242: Lab Coats and Lunatics
- Thread starter Jacob Aron
- Start date
I find that idea to incorporate scientific ideas into gameing rather interesting. I find games that allow you to learn something while exploring mechanics based on real life is a creative way to teach concepts to people who might not understand otherwise. In fact, I think Portal did this in a way, as it allowed players to play with acceleration by finding ways to increase it and redirect it. That game, Braid, you mentioned definatly sounds interesting to where it teaches ideas about different universes and space and time theroy due to their tie in with the core mechanics. I definatly think there is a future with tying in science with gameing. I will definatly look into Braid.
I find that your idea on the portrayaly of scientists in videogames might be wrong. In your article, you express that showing scientists as mad meddlers creating superweapons in labs might cause a negative view for scientists. I understand this to a point, but the adults who see this should be able to realize that this is only a movie or game, and real life science is different.
As for your other point, you try and say that showing scientists in the stereotypical men in white lab coats to be flawed. The article expresses that kids will not be able to look up to scientists as role models, and be turned away from pursuing a scientific career. I find this to be completly wrong. I think the opposite affect is what will happen. You see, if I were to show a young kid (maybe ten or so) a long page of chemistry work, or a detailed formula for the Krebs Cycle, I will probably lose his attention. If we try and start off showing kids that that is science, they may be turned off before actually looking into it. However, showing science as mad scientists creating time machines and robot arms, kids are going to think that stuff is cool and look into it.
Even fictional science, like showing Dr. Bruce Banner working with radiation, or Tony Stark working on repulsors (more of an engineering field, though holds the same point) draws in interest of younger audiences. It gets interest in groups which gets them to actually look into science with a biased view of it being awsome. Then, when they actually look into real science, they are not turned away from it, and actually give it a chance to see if they want to pursue it. Even crazy science might inspire a kid to become a scientist one day and revolutionize life on this Earth. Who knows? Maybe a kid will watch Star Trek, and one day go on to invent a handheld device that can allow communication with two or more people with out a wire like the communicators on the TV show.
Really, I think that we should embrace this fun, if not fictional, idea of science because it draws in interest into the field and inspires new ideas. This can even go over into other fields. Maybe we can use the Engineer in TF2 and Issac Clarke to inspire engineers, the Medic and Dr. Strange to inspire people to go into the medical field, and Batman, Norman Jayden, and Cole Phelps to inspire dectective and FBI agents. I think these interesting, and a bit "out there," portrayals of what a certain career might be are good things because it atleast gets publicity. It shows people that it is an actual thing, and for kids it gets them interested to where they might actually pursue something and find out they want to do it.
As for your other point, you try and say that showing scientists in the stereotypical men in white lab coats to be flawed. The article expresses that kids will not be able to look up to scientists as role models, and be turned away from pursuing a scientific career. I find this to be completly wrong. I think the opposite affect is what will happen. You see, if I were to show a young kid (maybe ten or so) a long page of chemistry work, or a detailed formula for the Krebs Cycle, I will probably lose his attention. If we try and start off showing kids that that is science, they may be turned off before actually looking into it. However, showing science as mad scientists creating time machines and robot arms, kids are going to think that stuff is cool and look into it.
Even fictional science, like showing Dr. Bruce Banner working with radiation, or Tony Stark working on repulsors (more of an engineering field, though holds the same point) draws in interest of younger audiences. It gets interest in groups which gets them to actually look into science with a biased view of it being awsome. Then, when they actually look into real science, they are not turned away from it, and actually give it a chance to see if they want to pursue it. Even crazy science might inspire a kid to become a scientist one day and revolutionize life on this Earth. Who knows? Maybe a kid will watch Star Trek, and one day go on to invent a handheld device that can allow communication with two or more people with out a wire like the communicators on the TV show.
Really, I think that we should embrace this fun, if not fictional, idea of science because it draws in interest into the field and inspires new ideas. This can even go over into other fields. Maybe we can use the Engineer in TF2 and Issac Clarke to inspire engineers, the Medic and Dr. Strange to inspire people to go into the medical field, and Batman, Norman Jayden, and Cole Phelps to inspire dectective and FBI agents. I think these interesting, and a bit "out there," portrayals of what a certain career might be are good things because it atleast gets publicity. It shows people that it is an actual thing, and for kids it gets them interested to where they might actually pursue something and find out they want to do it.
Make it happen!Kiithid said:
Really though, fascinating article. I found the "Uncle Kleiner" in Kleiner's lab almost unbearably sweet. I also now have a mental image of Einstein playing computer games ^^
You know, I think you're right there. I got interested in science when I was younger because I saw things in fiction like you've mentioned and thought "thats science? Thats. Fucking. Awesome." (well, that and a desire to find out how stuff works).ghostrider409895 said: