Halloween Themed YA Videogames

By: Tara Rumsey

While there has been a great deal of research could help facilitate sharing, cooperation, focusing on the negative aspects of video and teamwork among youth. game play on adolescent development, the Gaming, while certainly beneficial for social positive aspects of gaming seem to be yet reasons, can facilitate learning and skill understudied. There are many possible development. Adachi & Willoughby (2012) benefits of video gameplay for teens, assert that “video games involve learning however. Improved hand-eye coordination, new skills and solutions to problems, improved special perception, and retaining those skills and solutions, and then cooperation (when gaming is undertaken as applying them to future problems or part of a team or group) are all possible challenges” (p. 156). While youth tend to outcomes from video gameplay. see gaming as entertainment, they can learn Olson et al. (as cited in Adachi & coping mechanisms and strategies that will Willoughby, 2012, p. 159) discovered that help them with real-life problem solving. “adolescent boys play video games to Beyond intellectual strategizing and express their fantasies of glory and power, problem-solving, gaming can also help with and because they are attracted to qualities of physical or sensory processing such as hand- the main characters, such as persistence and eye coordination. Donohue, Woldorff, and strength.” Empowering youth with strong Mitroff (2010) have found that “people with role models, even if they are fictional extensive experience playing video games characters, is a step in the right direction. display benefits that extend beyond the In terms of socialization, Olson et al. (as visual modality to also impact multisensory cited in Adachi & Willoughby, 2012, p. 159) processing” (p. 1120). In this way, gaming also observed that “boys believed that video can not only help with intangible games are…a vehicle to cooperate and development such as socialization and network with people.” Providing multi- cooperation, but also tangible development player games for use in the library and of physical faculties. incorporating them into programming events

The subject matter of certain video games consoles: Nintendo Wii1, Sony Playstation can be a point of contention. Much of the 3, and Microsoft Xbox 360. research focused on the negative outcomes Fragile dreams: Farewell ruins of the moon of gaming point to violent games and their This role-playing video game is set in a influence on the behaviour of adolescents. post-apocalyptic world where players As such, promoting gaming in libraries, assume the role of a young boy named Seto especially those that fit into the horror genre who seems to be the only survivor of an or Halloween-related theme, can be a tricky unknown disaster that stuck Earth. Seto undertaking. However, Neiburger & Gullett must navigate the remains of Earth in search (2007) highlight several benefits of gaming of other survivors, fighting off ghosts and in libraries, not the least of which is demons along the way. Players will be expanding the library’s appeal to a wider entranced by the many horror settings such audience of youth. They point out that “one as a run-down hospital and a dilapidated of the most positive benefits of…gaming subway station. With its desolate and events [is]…the relationship that staff [can] gloomy setting, Fragile dreams is the build with an audience that previously could perfect game for Halloween. not have cared less about the library” (p. Rating: T for Teen, for youth 13 and over 38). The important thing is to screen Console: Nintendo Wii possible video game selections before they are introduced into the library collection or Animal crossing: City folk used for programming events to ensure that Certainly a change of pace from most they are appropriate for in-library use. Some Halloween-themed video games, this game library policies require that games in the is fun for teens but acceptable for use by collection have a “Teen” rating or lower younger kids too. Though not specifically a (“E” for everyone, for example). Halloween title, Animal crossing incorporates the holiday into game play on Below are some ideas for Halloween-related October 31st. In-game neighbours dress in games that can be used in the library as part costumes and trick-or-treat around the of Halloween programming and events, or village causing mischief. Players search for simply highlighted in a display for the month of October. The games are available 1 I chose Nintendo Wii over the newer Wii U as the game selection and uptake for the console is limited on one or more of three popular gaming at the time of writing.

Jack, the Czar of Halloween, and upon cartoon such as a Ghost Light and PKE finding him they are rewarded with furniture Meter are also incorporated into play. This that is not available at any other time of the game is a must-try for fans of the franchise! year. This game is a perfect one to play on Rating: T for teen, for youth 13 and over Halloween! Consoles: Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation Rating: E for Everyone 3, and Microsoft Xbox 360 Console: Nintendo Wii Until Dawn Batman: Arkham Asylum Set to be released some time in 2013, Until In this fun-filled game, players square off Dawn has been eagerly anticipated by the against traditional Batman villains such as online gaming community. The game starts The Joker, Harley Quinn, and Victor Zsasz. with the main player and seven other The premise is that the Joker has trapped teenagers standing on a mountain on the Batman in the famous Arkham Asylum with anniversary of a friend’s mysterious death. several of his incarcerated enemies. Players There is no power and no phone reception. take on the role of Batman who must fight The challenge is to keep yourself and your his way through the enemies within the friends alive during a scary night in a cabin asylum and eventually defeat the Joker. The in the woods. The experience is made focus of play is on hand-to-hand combat and interactive with the use of the Playstation exploration. Move controller. Keep an eye out for this Rating: T for Teen, for youth 13 and over highly-anticipated game next Halloween! Consoles: Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Rating: To be determined, but thought to be Xbox 360 T for Teen according to internet buzz Console: Sony Playstation 3 Ghostbusters: the video game Set two years after the events of the References Ghostbusters II movie, this video game Adachi, P. & Willoughby, T. (2012). Do picks up from the movie franchise but video games promote positive youth incorporates a whole new storyline. Players development. Journal of Adolescent can access eight different Proton Pack Research, 28(2), 155-165. doi: weapons to fight a ghost and use a trap to 10.1177/0743558412464522 capture it. Gadgets from the movies and

Amazon.com (n.d.). Batman Arkham Asylum http://ca.ign.com/games/until- product description. Retrieved from dawn/ps3-139128 http://www.amazon.com/Batman- Knezevic, K. (2011, October 31). Top ten: Arkham-Asylum-Xbox- Halloween video games. Retrieved 360/dp/B001E8VB3C/ref=cm_lmf_ti from t_1 http://www.nintendojo.com/features/ Donohue, S., Woldorff, M, & Mitroff, S. columns/top-ten/top-ten-Halloween- (2010). Video game players show video-games more precise multisensory temporal Neiburger, E. & Gullett, M. (2007). Out of processing abilities. Attention, the basement: The social side of Perception, & Psychophysics, 72(4), gaming. Young Adult Library 1120-1129. Services, 5(2), 34-38. Retrieved from doi:10.3758/APP.72.4.1120 www.ebscohost.com IGN Entertainment. (n.d. a). Ghostbusters: Petit, C. (2010, April 2). Fragile dreams: The video game review. Retrieved Farewell ruins of the moon review. from Retrieved from http://ca.ign.com/games/ghostbusters http://www.gamespot.com/fragile- -14218865/xbox-360-14218846 dreams-farewell-ruins-of-the- IGN Entertainment. (n.d. b). Until dawn moon/reviews/fragile-dreams- preview. Retrieved from farewell-ruins-of-the-moon-review- 6254616/