ESA SUPPORTS THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM
 Over 8,000 teachers and administrators will come together in Indiana this November for the 36th annual National Middle School Association (NMSA) Conference and Exhibit. During the three-day conference, teachers will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on student engagement and hear from guest speakers including Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and Tom Bloch, the former CEO of H&R Block who became an inner-city middle school teacher.
The conference will feature the 21st Century Classroom, an innovative showcase of the ways education and technology intersect. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is one of several contributors providing hardware and software to support this model classroom that highlights the learning needs of today's middle school students, a generation that already uses computers, video games and cell phones in their daily lives. The classroom will feature ESA-donated video game products including Nintendo's Wii Fit and its Big Brain Academy game and Ubisoft's My Word Coach.
In addition to conference attendees learning about the educational opportunities with technology, teachers and students from two Indianapolis-area middle schools will spend two days in the classroom using the next generation of learning tools, including video games, as part of their daily lessons. Students will experience first-hand how technology helps them with their "Great Humanitarian Project" about Haiti or measure distance-rate-time investigations in air traffic control through dynamic link libraries.
The 21st Century Classroom envisions what is possible when technology and education intersect and the ESA proudly supports this initiative. The marriage between computer and video games extends beyond this middle school classroom and is influencing the educational system at large. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop concluded in a recent report that computer and video games in education are important, necessary and here to stay. Further, University of Wisconsin education professor Dr. James Paul Gee reinforces this belief with his research that video games blend instruction and demonstration, engaging students in active learning.
More than just play, entertainment software enables independent and cooperative learning and more educators are embracing computer and video games to impart knowledge, develop life skills, and reinforce positive habits in students at all grade levels. To learn more about the most technologically advanced classroom to-date, visit the NMSA conference Web site.
GIVING BACK TO OUR TROOPS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
Veterans Day is right around the corner. It marks a time for Americans to honor and celebrate the members of our military. A number of organizations across the country make it their mission each and every day to give back to our troops and their families for making tremendous sacrifices on our behalf.
ThanksUSA is one particular non-profit organization dedicated to providing post-secondary educational opportunities to the children and spouses of active duty military personnel. The organization's two initiatives include a national treasure hunt and a military scholarship program.
Last year, the ESA Foundation and ThanksUSA entered a three-year partnership designed to increase the number of scholarships awarded to deserving military spouses and children. In 2008, the ESA Foundation supported Treasure Hunt Four, ThanksUSA's free trivia and puzzle game to generate donations for the fund. The association is also sponsoring this year's clue book as part of its partnership.
Pros vs. GI Joe is another non-profit organization working to boost the morale of soldiers. It organizes video game competitions between troops stationed overseas and professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NASCAR and PGA. The organization works with the military to get soldiers from the hometown of the team or athlete that has volunteered to participate in an event.
The organization's partnership with the Uniformed Services Organization (USO) enables troops to compete from its various centers located around the world. Competitions are held on the Internet using game consoles. Players stay connected to their opponents through large video monitors enabling constant interaction. Soldiers' families are invited to stateside events to take part in the fun and connect with their loved ones.
Recently, Pros vs. GI Joe held events with the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is hoping to expand its program beyond sports to connect soldiers with celebrities, musicians, high-ranking military officials and politicians.
To learn more about the ESA Foundation and ThanksUSA, please visit www.theESA.com.
VIDEO GAME VOTERS NETWORK PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND COMING TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS NEAR YOU
 The Video Game Voters Network (VGVN) last year saw one of its most successful years, reaching a 150,000 membership milestone and playing an active role in the most historic presidential election of our time. Continuing this momentum is a top priority of the VGVN, with upcoming state elections and persistent legislative threats against the industry that also threaten the rights of gamers themselves.
The VGVN was created to keep computer and video game users politically active, allowing voting-aged members to stay up-to-date on gaming issues, register to vote and express their views with federal, state and local government officials and candidates.
The passionate video game base of college students across the country will play an important role in the success of the VGVN in 2009 and for years to come. This fall, the ESA teams up with Electronic Arts to maintain this intensity by raising awareness for the VGVN on college campuses nationwide through EA's Sports NCAA Football Challenge Tour. The tour began at UCLA in early October and will continue through 19 cities in a three-month tour of college towns across the nation. College students will receive information about the VGVN's mission, how to get involved and become a member, and will even have the opportunity to register to vote for upcoming elections through the VGVN Web site.
Last year alone the network was activated 46 times and VGVN members sent more than 31,000 letters to Capitol Hill and state legislative offices in 20 states in response to action alerts about possible federal and state legislation. By the end of the fiscal year, state legislatures had introduced a total of 43 bills that would have regulated the content or access to video games, but thanks in part to the efforts of VGVN members, no legislatures were able to enact a law regulating game sales.
For a schedule of EA's Sports NCAA Football Challenge Tour, please click here. For more information on the Video Game Voter's Network or to become a member, visit www.videogamevoters.org.
CELEBRITIES LOVE VIDEO GAMES, TOO
Retailers and commercial companies often enlist celebrities to act as spokespeople for their products. It is less common for those spokesmen to become part of the products they pitch. However, this practice is becoming more popular within the computer and video game industry.
The trend began in 1984, when action hero Bruce Lee starred in his own kung-fu video game. More recently, comedians Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams are featured performing stand-up comedy set as part of the gameplay of Take Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto IV. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld hosts a fictional radio station within the game.
Musicians, in particular, seem to have a fervent attraction to computer and video games. Singer Beyonce proclaimed her interest in creating her own fitness video game. The rapper 50 Cent created a series of action games, most recently THQ's 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. The popularity of the music game genre has also allowed legendary bands like the Beatles to build games around their music. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr contributed creatively to MTV Games' The Beatles: Rock Band. Sony Computer Entertainment's SingStar franchise released versions for ABBA and Queen. The genre is so popular among celebrity musicians that Adam Clayton, bass player of U2, recently declared the group's wish to someday be featured in their own video game.
Stan Lee, founder of Marvel Comics, has done quite well for himself as the co-creator of characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, the Hulk and the Fantastic Four. However, when recently asked if he could do it all over again, Lee replied, "If I were young now and I wanted to do stories, I would very much want to get into the video game business because it's the most exciting."
Not every celebrity needs to create games in order to love playing them. There are plenty who just like to relax at home and play computer and video games like everyone else. Actors Seth Rogan, Megan Fox, Kristin Bell and Michael Madsen have all professed a love for computer and video games. While talking about his appearance on the cover of 2K Sports' NBA 2K10, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant says that NBA players use video games to occupy their time on every flight and in the locker rooms. Even celebrities you might not suspect, like funnyman Robin Williams and veteran actor Kelsey Grammer love picking up a controller now and then.
Sure, they may live the glamorous lifestyle, but when it comes to computer and video games, celebrities really are just like us! |
