Summary
The Boy Scouts of America will introduce a new Game Design Merit Badge this year. This is the newest badge and it recognizes the important skills that kids can gain from gaming. The article discusses how gaming teaches kids skills all over the board, from basic courtesy to logic and mathematics. They spent two years designing and testing this merit badge. The Boy Scouts even got input from volunteers from the game industry. In order for a boy scout to earn this badge, they will analyze different types of games, describe the content and theme, and understand the concept of intellectual property as it relates to the gaming industry. Then he will put his knowledge to use by charting the design and concept of his own game project in a notebook. When his design is approved, he may begin to build a prototype of his game. All mediums are allowed, from card games to smartphone apps. The Boy Scouts of America believes this badge is an important step forward in widening the nation's acceptance of gaming.
Reason for choosing this article
I chose this article because it shocked me a little bit that they are actually making this a badge. I was a Girl Scout and I couldn't see this as one of our badges. Most of our badges had to do with arts, crafts, and outdoor activities. So this caught my attention that they have made a badge in correlation with gaming.
Personal and Social Values at stake and ethical implications
I don't think this game design badge is good idea. I think it could be an activity the boys do, but they shouldn't be awarded for learning about games. There are too many boys that are already addicted to video games. I think this badge will only increase the percent of boys who are addicted. Boy Scouts are supposed to get badges for learning real life lessons and activities. Learning game design will only promote boys to play more games, not design them. Sure they might learn some logic and courtesy when completing this badge, but most of the games they will end up playing don't have any logic or courtesy in them.
Credibility of its sources
Katie Williams is a freelance games journalist and critic. She got this information directly from the Boy Scouts of America.
The Boy Scouts of America will introduce a new Game Design Merit Badge this year. This is the newest badge and it recognizes the important skills that kids can gain from gaming. The article discusses how gaming teaches kids skills all over the board, from basic courtesy to logic and mathematics. They spent two years designing and testing this merit badge. The Boy Scouts even got input from volunteers from the game industry. In order for a boy scout to earn this badge, they will analyze different types of games, describe the content and theme, and understand the concept of intellectual property as it relates to the gaming industry. Then he will put his knowledge to use by charting the design and concept of his own game project in a notebook. When his design is approved, he may begin to build a prototype of his game. All mediums are allowed, from card games to smartphone apps. The Boy Scouts of America believes this badge is an important step forward in widening the nation's acceptance of gaming.
Reason for choosing this article
I chose this article because it shocked me a little bit that they are actually making this a badge. I was a Girl Scout and I couldn't see this as one of our badges. Most of our badges had to do with arts, crafts, and outdoor activities. So this caught my attention that they have made a badge in correlation with gaming.
Personal and Social Values at stake and ethical implications
I don't think this game design badge is good idea. I think it could be an activity the boys do, but they shouldn't be awarded for learning about games. There are too many boys that are already addicted to video games. I think this badge will only increase the percent of boys who are addicted. Boy Scouts are supposed to get badges for learning real life lessons and activities. Learning game design will only promote boys to play more games, not design them. Sure they might learn some logic and courtesy when completing this badge, but most of the games they will end up playing don't have any logic or courtesy in them.
Credibility of its sources
Katie Williams is a freelance games journalist and critic. She got this information directly from the Boy Scouts of America.