lesson plan but are beyond those available in daily life.”

Game on!





So, this week’s homework is to go out and play these newly-released titles:



Title: FIFA 07

Platform: PS2

RRP: £39.99

Hit count: 4/5

Review: So, one of the few good things about saying goodbye to the summer…? Why it’s the release of the latest FIFA series – FIFA 07.

Boasting improved gameplay, an enhanced manager mode and lots of other funky bits and pieces, EA Sports really have upped the stakes in the bid to be crowned No. 1 football game over those nice chaps at Konami (responsible for the ever-popular Pro Evolution Soccer series).

So what’s new? Well, the answer is simple – just about everything.

FIFA 07 has been given a massive stadium-sized revamp which sees a new look but also a huge Peter Crouch-sized improvement in the way it plays. Examples are the way the crowd reacts to your performance and the way players jostle and collide realistically in-game, and a vastly improved manager section which sees you take control of everything that football has to offer.

The bottom line is that FIFA has got very serious in its bid to out-perform Pro Evolution Soccer.





Title: Scarface: The World is Yours (All)

Platform: XBox

RRP: £39.99

Hit count: 5/5

Review: You have to admit that most major films that make it to the smaller screen game world are hardly worth the entrance fee.

But, add Grand Theft Auto-style graphics and gameplay and you’re onto a winner.

Scarface: The World is Yours (All) does exactly that, resulting in a gangster-filled, gun happy world of extreme gaming.

The game puts you in the shoes of Tony Montana and lets you have your way with the city of Miami. An array of savage weaponry, an addictive storyline and truly excellent graphics makes for a blood-thirsty blinder of a game.





Title: Mercury Meltdown

Platform: Sony PSP

RRP: £34.99

Hit count: 4/5.

Review: Guiding a shimmering blob of liquid metal through a crazy cartoon world full of tricky traps and devious devices may not sound like everyone’s idea of a fun game.

But, give it five minutes and even the most easily-distracted of individuals will find it hard to put this down. This game is addictive, fun and visually splendid.

With more than 160 levels and the option to download more level content, it is well worth the money.







Title: Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

Platform: PS2

RRP: £34.99

Hit count: 5/5.

Review: No-one will argue that the Metal Gear Solid series has taken gaming to new levels with enhanced graphics and stunning game experience leaving gamers hungry for more each and every time.

So here’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence – the new improved version of every Metal Gear Solid title.

The title boasts a massively enhanced version of Hideo Kojima's acclaimed Snake Eater adventure, a 3D camera system that allows players to view the action from virtually any angle, a 'Demo Theatre', wherein players can watch specific sequences from the game's renowned cut-scenes and a full online version of the game up to 8 players at once.

Subsistence also features pixel-perfect copies of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 so anyone new to the game can feel rest assured that this is THE title to buy rather than buying the older games individually.

If the above points aren’t enough the title also features a full CGI Metal Gear Solid 3 movie with a running time of three-and-a-half hours.

Phew, buy it!