The Sims in the classroom: Tabea Brukelt

The Sims in the classroom: Tabea Brukelt Pomona College
Take a character and send 'him' through life.
Eat, work, toilet, etc.
ca. $18-19. SIM world plus expansion packs. eg Extend into university or library. Business models too.
Body Shop is free to 'create character'. 'Try on' changes depending on language setting for game. Interact with something else: appreciate, entertain, flirt, hug, kiss...
Why use it? Showed scans of food clothing furniture from text book. Lots of vocab from 1st year, 1st semester...
Change avatar
In class elect controller and then class helps lead to create the character.
Skin color, body type, eye color, hair length, etc.: adjectives, body parts, nose width, nostril width, chin pointiness, facial hair...
Clothing: what's the purpose? Select from everyday to formal wear.
Randomize button: let students describe the person and clothing
THIS IS A FREE DOWNLOAD--just this section!
Entered the German University SIM.
Greek organization join challenge... Make friends with people on this site.
Able to see the house inside. Enter Build mode and furnish the house.
Furniture has prices; TV styles; computers; stereos; sofa vs. chair vs. lounge chair.
Using Adv and Intermediate conversation classes: started with basement and added full house. Curtains and wallpaper!
All in target language.
Google cheats to reduce interference of running out of money or being hungry...
Google regedit hacks to change version between languages.
Needs: hunger, comfort, energy, friends, hygene, toilet urgency,
SIM improves as they read, etc. Put bookshelf in every room--learns to cook better.
Rotting food on table has flies and mold. CLick on fridge--many actions--check food levels, cook, make snack, etc.
Can control many people or just one. SUggestion to start is to create one SIM person, one house and see how that works.
Gardening is possible. Plant trees, create pond, etc. Can buy just some land and prepare it for the house.
Machinima is created from here: click V and start recording! Click C for screenshot.
Used SIMS Machinima to send sims chars into one house; recorded all interactions, then added voice overs.
Turn off green/red bars for recording...
Wrote script based on TAming of Shrew, created scene for it to 'live', recorded video and did voiceover.
Found script critical!
FLRC has 2 'gaming laptops' dedicated for this use.
Motivation was high among students. They had just returned from study abroad experiences. Challenges for faculty to 'know' computer language. Challenge for less motivated sections.
Serious Games: eg Tactical Iraqui for military.
Virtual Dollhouse?! Task driven games.
German version purchased in Germany.