Learn Chinese Language & Culture Via Online Game
Learn Chinese Language & Culture Via Online Game
June 18, 2008
A Michigan State professor has designed an online game to teach Chinese culture and language to players.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Yong Zhao, MSU distinguished professor of educational psychology and technology, is the creator of Zon. In the role-playing game, players try to enhance their character's social and economic status. Said Zhao:
Games are supposed to be fun and educational. This game offers a vicarious, virtual experience of China. We are here to serve the public and, in this case, to bridge the gap between China and the United States. That's the ambassador role we want to play.
Zon is currently free, although a subscription model is being considered.
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Posted 09/05/08 at 12:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : wut? do uuu needz a hugz too? :X
ZippyDSMlee: Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : wut? do uuu needz a hugz too? :X
Posted 09/05/08 at 11:33am
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @Zippy: *Facepalm*
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @Zippy: *Facepalm*
Posted 09/05/08 at 10:35am
ZippyDSMlee: SticKboy:yay! *pounce cuddles luff luff* :P
ZippyDSMlee: SticKboy:yay! *pounce cuddles luff luff* :P
Posted 09/05/08 at 10:34am
Zevorick: @Flamespeak What about Claire Redfield from Resident Evil? She's certainly not the typical "Weak woman character"
Zevorick: @Flamespeak What about Claire Redfield from Resident Evil? She's certainly not the typical "Weak woman character"
Posted 09/05/08 at 10:04am
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Oh and Chrono Trigger FTW
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Oh and Chrono Trigger FTW
Posted 09/05/08 at 10:03am
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Wow. Someone pulled a New Anon in the 11-year-old GTA thing.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : Wow. Someone pulled a New Anon in the 11-year-old GTA thing.
Posted 09/05/08 at 09:20am
Tarosan: That is just stupid... 'Paper Tiger' I mean really, he's begging to be arrested and criminally charged with contempt
Tarosan: That is just stupid... 'Paper Tiger' I mean really, he's begging to be arrested and criminally charged with contempt
Posted 09/05/08 at 09:16am
Tarosan: Oh god not again what is he doing now?
Tarosan: Oh god not again what is he doing now?
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:50am
sortableturnip: JT press release *snicker* http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/09/03/the-new-face-of-the-broward-judiciary.aspx#comment-1340589
sortableturnip: JT press release *snicker* http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/09/03/the-new-face-of-the-broward-judiciary.aspx#comment-1340589
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:49am
Austin_Lewis: @Harmless Bunny: Ayla from Chrono Trigger
Austin_Lewis: @Harmless Bunny: Ayla from Chrono Trigger
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:43am
HarmlessBunny: @ Flamespeak: How about April Ryan from the Longest Journey?
HarmlessBunny: @ Flamespeak: How about April Ryan from the Longest Journey?
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:29am
BlackIce: @AL, KoF, GrPr: Paradise City. Full Volume.
BlackIce: @AL, KoF, GrPr: Paradise City. Full Volume.
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:28am
SticKboy: ATTN Zippy: Dude, check out the last comment in the latest BBFC vs PEGI news story; we finally agree on something!
SticKboy: ATTN Zippy: Dude, check out the last comment in the latest BBFC vs PEGI news story; we finally agree on something!
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:20am
gamepolitics: I have only been able to play my Spore offline... also, I'm underwhelmed so far
gamepolitics: I have only been able to play my Spore offline... also, I'm underwhelmed so far
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:11am
NovaBlack: so once again, pirates.. playing early and no hassle (DRM cracked so no benefit from it) and legit consumers hassled
NovaBlack: so once again, pirates.. playing early and no hassle (DRM cracked so no benefit from it) and legit consumers hassled
Posted 09/05/08 at 08:10am
NovaBlack: @GP check out the spore furums. LOTS of ppl complaining cant activate game with Ea servers. Game was cracked Before release!!!
NovaBlack: @GP check out the spore furums. LOTS of ppl complaining cant activate game with Ea servers. Game was cracked Before release!!!
Posted 09/05/08 at 07:42am
Cheater87: Dead Space banned in 3 countries. http://www.destructoid.com/dead-space-release-date-pushed-up-again-outright-banned-in-three-co
Cheater87: Dead Space banned in 3 countries. http://www.destructoid.com/dead-space-release-date-pushed-up-again-outright-banned-in-three-co
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:56am
beemoh: EA 'free petrol' stunt causes controversy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7599639.stm
beemoh: EA 'free petrol' stunt causes controversy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7599639.stm
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:11am
Flamespeak: Jade from Beyond Good and Evil is a good one. Too bad it didn't sell too good. Here's to the sequel.
Flamespeak: Jade from Beyond Good and Evil is a good one. Too bad it didn't sell too good. Here's to the sequel.
Posted 09/05/08 at 06:10am
Flamespeak: Lara Croft = Sex object, Fat Princess = making fun of overweight women, Cooking Mama = women belong in kitchen.
Flamespeak: Lara Croft = Sex object, Fat Princess = making fun of overweight women, Cooking Mama = women belong in kitchen.
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Comments
I don't really think this is gonna work out too well, never heard of a game that taught you stuff and was fun,is this like some sort of sim kind of game or something?
Sierra had some good edutainment games (Zeus, Pharoah, Caesar, etc...). Total War teaches a fair amount about ancient and medival military. Certain school shooting experts say that all kinds of games teach you how to shoot weapons and kill people.
---------------------------------
So speak I, some random guy.
never heard of a game that taught you stuff and was fun
Seriously? Even as a reader of this site, you've never seen a story about an edutainment title? Never played one yourself? I mean, even if you're not the type who finds learning in itself fun I find that hard to believe.
I'm pleased to see two stories in as many days about educational games. Luckily this one can be tried at no cost--at least for the time being--so I'll be checking it out some evening this week. Bonus: I've been wanting to learn Chinese for years. ;)
Someone never played math blaster
Umm... Oregon Trail?
Damnit, why did it have to be chinese? It'd be ideal for me if it was Finland focussed, I'm just starting to teach myself the language.
Good idea though
I remember this story! They started working on it two years back, I used an article about it for a project in a technical writing course I was taking. It's good to see they got it working!
My brother's studying Chinese right now. Maybe I'll get him into it...
If it works, do one for German! I've always wanted to learn German!
Or Indonesian, cause my girlfriend is Indonesian, and I'd like to learn her native language
I'm taking Chinese 101, Modern China, and Contemporary Chinese Politics next semester...
::creates Zon profile::
Can I learn to oppress my citizens in this?
I am def. checking this out when i get home, i'm trying to learn chinese.
Don't bother. You'll just have to learn it again in half an hour...
This is a neat concept. I'd like to see Jack Thompson find something to complain about in this one.
That's an easy one. Video games are now being used to spread Communism.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
And the bird flu.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large. For information on games and psychology, look up:
Jonathan Freedman (2002)
Block and Crain (2007)
Grand Theft Childhood, a book by Harvard Medical School researchers Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson
You say that like it's a bad thing. ;P
Dark Sovereign, if you're American then there shouldn't be too much to learn.
I, personally, do not feel particularly oppressed. The government attempts to make laws and enforce them. I ignore the government. We've been working out so far.
Perhaps I'm a little more jaded than others here. Half of my neighborhood is Chinese, you see. If I wanted to learn Chinese culture, I'd ask my neighbors.
While I'd rather have something that teaches about Russia (I took a Russian class once and know the Cyrillic alphabet... wish I could've taken more classes...), this sounds like a decent way to help patch things between America and China. I was reading the Associated Press a while back and it mentioned something about how Ping Pong helped open relations between the two nations (this was during the Nixon years and was even referenced in Forrest Gump, IIRC), so I think a game can help relations too, even if it is edutainment (as long as it's fun... Mario is Missing certainly wasn't fun, that's for sure).
Although I don't think this'll change my opinions about the Chinese government, of which I am terrified of.
I've known about this game after starting learning Chinese on this page... really nice!
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