“Game On” in King County Library System
The King County Library System in Washington has launched a new video-game program called “Game On” to draw youths ages 12 to 15 to the libraries. Four of the 16 clusters of the libraries have kicked off the program, and the rest still have reservations to the system’s radical move. Some librarians are worried about the video games taking time away from other activities, such as reading and writing. But those who support the program see the positive effects: getting the teens into the library and developing relationships with librarians and other kids. A librarian even thinks that the videogame program will get the kids started on reading. “To succeed in a game, players need to read manuals and understand the rules, she said. Often, they play against each other, rather than in isolation.” Manuals? Read? This librarian is badly misinformed.
If you put video games alongside books and traditional programs, you sure know which one is the big hit. It will surely bring the teens in, no doubt about that, but make them actually read books knowing they can play Mario and NBA Live instead? I doubt it.
The games available in the libraries are rated “E” for everyone and “T” for teens and they include:
-Nintendo GameCube: MarioKart Double Dash, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Power Tennis, WarioWare, Super Mario Strikers, Mario Party No. 7, Donkey Konga 2, and Kirby Air Ride
-Nintendo DS: Age of Empires, Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll, Metroid Prime Hunters, Electroplankton, Polarium, Tony Hawks American Sk8lan, Puyo Pop Fever, Nanostray, Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Meteos
-Xbox: Crimson Skies, Burnout Revenge, NBA Live 2006 and X-Men Legends II
-Xbox360: Kameo, Project Gotham Racing 3, Call of Duty2, Burnout Revenge, NBA 2K6, Madden NFL06 and NBA Live 2006
The King County Library System in Washington has launched a new video-game program called “Game On” to draw youths ages 12 to 15 to the libraries. Four of the 16 clusters of the libraries have kicked off the program, and the rest still have reservations to the system’s radical move. Some librarians are worried about the video games taking time away from other activities, such as reading and writing. But those who support the program see the positive effects: getting the teens into the library and developing relationships with librarians and other kids. A librarian even thinks that the videogame program will get the kids started on reading. “To succeed in a game, players need to read manuals and understand the rules, she said. Often, they play against each other, rather than in isolation.” Manuals? Read? This librarian is badly misinformed.
If you put video games alongside books and traditional programs, you sure know which one is the big hit. It will surely bring the teens in, no doubt about that, but make them actually read books knowing they can play Mario and NBA Live instead? I doubt it.
The games available in the libraries are rated “E” for everyone and “T” for teens and they include:
-Nintendo GameCube: MarioKart Double Dash, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Power Tennis, WarioWare, Super Mario Strikers, Mario Party No. 7, Donkey Konga 2, and Kirby Air Ride
-Nintendo DS: Age of Empires, Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll, Metroid Prime Hunters, Electroplankton, Polarium, Tony Hawks American Sk8lan, Puyo Pop Fever, Nanostray, Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Meteos
-Xbox: Crimson Skies, Burnout Revenge, NBA Live 2006 and X-Men Legends II
-Xbox360: Kameo, Project Gotham Racing 3, Call of Duty2, Burnout Revenge, NBA 2K6, Madden NFL06 and NBA Live 2006
