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[pswii60]

US attorney Jack Thompson has criticised Buzz! The Schools Quiz, claiming teachers should concentrate on traditional teaching methods instead.

His comments were aired in British newspapers The Telegraph and The Daily Mail, which both questioned Sony's motives in selling the PS2 title to schools.

"Videogames have hurt far more people than they have helped," claimed Jack Thompson. "I don't see how they can be of any more benefit than normal teaching."

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

Buzz! The Schools Quiz features around 5000 questions based on the Key Stage 2 Curriculum and is available in both shops and schools.

It's a self-funded project by Buzz! developer Relentless, and has proved both successful and popular in schools around the country - as we heard in an interview last Friday.

Sounds all right to us. But what about you at the back there with your hand up and your snotty nose, what do you think?

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=90621

What an idiot - this is a self-funded project by Relentless, and the idea is just to quiz students with questions related to their work - but also make it fun at the same time. Jack never ceases to amaze me.

It's not like teachers are going to stop their "traditional teaching methods" just for this! It's simply a bit of edu-tainment for the end of the day, or last day of term etc.

Also, "educational psychologist" obviously hasn't got a clue what Buzz! is about. Talk about generalising. Just goes to show that our little hobby still hasn't moved forward in the mainstream media's mind.

 

[Orlics]

:lol you so crazy Jack

 

[Mistouze]

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

... I wonder how many years of work lead her to that conclusion?

 

[chiefhalfoat]

Quick, video games are trying to be fun and educational, we must put a stop to this!

 

[Son of Godzilla]

Assuming it's nothing more than the normal game wrapped up in edutainment, it does seem unnecessarily competitive.

 

[plagiarize]

which is it jack?

are games highly educational or not jack?

here you say they aren't, but elsewhere you say that they can train someone to kill with a sniper rifle.

 

[pswii60]

... I wonder how many years of work lead her to that conclusion?

It sounds like the last game she played was Radar Rat Race on the Commodore 64.

 

[MotorbreathX]

Anybody have an air compressor to blow the sand outta his vagina?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I am Jack's ________________?

A: desperate cry for attention
B: last grab for media attention
C: inflamed sense of rejection
D: broken Heart

 

[Aaron]

I learned more from videogames than I ever did in high school, and I was in the top ten of the graduating class.

 

[IzumiK]

These people need to look at S Korea and how intelligent their Starcraft players are and they just play games all day.

 

[Galactic Fork]

I am Jack's ________________?

A: desperate cry for attention
B: last grab for media attention
C: inflamed sense of rejection
D: broken Heart

E: complete lack of surprise.

 

[birdman]

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

Wow. I should play Buzz! now. It sounds so easy!

 

[jeremy_ricci]

I wish I could spend 20 Minutes with these people on National Television to show america that games are clearly not the problem, people like these are.

What I mean by that is, anyone not willing to take responsibility for their childrens actions or activities.

 

[DrForester]

Jack's getting it all out now because the Florida Bar association is voting to disbar him in the next few weeks I believe.

 

[Dark Octave]

So he has no rhyme or reason behind his hate. It's just blind hate for all videogames at this point.

Jack Thompson = the KKK of videogames.

 

[fatigues_gasolini]

I have Buzz and play it on a regular basis. Ive learned tons of shit from it. A educational version for school would rock, as it would get you involved and pay attention to what you are learning. Cool stuff.

 

[Justin Bailey]

"If you watch kids on a thin sheet of wood, most of them are just scribbling or moving their hands as fast as they can. It reminds me of a scarab running through a labyrinth."

Very insightful.

 

[DangerStepp]

I can only deduce from his deep seeded hatred for video games that he was touched in inappropriate places by a video game as a child.

 

[Metalmurphy]

which is it jack?

are games highly educational or not jack?

here you say they aren't, but elsewhere you say that they can train someone to kill with a sniper rifle.

Pretty ironic ain't it?

 

[pswii60]

Very insightful.

:lol

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

As a teacher, I can certify that this is complete bullshit. Because of PC edu-games, kids can learn much faster and much younger than they have ever been able to. My school uses educational software from pre-K through 8. You should see some of the pre-K kids wizz through these games, its remarkable.

 

[scxzor]

As a teacher, I can certify that this is complete bullshit. Because of PC edu-games, kids can learn much faster and much younger than they have ever been able to. My school uses educational software from pre-K through 8. You should see some of the pre-K kids wizz through these games, its remarkable.

Not just younger kids. Computer programs are a remarkable teaching and learning aid, when used properly. When properly integrated into a curriculum, you're able to reach a much wider range of students. "Games" can help engage students that would otherwise be struggling.

 

[Crushed]

Video of the good doctor's research subject:

 

[Davidion]

As a teacher, I can certify that this is complete bullshit. Because of PC edu-games, kids can learn much faster and much younger than they have ever been able to. My school uses educational software from pre-K through 8. You should see some of the pre-K kids wizz through these games, its remarkable.

Yeah but you're just a teacher. Lawyers obviously know more about education than you do.

 

[nli10]

I thought Jack was only paid to promote violent games not family friendly ones too?

If the papers ever figure out he's one of us it will be a sat day for games PR.

Be interesting to see how many places this campaign gives the game in the Chart Track data today...

 

[DangerStepp]

Not just younger kids. Computer programs are a remarkable teaching and learning aid, when used properly. When properly integrated into a curriculum, you're able to reach a much wider range of students. "Games" can help engage students that would otherwise be struggling.

Agreed. It also shows that learning can be a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience. A mentality that can carry them far and make them successful throughout their life. But don't tell Hack that. In his mind, the kids will just find a way to play Doom or Mortal Kombat and then go out and snipe from atop town hall.

 

[Gattsu25]

It sounds like the last game she played was Radar Rat Race on the Commodore 64.

There was a Win 3.1 game that looked similar to this where you were a mouse avoiding a cat IIRC

anyone remember that game?

 

[Joni]

Edutainment games turn kids into killing machines!!!!
(I'm thinking Thompson really is going overboard with this one.)

 

[Guy LeDouche]

I thought Jack was only paid to promote violent games not family friendly ones too?

If the papers ever figure out he's one of us it will be a sat day for games PR.

What happens on GAF when he comes out against WiiFit?

 

[AstroLad]

Pretty sure he's just joking at this point.

 

[neorej]

What happens on GAF when he comes out against WiiFit?

We support him.

 

[Dead Prince]

Has he attacked any Pet Sims yet? I want to hear something about animal neglection please

 

[traveler]

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

WTF? That is beyond stupid, even for these sorts of things. Utterly stupid, reductionist logic.

"If you watch Cormac McCarthy write, all you see him do is just scribble a bunch of letters down on a paper."

"If you watch Pixar draw a character, all you see is their animators screwing around with a bunch of lines and colors on a computer monitor."

etc.

 

[Dever]

That's just bullshit. I am 100% sure that I wouldn't be one of the best in my class in English if it weren't for videogames.

Educational psychologist Jane Healy agreed: "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze."

I don't understand this. What else are you supposed to be doing when on a computer? I mean, you can't do anything on a computer without hitting the keys or moving the mouse. Or does she mean that the kids she has observed have just smashed random buttons and thrown the mouse around while foaming at the mouth? If so, those kids have far bigger problems than computer games.

 

[neorej]

Jane Healy: "The Department for Education and Skills don't know anything!"

 

[Tntnnbltn]

What happens on GAF when he comes out against WiiFit?

Would never happen. He only targets video games.

(Note to self: check banned memes for nongaming)

 

[Prime crotch]

That's just bullshit. I am 100% sure that I wouldn't be one of the best in my class in English if it weren't for videogames.



I don't understand this. What else are you supposed to be doing when on a computer? I mean, you can't do anything on a computer without hitting the keys or moving the mouse. Or does she mean that the kids she has observed have just smashed random buttons and thrown the mouse around while foaming at the mouth? If so, those kids have far bigger problems than computer games.

I had psychology on high school (C+ bitches) so I obviously know what I'm talking about, she's basicly saying their just responding to impulses pressing the buttons until they have the right answer but aren't learning the actual subject.

 

[DangerStepp]

I don't understand this. What else are you supposed to be doing when on a computer? I mean, you can't do anything on a computer without hitting the keys or moving the mouse. Or does she mean that the kids she has observed have just smashed random buttons and thrown the mouse around while foaming at the mouth? If so, those kids have far bigger problems than computer games.

I think at this point we have to treat this stuff as if it's coming from our grandparents.

"Uh huh. Oh yeah? Ok. Yep. Sure thing."

You know...old people speak. Because when you get to bottom of it, they're just old people.

 

[biggersmaller]

which is it jack?

are games highly educational or not jack?

here you say they aren't, but elsewhere you say that they can train someone to kill with a sniper rifle.

Buy his book and it will all become clear to you.

 

[neorej]

I had psychology on high school (C+ bitches) so I obviously know what I'm talking about, she's basicly saying their just responding to impulses pressing the buttons until they have the right answer but aren't learning the actual subject.

Yeah, but in Buzz, that's just BS. You get to press a button, and it's either the correct or incorrect answer, there's no random hitting untill you get it right. Off course, I don't expect these "experts" to have any hands on experience with the subject at hand.

 

[Prime crotch]

Yeah, but in Buzz, that's just BS. You get to press a button, and it's either the correct or incorrect answer, there's no random hitting untill you get it right. Off course, I don't expect these "experts" to have any hands on experience with the subject at hand.

Take what I said with a pint of sarcasm. Even though she could be right to some extent but I bet she gave too much thought about her "study".

 

[chadums90]

Is this for real? Male problems in the modern classroom, which favors female tendencies, are well documented. Things like this are attempts to reach out to the under performing males who are bored with the seated, blackboard-reading monotony and need a hands-on, competitive atmosphere to thrive.

 

[madara]

Castlevania lead to me developing a whipping fetish, which lead to a seedy profession in porn, which then lead to the world of drugs finally sending me to homelessness. Its too late for me fellow gaffers, enemas and flogging skills will be my legacy, dont let this happen to you mates.

 

[Ramenman]

just moving the mouse as fast as they can.

Probably the quickest way ever to say "I don't know shit about videogames"


I don't know of any game who requires you to move the mouse as fast as you can. Plus Buzz is on PS2 so what ? Mouse ? Do the rats have to answer school subjects-related questions to race in a maze ?

Gimme some more "everyone plays videogames with the Wii" please Mr Mainstream Media.

 

[bababa]

I learned a shitload of stuff from educational videogames when I was younger. Jack's obviously a non-videogame fanboy.

 

[DrXym]

I expected more from the Telegraph than to quote this attention whore. I doesn't surprise me that the Daily Mail does.

For people that don't know, the Daily Mail panders to middle class readers and loves scare stories concerning immigration, terrorism, EU bureaucracy, traffic cameras, sex and violence in TV / film, alternate lifestyles, beggars etc. It even famously endorsed Adolph Hitler and facism in the 30s and has only softened a little since. So you can imagine that scare stories about video games turning children into mass murderers or brainless zombies is right up their street.

 

[Joni]

I don't know of any game who requires you to move the mouse as fast as you can. Plus Buzz is on PS2 so what ? Mouse ? Do the rats have to answer school subjects-related questions to race in a maze ?

That is what happens when the rats are smarter than the scientists.

 

[Danthrax]

Number Munchers says, "What?"

 

[Nolan.]

Not that i'm for Jack and this woman's argument, but some of the outbursts in here would only prove their point.