Video Game Technologies

I mentioned this in our latest forum posts for class, but the thought of video games as a useful tool for students. We always criticize children that have a tendency to just sit in front of a video game screen all day. However, some of the video games we have today are incredibly complex and can be used to teach wonderful things. I am most experienced (though I have not played in a year or so) with World of Warcraft. The systems involved in this game are complex. One has to navigate a world that has a lot of threats to the character and one of the best way is forming alliances with friends and others that play the game. People use a trade system, battle together, and typically use online conferencing technologies to improve such efforts. I wonder if we aren't overlooking one of the more interesting possibilities in teaching when we write off games like this. When one gets to the "end game content", things really get interesting. Players must form groups as large as 40 people (each person with a specific task within the group) as they take on computer generated content. The tasks can range from simple to incredibly difficult and requires the proper coordination, execution, and effort from all 40 group members. They react to new changes in the content and must adapt their play style to how the task is forming in front of them. This kind of interaction could possibly be used for educational purposes, I think, but how we use and direct such technologies would also be important.