Whoever said that video games contribute to social isolation.,..
...hasn't seen my kid and his friend playing "Lego Star Wars."
True, the tendency towards isolation can happen at home (especially if kids play in their own rooms) but as soon as you put another person in the room, things have a tendency to change. A significant social aspect develops when these games are available in a group environment.
But today what I'm seeing goes further than the usual kibitzing (with a single-player game) or competition (when the game sets you up as opponents). The two-player mode features fully cooperative game play: rather than playing against one another, both players operate independent characters who work together toward the goal.
What my wife and I are finding most interesting is that their dialog is alternating between talking about the game ("you need to be someone who can use the force," or "those guys are on our side,") and improvised, in-character dialog. I will not try to replicate the latter, because I simply can't do it justice.
Posted at 05:57PM Feb 20, 2008 by AceOfSpuds in General |