My intention, today, was to start the game over. In reading the comments on my blog, my partner and Debby did point out it may be easier to start with one Sim. I further felt justified by the fact that when children get frustrated (in gaming or in school) they start over.
Well, then I saw the tutorial, and the concrete-sequential learner in me took over. What better way to learn than with a teacher! Tutorial Joe to the rescue!
Let me tell you, I learned so much about myself as a human being today. The Sims creators must have PhDs in human psychology because i found out why I am the way I am! Perhaps my children understand me better thanks to the Needs Barometer and the Simology in the Sims.
Let me begin:
I begin the tutorial, clicking as Tutorial Joe tells me, hovering to find the "meaning" of all the icons. It begins with the Needs Barometer. This explains all the needs of the Sims: Hunger, comfort, bladder, energy, fun, social, hygiene and environment. Simple enough, let's dig a bit deeper (I am aware that a child will not see the depth of what I'm about to read into but the purpose of this course is to think and apply to learning).
Hunger: A Sim can make himself food or call out for pizza. So realistic!
Energy: A Sim needs to be in tip top shape, therefore to reenergize he can nap or drink coffee! These are the only two options. What about food for energy? That what I do! (granted I have taken to "running on Dunkin'", yet the Sims creator already figure that one out. Mr. Sim PhD knows me better than I know myself.)
Hygiene: "Often overlooked". All my characters have green stench following them around them. I can't keep up with all their needs and that one goes by the way side!!!
However, in the explanation, Big Brother Sim explains that "a bath is much more soothing to a Sim than a shower". So realistic!
Environment: A Sim needs color, neetness and greenery!
Which leads me to think of something very important. All these traits or Needs Barometer are things that parents teach their children! Can Sim 2 Deluxe replace parenting. What about those teachers that say that parents are not teaching their children what they need to know?
When I tell my children to take a shower, perhaps I won't need to explain why!
When I ask them to water a plant, perhaps they will no longer ask me why I even have plants!
When I am resting or drinking coffee, perhaps they will realize I need energey!
Wait a second, they play this game and I still have to explain myself! Never mind, a game can't replace parenting!
On to Simology. These are all icons I never noticed before. I was too busy with my family of Sims to pause and research on my own.
Simology is a Sim's personality, fitness, interests and memory.
Interesting that the fitness component explains that: "eating makes a Sim gain weight. Exercise will keep their trim figure.
I believe that Sim PhD made an attempt at building a world of happy, healthy creatures. What the gamer does is up to him or her. However, keeping a Sim happy will give you more options.
"Sims are sore losers".
I find it interesting that personality traits are detailed and explanatory. How great would it be to know people's likes and dislikes and how to please them! As a child/gamer, the only way to upset someone is to intentionally not give them what pleases them. Aha! The fun in the game (per my daughter) is to not give them what they want! The game continues, yet in another direction. (She's a stinker in real life too, not only in the gaming world)
I had a light bulb moment, as I was going through the personality traits of Sim characters. I discovered (based on the quite accurate descriptions....I tell you, PhD!) that I am:
- Active , always on the move, but need alot of food and rest (OMG, that's why i'm always tired!)
- Outgoing, not necessarily a plus according to the game.
- Neat, "great for a house, tiring for a Sim" (That would explain why I'm always tired)
Conclusion, i am a Sim!
I really need to think about this now.
I have to think about:
- How this makes my children feel?
- Why is Sims so popular?
- Why am I even looking for myself in this game?
- How did a game explain to me why I was so tired?
As a teacher:
- Can Sims be part of a curriculum? Which one/ones?
- Have I grown as a teacher through gaming???????
My head is going to explode....and I'm begun drawing speech bubbles to express to my family what my needs are. Fantasy has become reality!
I am a Sim!
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1 comment:
Hi! Laurence
I agree that it is true when you get frustrated most of the time you start over your game. I think that sometimes as teacher we think that parents are teaching the right thing or at least what they need to know. But sometimes parents are not doing what they are supposed to. Because i understand like you said your own kids know what some reaction that you do, means something.For example when you are drinking your coffee,your kids know why. My kids are the same way; when i tell them to take a shower, their is no need for me to explain why. But does every parent do this? - I don't think so. Alot of parents today are called parents because they have a child., but the truth they don't now how to raise their children. I'm telling you this because of the parent that i'm working this year with. I don't know where they are coming from. They ask me all this question that i can't even understand why they are asking me now when they had being raising this child for a period of time. But i guess that's how life is. Getting back to your game Laurence, it seems that your game is interesting and i think that you are doing a good job. As a teacher i think that you are learning more about Sim and that will help you to teach in the future. Also, as a parent, you are able to share with your own kids and they might learn from you in the future. I think that Sims is popular for being so complicated, maybe not. As a parent i think that now you would have the chance to feel and learn what your kids have being learning with this game. I think that you will grow as a teacher and as a parent through playing your game.
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