Video Games Can Teach, If Kids Will Play
"Beasts of the 5th Sun” teaches children the importance of preserving the Earth’s crucial wildlife habitats.
While it’s not unusual to see books or movies taking plots from the headlines, hot topics now show up in unexpected places -- including video games.
No longer content to produce simple shoot-’em-ups, many game developers now create video games designed to inform as well as to entertain. Some take sarcastic views on real events, like “Harpooned: Japanese Cetacean Research Simulator,” in which gamers play a Japanese scientist “researching” whales by killing them for cat food. Others focus on education, such as “PowerUp,” which requires children to use solar, wind and water power to save a fictional planet.
If socially conscious games sound heavy-handed, it’s because most of them emphasize driving home a message over gameplay. But kids aren’t likely to learn if they don’t want to play the game. Parents who want to give their kids beneficial video games should look for entertaining games that just happen to carry a social or environmental message. For example, “The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun,” a game available on Wii, PS2, Nintendo DS and PSP, may not look particularly educational at first glance -- it is, after all, based on a Cartoon Network show.
But when children play as members of the Saturday family, they become scientific explorers dedicated to discovering and protecting secret artifacts and mysterious creatures called Cryptids, which are based on folklore, myths and legends.
The game follows an original storyline based on the “Secret Saturdays” television series. Players must prevent the evil V.V. Argost from using Cryptids for his own gain -; an interesting parallel with the real-life exploitation of natural resources. As players explore and solve puzzles in 10 real-world environments, the game teaches them to protect creatures’ habitats -- even if those creatures are unlikely to appear in any local zoo. And the game includes enough action -- traversing water hazards, flying and battling the Saturday’s enemies -- to keep kids interested. After all, battling an evil villain from your favorite shows sounds like far more fun than using equations to build a virtual windmill.
Mickey Mouse of Japan Goes
Stateside
Japanese imports like Pokémon and DragonballZ have been entertaining American children for over a decade, but Japan’s most iconic manga character a child robot known as Astro Boy has only recently been rediscovered by American audiences.
Often called “The Mickey Mouse of Japan,” Astro Boy was created in 1952 by Tezuka Osamu, Japan’s most influential cartoonist. Tezuka’s characters, with their large eyes and expressive faces, established the drawing style used in all anime today.
But it was Tezuka’s storytelling that made Astro Boy resonate with audiences around the world. Astro Boy reimagines the story of Pinocchio in a futuristic setting. Although Astro Boy is a powerful robot with components that help him protect the Earth -- including twin machine guns in his butt -; he is, at heart, a little boy with an innocent worldview. Running themes include respect for life and a clear anti-bigotry message. But the morals go down with a spoonful of sugar, or, in this case, whimsy and some seriously fun butt-kicking.
Children today can experience Astro Boy outside of manga and anime. For example, D3Publisher of America, Inc. has created a video game that allows children to become Astro Boy. Available on Wii, DS, PS2 and PSP, Astro Boy: The Video Game combines entertaining gameplay with immersive storytelling. Players of all ages can use Astro Boy’s iconic weapons to battle enemies and unlock different versions of the eponymous character. Based on the 2009 full-length CG film, the video game features the voices of Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell and allows players to explore environments from the movie.
Astro Boy emerged from post-war Japan, when instability and the fear of technology played a major role in popular culture. But while other contemporary Japanese movies involved giant monsters decimating Toyko, Tezuka created a more reassuring vision. As Tezuka once said, “’Love all the creatures! Love everything that has life!’ I have been trying to express this message in every one of my works.”
As America finds itself fighting overseas and experiencing an economic downturn, Astro Boy’s inspiring story of redemption and triumph will certainly resonate with new generations.
Copyright 2009 The Charter News. All Rights Reserved.
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