Video+Game+Critique

**Introduction** The game I chose is Real Lives 2010. Real Lives is a unique, interactive life simulation game that enables you to live one of billions of lives in any country in the world. Through statistically accurate events, Real Lives brings to life different cultures, human geography, political systems, economic opportunities, personal decisions, health issues, family issues, schooling, jobs, religions, geography, war, peace, and more! (Real Lives, 2010)

Your character is born based on real world statistics, meaning you have a very good chance of being born in China and India, and a high chance of being born poor. You might also be born into a rich family in a rich city.

Real Lives asks you to make all important decisions for your character. You’ll need to manage every aspect of your character’s life including schooling, work, whether you wish to work overtime or not, dating, marriage, whether to have children or not, monthly expenses, and handle their investments and loans.

As you play the game, information specific to your character will appear, for example, one of my character’s was Indian, an item of information that appeared was “Traditional clothing for most Indians consists of a simple draped cloth, a sari for women and a dhoti for men, along with a shirt or blouse, though most Indian men now wear western-style clothing.

The decision to play and critique this game was easy. Out of the entire array of role playing games out there, this one is truly educational! Real Lives allows a statistically accurate view of different cultures, geography, human geography, political systems, economic opportunities and disadvantages, personal decisions, health and family issues, schooling, jobs, religions, war, peace, etc. It is perfect for upper elementary or middle school students who are starting to study the world and its inhabitants.
 * Rationale**

I feel that students would really enjoy playing this game. Any game where the students get to make the decisions for their characters is usually a big hit. Though the game can be lengthy, (you are living a lifetime for your character), there is always that chance that your character will live a short life. This alone makes playing the game continually exciting; you just never know what could happen to your character.

The most obvious curricular connection for this game is that of a social studies nature. Whether you are teaching world history, geography, government, or simply just introducing your students to the world and the people who live in it, this game is perfect. It is the ideal way to give your students a first-hand experience with a lifestyle unlike their own. This experience will not only enhance their knowledge of different cultures but make students aware of major issues going on the world including poverty, disease and war. This in-turn will develop the student’s empathy for those living in different situations than the ones they are living in.

Assessing this game could be done in a number of ways. The most simple of these could be to just allow your students to play the game in their free time. Another method could be to have your students keep a journal while playing the game. They could keep track of information they have learned by playing the game, or even reflect on decision they wish they would have or wouldn’t have made if they could go back.

Real Lives 2010 || Real Lives allows you to make all important decisions for your character. This includes managing monthly expenses, investments and loans, choosing a job, or to work overtime, going to school, including higher education, choosing to date or get married and to have children, and what you like to do in your free time. As you play the game, information specific to your character will appear, for example, my character is Indian, an item of information that appeared was “Traditional clothing for most Indians consists of a simple draped cloth, a sari for women and a dhoti for men, along with a shirt or blouse, though most Indian men now wear western-style clothing.” || (explicit or implicit) |||||| To demonstrate the ability to make responsible decisions and empathize with other countries socioeconomic situations. || (explicit or implicit) |||||| Game emphasizes a combination of higher-level thinking skills and lower-level thinking skills. Students assessed on success of decisions made and impact those decisions had on their characters life. || (explicit or implicit) |||||| Unique, content rich and empathy-building real world, real life simulation that challenges your life skills as you make difficult, high-stakes choices that lead to your success, or failure. ||
 * Overview |||||| Description ||
 * Title |||||| 
 * Concept |||||| Real Lives is a role playing game. Your character is born based on real world statistics, meaning you have a very good chance of being born in China and India, and a high chance of being born poor. You might also be born into a rich family in a rich city.
 * Learning Objectives
 * Assessment
 * Content
 * Values & Skills (explicit or implicit) |||||| Decision making, money management, world studies. ||
 * Game Method/Style |||||| <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Role-playing game (player assumes role of a person). ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Audience |||||| <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Children, teens, adults, teacher student, both male and female. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Platform ||||||  ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Publisher |||||| <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Educational Simulations ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Developer |||||| <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Educational Simulations ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Release Date |||||| <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">2010 ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Design Aspects || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">High || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Average || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Low ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Graphics & Sound ||  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">x ||   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Playability || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">x ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Entertainment || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">x ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Replay Value || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">x ||  ||   ||