@Tonx: He's arguing that Crecente shouldn't have said that they are obligated to do it.

Drake Lake

@DuctTape: Who says goodwill has no economic value? Just because it can't be measured in units sold doesn't mean it's bad business. Quite the contrary, in fact. You just have to choose your goodwill carefully is all.

Tonx

@balls187 upside yo head: Where did you get the impression this was about learning to use the system? Practically the whole point of consoles is that they are easy to use, you don't need to 'learn to use' them. Which means that the console interface could be a useful one for educational games.

However the fact that there basically aren't any (okay there are a few, and some similar like Brain Age, Crosswords etc which I could just about imagine being used in a classroom) sort of puts a damper on this idea. Which is why Crecente's point is such a good one. Nintendo should market a line of educational DS applications, probably sold via a special Wii channel (or PC application if possible) that would provide them to pupils in the classroom via wireless download play, and using WiiWare-like infrastructure so that independent developers can join in. I can't see any way to make money from this, though, so I doubt they will do it.

quen

@Pezdispenser: Nintendo could be addressing this situation at the conference for all we know. I'm absolutely sure someone will bring this up at the conference.

Drake Lake

@balls187 upside yo head:

I think you're wrong, although not completely.

What Nintendo SHOULD be doing is showing educators how they can REALLY, SERIOUSLY make use of Nintendo's technology to teach their students. This conference is three things to Nintendo: It's an opportunity to create new customers, it's an opportunity to make plenty of money selling their DS hardware en mass to schools, and it's a wonderful opportunity for good PR.

What they should be doing is show how teachers can turn one of Nintendo's Wii Remotes into an interactive multitouch-enabled whiteboard surface for about $60. That would not only be an extremely useful tool for classrooms all over the world, but it costs practically nothing to do it.

Johnny Lee is of course the genius who came up with this: Watch him demonstrate it and recieve a standing ovation from some of the smartest people on the planet.

+ Watch video

Atheist Jew

My guess is that no company will care if you know how to use an NDS or a Nintendo Wii, where as knowing your way around a computer is pretty much a requirement for most non-dead-end jobs.

balls187 upside yo head

I think it's a bad idea.

Meanwhile, students in Japan, Singapore, and the rest of the world are learning, Reading, Writing, Math, you know, things that will make them more successful.

balls187 upside yo head

(Crecente) Personally, I think all three hardware companies are obligated, as good corporate citizens, to create educational games for their download services.

It's dangerous to say that companies are obligated to pursue uneconomic plans in the interest of the public good. Surely Nintendo is as responsible for educating my children as the power company is for walking my dog.

In their own best interest because of the good publicity, yes. Morally obligated? I'm not so sure.

DuctTape

Hmmm... If they ever come out with a graphing calculator for my DS, then it just might work. However, I have a feeling a lot of teachers are going to realize that the DS has Picto Chat and say that it'll be used for cheating, passing notes, etc.

Pezdispenser

@Atheist Jew: I'm not saying that consoles have no place in academia. PS3's in grid computing, Johnny Lee's work with VR and the Wii, those are great applications of consoles.

I'm saying that it's a bad idea to replace or even supplement standard curriculum for grade-schoolers.

balls187 upside yo head

oops, here they are:
[www.youtube.com]

Atheist Jew

@Fuga: Check out the other vids posted from the TED talks. Some of them are absolutely fascinating. I've wanted to attend the TED conference for several years now but registration is something like $6000 D:

I'm hoping I can get in for free as press at some point, but I'm not so sure if that would play out as I would expect.

Atheist Jew

@Atheist Jew: I've seen Johnny Lee's work. It's slick.

@quen: I think you missed the point. Apple was singled out as an example of where technology in the classroom has been successful. But it wasn't successful because it made learning easier. It was successful because it exposed kids to computers, using a mouse, navigating a GUI, basic programming (LOGO).

What does the NDS give educators that a pencil and paper doesnt?

In a time where kids are under performing at the basics like reading, writing, and basic math, we want to take tax payers money and waste it on video game consoles?

balls187 upside yo head

Crecente gets to talk to a Nintendo executive but does he tell her Nintendo should hire Johnny Lee over there? No, he tells her Nintendo "should work to get some WiiWare educational games out." Thanks Crecente.

Seriously though, I hope you told her about hiring Johnny Lee.

Green-clad Gamer Dude

@Atheist Jew: Wow, that video is more interesting than this article!

Fuga

I believe the correct pluralization is "DSeses."

Robotube

my dads a teacher
*ponders if he's going*

poke50uk

Geez that blue is sexy...

majatt

As a 30 year old gamer with a casual gaming wife and a 2 year old who can do Crayola puzzles on her pink DS, I would ABSOLUTELY purchase educational titles for my kid. There is a serious lack of quality educational "games" and I am guessing there are a lot of gamers like me who are growing up and having kids and would love stuff like this.

Gomerboy

i remember my parents buying me 'edumacational games' when i was small, in the spectrum/atari era. they thought if i was going to be a dorky videogame player and waste my time, then at least i could waste it on worthy games. i resented the whole idea massively and never played them.

schools will never catch onto educational gaming because a) as it stands it isnt that helpful, for the investment, b) kids are difficult enough to interest as it is without being forced to play something they find old and boring when theyve got halo 10 at home, and c) the teaching community has a hand-wringing issue about using faceless technology instead of, you know, real teachers, to teach. how does educational technology-using Young Teacher 1 feel when Bearded Old Teachers 2, 3 and 4 tell her she should be using textbooks and proper teaching instead of electric gimmicks.

maybe in 50-100 years theyll just jack kids into a teacher VR, because that will save money on salaries. thats what changes shit, saving money. until 1 computer can teach a class, forget it.

red