Educational games
Whilst I do not play the games that are on games consoles I do occasionally play games via my laptop. A couple types that I have been playing recently are Color Infection 2, and then both Adobe Air Flip and/or Bejeweled Blitz (the latter 2 being of the same ilk).
Color Infection 2 is based upon the Box2D Physics engine, ported to add ActionScript 3 through to be Box2DFlashAS3. The game has 25 levels, each with a simple puzzle to solve, can one turn the yellow balls turn brown by coming into contact with another brown ball, whilst at the same time making sure the green balls stay green. Each level is a logic problem with a stepped procedure to ensure success. Working out the steps though can take many iterations, but then that’s the fun of the game; how long will it take to solve it!
Adobe Air Flip and Bejeweled Blitz (as played within Facebook) are games that require one to move tiles around a board to create lines of 3 or more of the same type of tile. Both are against the clock so there is the element of pressure involved, and it’s possible to compete against one’s friends.
Of course if one wants an ICT-style zap them game, then my favourite is Identity Hero from Sun Microsystems. Here one has 10 levels to complete, related to a topic of network identity management. Great for an end of term lesson with students. I did this with my lot and ended up getting some free mugs from Sun with the best monthly score which I can use as prizes.
These games are addictive, but in way that makes one think about problem-solving. I also find them fun as well, and much better value than paying for the games-console style games, given these three are all free online.
And my enjoyment is enhanced by listening to last.fm via g.ho.st.
