1. 1 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster Battle of the Titans: Katrin Becker University of Calgary September 2006

2. 2 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster REMEMBER : Table of findings

3. 3 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. MathblasterOverview 1. Why Do This? 8. Next Steps 7. What I Learned 6. Game Play Experience 2. How? 3. What is a “good” game? 4. Why these games? 5. The Games Mario / Math Blaster

4. 4 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 0. Introduction Games teach. People learn from games. Are Games Educational? (I don’t care)

5. 5 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 0b. What are the Questions? What must be learned to get through this game? How does this game facilitate that learning?

6. 6 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1. Why Do This? Ultimate goal: Design good instructional games (GIG) Teach people how design GIG IF good games teach, then we can learn how by studying the masters.

7. 7 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 2. How To Do This? (methodology) Most good games were not designed to be educational….. at least not on purpose. SO, their designs are not framed in educational terms. BUT, to design instructional games, we need that……

8. 8 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 2. How To Do This? (methodology) One Answer: PRETEND it was designed that way. Can re-capture design through reverse engineering.

9. 9 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 3. What is a “good” game? Popular: good sales (really good) Critical acclaim That makes it good because: - don’t get awards & sustained sales if the game is frustrating; no fun; too easy; too hard; annoying; too predictable…..

10. 10 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 4. Why these Games? All the teachers love Math Blaster –(don’t ask the kids…..) Mario –Same genre & style –Small console (handicapped graphics & power) –Good Game

11. 11 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 5a. The Games: Mario

12. 12 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 5b. The Games: Math Blaster

13. 13 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 6a. Playing Mario

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16. 16 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1

17. 17 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-1

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20. 20 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-1

21. 21 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-2

22. 22 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-3

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24. 24 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-toad

25. 25 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-4

26. 26 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-*

27. 27 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-A

28. 28 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 1-*

29. 29 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 2-1

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31. 31 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 3-C

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33. 33 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster D

34. 34 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster Field

35. 35 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 6b. Playing Math Blaster

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57. 57 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7. What I Learned Similar learning requirements. Obstacles are arbitrary. Differences in graphics/sound/animation not central (although play a role). Learning Mode is trial and error. Game vs Learning elements learning elements arbitrary

58. 58 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-1. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays Action Feedback Choice

59. 59 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster Summary of Findings Status Displays Obviously tied to gameplay Persistent, running Always shows % completed, lives left, power-ups, points. Action Feedback Every interaction associated with a sound – collisions, hits, inaccessible paths. Shooting goombas makes them go away. Choice All courses repeatable any time. Each ‘world’ is different. “Game over” and lost life returns you to main map. Status Displays Tied to learning objectives Summary, after course Never shows progress except shield strength. Action Feedback Some interactions associated with a sound – right & wrong answer sounds very similar. Shooting robots slows them but has no other effect. Choice Single path through courses – only choice is equation set. Paths and ‘worlds’ are same for each set. Loss of shield power returns you to beginning of course. MarioMathBlaster

60. 60 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays

61. 61 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-2. Supporting Trail and Error Status Displays

62. 62 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback

63. 63 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-3. Supporting Trail and Error Action Feedback

64. 64 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice

65. 65 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 7-4. Supporting Trail and Error Choice

66. 66 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster 8. Next Steps (or, so now what?)

67. 67 K.Becker Ed-Media ’07 Battle of the Titans: Mario vs. Mathblaster Image / sound Credits: Super Mario Bros. http://www.gamespot.com http://www.gamespy.cim http://www.ign.com http://mario.nintendo.com/ http://marioevolution.free.fr http://www.infendo.com http://forums.nintendo.com/ Sound captures from http://mario.nintendo.com/http://mario.nintendo.com/ by SoundForge 4.5 Math Blaster K. Becker (screen captures by Screen Shot Deluxe 7.0 http://www.broderbund.com/ )http://www.broderbund.com/ Sound captures by SoundForge 4.5 Nintendo DS http://www.nintendo.com/ http://www.gameinformer.com Monitor Screen http://www.hp.com