Competition and Teamwork: Two important elements for a successful gaming event
RSSI have always considered the library my home away from home. As a child, I could escape to the library and be any hero or heroine I found nestled in the pages of a book. As an adult, it was the place I got paid to share my passion and love for literature and learning with children. I was incredibly lucky to work in a vibrant and dynamic library like ImaginOn, a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County and Children?s Theatre of Charlotte, NC. ImaginOn?s offerings go way beyond checking out books. One of the best places to engage our patrons is in the gaming corner.
Video games can be a great way to foster cooperation while allowing friendly competition. There are those who argue competition is unhealthy for kids, but I?ve found that going out of your way to remove all competition from a program tends to sap the drive from the participants. However, I do caution against events based entirely on competition. It?s best to choose a game that blends fun, education, and competition into one enjoyable experience.
Let the games begin
One of the best ways to ensure your library?s video game program goes smoothly is to take time to play the games yourself before the event. Test online connections and make contact with your online participants well before the event begins. Test games for scratches or play issues and controllers for functionality.
Selecting the perfect venue is very important. You want to find a location that has plenty of room for players and spectators, but is in an area that will not impact other functions in the building. Just be sure that there?s an Internet port if you plan on playing online.
Gaming programs are great opportunities to have youth mentor each other. Select a teen to teach the basics of the game in a couple of sessions held prior to the event, and that individual can take a leadership role during the program. You can also let teens help create brackets for tournaments to make sure everyone gets equal play time, and have them help struggling players. Be sure to discuss the importance of a positive attitude, fair game play, and awareness of noise level.
Choose games that incorporate as many participants as possible while still retaining the fun element. Enhance the gaming with tie-ins to books, current news issues, or educational concepts. After playing the game, invite the participants to write their own fan fiction, create custom characters for the game, or decide what the sequel should look like. Book-talk related books before the game starts, and make sure to have a splashy display with a wealth of choices nearby.
Below are some games that foster cooperative competition. There are also a couple of multiplatform franchises, such as the Lego themed games from Warner Brothers (Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, and Lego Star Wars) that are fun and work for all ages.
Wii
New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo): This game offers simultaneous play for up to four players, and skill level is not important because players are brought back throughout the level. Challenge your participants to grab all the big coins in an area, or give a time limit challenge for completing an area. Rated E for everyone.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo): It?s easy to discount this as just another fighting game, but there is so much more you can do with it. Team older/more experienced players with younger/less experienced teammates for a team battle. This can be a fun way to partner experienced teens with their parent or guardian and give them the opportunity to show off their expertise. Players can also work together to fight against a common computer foe. If you have the LAN adapter, you can play against another library online. Tired of the regular game play? Try one of the special brawls where you can change the weight of the characters and the power of the hits. Up to four players can compete in this game that is rated T for Teen.
Boom Blox Bash Party (Electronic Arts): Knocking things down has never been as much fun as it is while playing this game. Players can work together to solve a puzzle or compete against their friends. The level building is a great way to learn about gravity and depth, and if you?re connected to the Nintendo Wifi, you can share your levels online and play your friends? levels. The game is rated E, and is a perfect choice for mixed-age crowds.
Mario Kart (Nintendo): This family-friendly racing game has an innovative steering function and multiple modes for different play experiences. Team races can pit your players against computer opponents, or go online to play against others. Power-ups often level the playing field by giving those in lower positions a boost. Rated E.
Playstation 3
LittleBigPlanet (Sony): The educational and team building components of this game are fabulous. You can have up to four players running around together in the visually stunning LittleBigPlanet world while trying to get to the end of each stage. In several places, players must work together to make it through or to earn bonus stickers and costume pieces. This game is great for free play. You can also do a stage building workshop, having the kids work together to create a custom stage that can be showcased in free play afterwards. Building and playing levels deal with gaming and science principles. LittleBigPlanet 2 is scheduled to be released in winter 2010. Rated E.
Rockband (MTV Games): Kids love wailing on the instrument controllers for this game. Playing as a band ensures that everyone will have to do their part. You can also change the setting to keep the song going, even if the band fails. The mic is a great opportunity for teens to showcase their talents. This game is rated T because of some of the song lyrics. For younger players, consider Lego Rockband, which has the same great game play, but features Lego people and tamer songs.
Age of Booty (Capcom USA): Let your wannabe pirates test the waters and try to dominate the seven seas. Players can team up with online friends to try to finish the challenges set forth. The ability to upgrade and customize your ship and weapons adds a nice dimension to this strategy game. Rated E.
Buzz! Quiz TV (Sony): This game is a great way to test general knowledge while having fun. Participants can play individually, or you can team them up to focus on decision-making and role assignments. Additional question packs are available for download on the Playstation Network. Rated T.
XBox
Burnout Paradise (Electronic Arts): This racing game can be an exciting program for your patrons to play against another library online. There is no offline multiplayer mode, but the online mode enables up to 8 people to play simultaneously. The open world with multiple choices for routes to the finish line makes each race feel completely new. Rated E+10, for players age 10 and older.
Worms 2 Armageddon (Team 17 Software): You can download this turn-based strategy game from XBox Arcade for 800 points. Kids learn how to plan out their attacks while controlling their worm armies and high tech weapons. You can choose from six different online modes through XBox Live. Rated E+10.
Hail to the Chimp (Microsoft): The world of politics can be a jungle, and literally is in this game. Have your players learn about strategy as they try to be elected the next king of the jungle. A fun way to tie into real-world political events. Rated T .
Thrillville: Off the Rails (Lucas Arts): Players work together to build the most awe-inspiring rollercoaster or compete against each other in one of the 34 mini games?and learn about physics at the same time. Rated E, the game is sure to entice families to play together.
