Comments on: Editorial: The Gaming Classroom

By: Ethos

Ethos — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 23:37:20 +0000

I also know that a good chunk of people associate science with tedium, and perhaps they are correct to a degree. In modern video games, there is an opportunity to show those folks otherwise. The thing is that a lot of people associate tedium with video games as well and with good cause. I feel like there's a yet-to-released crucial game that will be able to make the connection and put the tedium and the fun in the right places to make *sigh* learning fun. But seriously. I guess part of making learning fun is NEVER using those words close together. I am not the guy to do this.

By: Mel

Mel — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 12:41:36 +0000

I was under the impression that, while NASA might internally be as eager and interested as ever, the country hasn’t prioritized their projects nor funded the agency nearly as much as in the past when those projects served potential military advantages. Now that it’s so internationally collaborative, as you say, why fund things another country will pay for (like a shuttle)? Unless we are paying for its use, which wouldn’t surprise me I guess.

By: Java

Java — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:23:26 +0000

I beg to differ! NASA has nothing short of a metric ton of projects happening as we speak, all aimed at different aspects of space/atmospheric science and aeronautics, many in tandem with the other agencies. Pretty soon, we should be getting soil moisture data from their latest which will hopefully translate to better weather forecasting technologies. The only thing NASA really lost was a ride, so some stuff has to hitch a lift to the ISS or whatever, which, really, just shows that scientists be all like “Our countries hate each other ten different ways, but lets forget that and go do cool shit in low Earth orbit.” Space!

By: Mel

Mel — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 18:09:09 +0000

My last brush with a genuine edutainment game was Sticky Bear and all I really remember from it was the name…

Also, yes NASA needs more funding. But ever since we lifted our leg and peed on the Moon, we haven’t quite had the same fervor to do much else.

By: Java

Java — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 12:32:02 +0000

I have faith in NASA. They will get it right. It will take a few tries, and probably a few different studios, but they will get it right. They need to revive the MMO idea, and start hashing out potential application for such a game.

Gaming aside, yes, I agree 100%, but I think if they follow Col. Chris Hadfield’s lead, and continue to bring space science to the people via social media and public data (they do this a lot with us ham radio guys, yay!), they will eventually reclaim the support they need and continue doing amazing stuff. In the meantime, I also commend them for working with what little funding they have, and keeping the spirit of exploration alive despite the near-sighted obstinate fools.

By: Lusipurr

Lusipurr — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 22:07:08 +0000

NASA NASA NASA. NASA. NASA needs more funding. If making games can help NASA get funding (without leading to less funding from other sources), then let them make games! If playing games means people will clamour for NASA funding, then let them play games. CAMPAIGN TO GIVE NASA MORE FUNDING!!!