On occasion I am able to find the time to stroll around and see what is posted on various blog sites around including cuppytalk, virginworlds, and more recently (and often more entertaining… sorry Cuppy and Brent!) Scott Hartsman - Off the Record.

Today would be one of those days and I’m over looking at Scott’s blog to read about a very interesting use of the game he is the producer for (EverQuest 2 - for those who didn’t know). Scott is linking to an article that’s reporting the use of EverQuest 2 as a second-language tutor. Though it wasn’t the intention, the voice-overs have bumped EverQuest 2 into the “learning games” category. Most of us already know that the things that are most easily learned are ones which include “fun” factors. Gaming is a growing success in that arena and has been there since the days of number munchers and oregon trail. With technologies advancing there are so many more ways to include fun with learning, but this use of EverQuest 2’s voice overs has certainly caught Scott off guard.

(source)…The pursuit of quests, for example, requires players to become what Rankin calls “active learners” who engage with other players and the gaming environment. The study also supports Schneider and Zheng’s conclusion that the games are inherently motivating.

“The game requires them to do things,” Rankin says, “to read directions, to interact with other avatars, to travel over the landscape; that’s why they learn the language. You have to comprehend the information that’s in front of you in order to advance to different levels and complete the quests. And you can’t complete the quests without asking for help from other players, which, again, requires you to understand the language.”

Scott Comments on his blog

…When we were first discussing implementing character voices in the game, people using it this way wasn’t something that was on the radar. I’d call this one of the better unintended uses I’ve heard of, and hopefully it does turn into something fantastic for them.

What’s the amazing revelation here? There really isn’t one, other than to say that it’s exceptionally satisfying to be able to point out some of the more positive and socially redeeming aspects of gaming…