“Tangential learning is the process by which people will self-educate if a topic is exposed to them in a context that they already enjoy. For example, after playing a music-based video game, some people may be motivated to learn how to play a real instrument, or after watching a TV show that references Faust and Lovecraft, some people may be inspired to read the original work. Self-education can be improved with systematization. According to experts in natural learning, self-oriented learning training has proven to be an effective tool for assisting independent learners with the natural phases of learning.”
I’m curious if any players have found things in GW2 that made them stop and think: “Is this based of a real thing?”
Is there a time (other than other player discussion) that the game itself taught you something you would have possibly not learned had you not played it? And at what point, if any, have you every looked up something to see what it was referenced. And if you did look it up did you learn and retain any knowledge from it. I’m only asking because I’m genuinely curious on how much the devs put into the game that players pick up on that references real world situations places or things. And Arenanet people are welcome as always to point out anything specific they did on purpose or think we might find interesting. I love learning little tidbits in game, I understand it isn’t an educational game. However I feel like if I can acquire zero real life knowledge from a game, I find it less appealing. Simply learning game mechanics or story just doesn’t feel as rewarding to me. Looking up “Moa” or “Norn” online after encountering them, lead to interesting discoveries. So I’m curious if anyone else has done this.
Looked up what an Arctodus (sp) was once. Still have no clue what a pinipal is supposed to be though. They seem to have put a number of extinct animals into the game. Most of the other things are dependant on life experience it seems though. Like the government of the Dredge, or the philosophy of different races.
Most fantasy stories and games are based on real world mythology, cultures and events. This gives both the creator(s) and the audience a common ground from which to enter the story and understand it. Such as: there are unicorns in this world, but the Big Bad killed all but a handful of them and the story focuses on the protectors of the last remaining herd. Or vampires are real, but they can go out during the day and aren’t bothered by holy items.
Likewise, many cultures in fantasy stories are based on real cultures, such as the Roman Empire or ancient Egypt, or built around real events. Tolkein’s experiences during World War I led to the Lord of the Rings stories, and cultures in his world were based on the real world.
Each author or creative team puts a new spin on old ideas, but there is almost always a real world basis they work from, and always something new to learn about the real world from it. It helps make a more believable world, and one that the audience can identify with and easily enter. It would be possible to write a beautifully crafted tale of bodiless energy beings who live in a five-dimensional world, but it would be so hard to read and understand that it would only ever reach a very small audience because most people wouldn’t be able to enter that world.
Looked up what an Arctodus (sp) was once. Still have no clue what a pinipal is supposed to be though. They seem to have put a number of extinct animals into the game. Most of the other things are dependant on life experience it seems though. Like the government of the Dredge, or the philosophy of different races.
Given the models, the name Pinipal is most likely a reference to Pinnipeds, fin-footed mammals (including walruses and seals).
GW2 encourages teamwork and cooperation. Not a bad lesson for real life.
What ? Guild wars 2 is more about working beside people rather than with people. Rather than depending on other people to fill a role and support you, it’s everyman for themselves.
None of the content requires any sort of co-operation or communication to be complete.
After encountering some of the names and terms, I looked them up out of curiosity. Now I know what the Bifrost is about, what it does, and its significance to Norse mythology. Now if only there were more eastern inspired mythology added to it. Of course, that would probably in the expansion that deals with Cantha (assuming that Cantha will be featured).
“Tangential learning is the process by which people will self-educate if a topic is exposed to them in a context that they already enjoy. For example, after playing a music-based video game, some people may be motivated to learn how to play a real instrument, or after watching a TV show that references Faust and Lovecraft, some people may be inspired to read the original work. Self-education can be improved with systematization. According to experts in natural learning, self-oriented learning training has proven to be an effective tool for assisting independent learners with the natural phases of learning.”
I’m curious if any players have found things in GW2 that made them stop and think: “Is this based of a real thing?”
Is there a time (other than other player discussion) that the game itself taught you something you would have possibly not learned had you not played it? And at what point, if any, have you every looked up something to see what it was referenced. And if you did look it up did you learn and retain any knowledge from it. I’m only asking because I’m genuinely curious on how much the devs put into the game that players pick up on that references real world situations places or things. And Arenanet people are welcome as always to point out anything specific they did on purpose or think we might find interesting. I love learning little tidbits in game, I understand it isn’t an educational game. However I feel like if I can acquire zero real life knowledge from a game, I find it less appealing. Simply learning game mechanics or story just doesn’t feel as rewarding to me. Looking up “Moa” or “Norn” online after encountering them, lead to interesting discoveries. So I’m curious if anyone else has done this.
Just the oposite actually i was screaming at the lionguard YOU NEED BIGGER THAN 24 POUNDERS FOR A FORT
Team work and being social carries you a long way in this game. You can achieve things easier as well as have more fun. If your a loner not so much, I mean you can get things done just far slower. The same can be said in real life. It’s better to have a team then do things on your own. So if that’s what you would constitute as learning. I guess you can learn something from this game.
“Tangential learning is the process by which people will self-educate if a topic is exposed to them in a context that they already enjoy.
(snip)
Is there a time (other than other player discussion) that the game itself taught you something you would have possibly not learned had you not played it? And at what point, if any, have you every looked up something to see what it was referenced.
To be honest, I am a naturally self-directed learner to a degree that’s way on the outside of the bell curve. It doesn’t take much to send me on an Internet scavenger hunt.
Things in the game that have made me go outside the game looking for information (that I remember):
The BLTP is a pretty darn accurate simulation of a real market, and I’ve found myself digging into some aspects of real world trading that didn’t really interest me before.
Some of the cooking recipes/discoveries have sent me to Yummly to look for recipes and/or hints for recipe discoveries (which, I know was totally unnecessary as I could have just looked up the ingredient. I found it more fun the hard way).
I looked up the correct pronunciation of Orichalcum (which I then refused to use) and learned it was a metal referenced in some writings about Atlantis. Neat!
I have looked up some conversation references that I thought might be nods to something in pop culture I wasn’t familiar with, but I don’t remember exactly what they were.
Don’t ever think you know what’s right for the other person.
He might start thinking he knows what’s right for you. —Paul Williams
Guild Wars 2 taught me determination and not giving up (Instances on where this is shown is during the Fall of Claw Island, Tybalt and the last PS with Trahearne).
GW2 can also teach players to work together and instances on where this occurs are the WvW and Dungeons. While it may not seem as if WvW promotes teamwork to some…. it does, and it’s because everyone there worked together with the commander (If that’s not teamwork, I don’t know what is!) As for the dungeons….well, teamwork is required here or the team is pretty much as good as dead!
Give a man fire, he will be warm, set a man on fire, he will be warm forever! …or dead…
