READING and literature must not be “swept away” by new technologies that are commanding more of children’s time — according to a top playwright.
Sir Tom Stoppard has this week warned that English and the humanities are vitally important to a child’s education and should not be sidelined.
True. Fair point... and well put.
But isn’t it a wise move to try and adapt to the next generation?
I mean sure, I enjoy a good book. And there is something about peeling off the yellowing pages to an aging release.
But in this ever changing world, surely we need to get more and more kids interested.
What nine-year-old wants to spend his pocket money on getting a bus to the book store to buy the latest paperback?
They’d rather spend their money on buying the latest video game or DVD.
And that’s why I love the likes of the Nintendo DS.
Somehow those clever types have found the balance between education and play releasing all these word and number-based brain games to appeal to the masses.
It could be argued that while many traditionalists lambasted the release of the so-called electronic books (e-readers), they are helping to expand the ways in which we read.
Personally I think there is a balance and, while video games like GTA are hardly ‘educational’, other titles on different titles cause more good than harm.
Look at the likes of Wikipedia too.
While admittedly anyone can change an entry on Wikipedia, how good is it as a learning tool?
Anyway, changing the subject quite dramatically (because being random is SO much more interesting than being normal), has anyone ever googled ‘Chuck Norris’ and clicked on the fifth link down?
Now THAT is funny.
So, onto more important things... to celebrate the release of the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game, Game On has teamed up with our friends at Activision to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a copy of the game on Xbox 360.Transformers: War for Cybertron is a third person action shooter set on the Transformers’ war-ravaged homeland.
Join the Autobots as they struggle to save their homeland or aid the Decepticons in their search for devastating power.
It’s your choice. Cybertron is locked in an epic civil war, spawning one of the most brutal rivalries of all time and this is your chance to take up a front row seat.
Q: Transformers can be referred to as … ?
a). Robots in distress
c). Robots in disguise
Email your answers to tnichols@theplymouthherald.co.uk including your name, address AND phone number. Please include 'Transformers competition' in the subject line.
Usual competition rules apply.
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Here are the best new releases and the latest gaming chart:
Title: Transformers: War for Cybertron
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
So often movie tie-in games fail to make the mark.
That said, Transformers: War For Cybertron thankfully bucks the trend — mainly because the third installment isn’t out yet and there is no story (yet) to tell.
The title takes gamers on a dark journey through Cyberton — the home of the Transformers — with the evil Decpticons trying their best to gain control of the powerful dark energon to rule the universe.
What many gamers will find ultimately cool is the fact you can choose to either be an Autobot or a Decepticon — with the full range of weapons.
The graphics in this third person shooter are tip top and anyone born in the late 1970s or early 1980s will not be disappointed with the gameplay.
The multiplayer is also a must with a huge variety of characters waging war in a robotic world.
It is by far the best Transformers game yet.
Like it? Love it.
Title: LEGO Harry Potter: Episodes 1-4
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
He’s the hero that every kid longs to be, and now his gaming status is set to go into overdrive as Harry Potter is immortalised as a LEGO character for Episodes 1-4.
Throughout this game, players get the chance to experience the magic and adventure of Harry Potter in a uniquely LEGO way – with all the quirky humour you’d expect from the blocky-headed heroes.
Although the action will focus on Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, a whopping 100 more characters have been worked into the game world.
Also, you can attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks and complete tasks to earn rewards.
The pacing of the early levels where you learn your spells and attend lessons are much better-suited to younger gamers, but playing cooperatively will add an additional layer of ’educational’ depth and that is where the real fun is to be had at Hogwarts.
Spellbinding stuff...
Title: International Cricket 2010
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Cricket
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
As the World Cup is proving, a high-energy sport such as football can be translated to the gaming world with great results, whereas the somewhat more pedestrian cricket arena can be harder to engage with in a virtual sense — despite all the bells and whistles.
International Cricket 2010 remains largely untouched from last year’s Ashes release, which will be a disappointment to those fans who were hoping to see a host of fielding, bowling and batting glitches eliminated.
For all the high-impact ’FIFA-style’ menu systems and music selection, it’s still just cricket and likely to only really appeal to hardcore cricket fans.
The over-the-shoulder views of play, whether batting or bowling do, however, add an excellent extra dimension to the gameplay, making everything feel more involved and closer to the action, which is a major improvement on previous releases and a hint that the sport may yet be able to hit the console big time.
Title: Mini Ninjas
Platform: Mac
Genre: Action
Price: £29.95
Hit count: 4/5
Two ninjas are out to conquer an ancient evil – sounds like the kind of violent beat ’em up you wouldn’t let your kids near.
But no, these are mini-ninjas, bringing a sense of humour and a whole lot of fun to this 3D platform adventure.
Displayed in alarmingly crisp and colourful cel-shaded graphics, even the button-mashing beatings you dish out don’t end in deaths, as enemies return to their pre-cursed animal states. And use your possession of animal powers wisely, as rabbits build up your stealth and bears your brute force.
This is just one of many magical tricks available to you in addition to the core fighting skills — keeping your progression through the amazing game world fresh and innovative.
The lack of a cooperative multiplayer mode is an obvious and confusing oversight, but when you have more than enough fun yourself flipping from one ninja to the next, don’t let that put you off.
Great stuff.
Title: Green Day: Rock Band
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Music
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Beatles have already conquered the Rock Bank genre, so how will a more modern-day set of musical heroes cope when the stage is all theirs on the 360?
Well, if you’re a big fan of Billie Joe Armstrong and co, this is like manna from heaven, as you step on to the stage and into the shoes of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band that jump-started the punk-pop revival.
The graphical likenesses of the band members is great, with a perfect blend of high-energy and mellow tracks to hone your rhythm gaming skills to.
It’s a shame that some of the band’s earlier albums seem to have been slightly neglected on the track list, and the career mode doesn’t quite deliver on the historical journey in the same way as the Fab Four, but overall fans of the band will lap this up and should enjoy rocking out for weeks to unlock the dozens of collectable images and rare unreleased video content lurking beneath the game’s ultra-polished surface.
Game chart:
1. Red Dead Redemption
2. Super Mario Galaxy 2
3. 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
4. Rooms: The Main Building
5. Just Dance
6. Wii Fit Plus
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
8. The Sims 3: Ambitions
9. UFC 2010: Undisputed
10. Wii Sports Resort
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
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