Mum and dad are SL addicts

Yes, they play there. Almost every night. They even got a house and a dog… yes, it’s true… my mum and dad are SL citizens , they buy LDollars and they respected their original gender. In the grid,  mum’s a she and dad’s a he. I guess like that my dad can’t transgender anymore

SL project

There’s a SL project on it’s way to my direction… nice!!! Details  in the monthes to come…. over and out…

Playing a little bit of WoW

Yes, it’s true. I’m playing a little bit of WoW, a blood elf. Some students of mine got me cd’s and… well I joined them in a server… Still haven’t played with them but we will… I felt kind of “obligated” to play with them   they were so nice to ask me…

Cod4 multiplayer

After trying the multiplayer, I really don´t care that much about the single player. I like the game modes and my sniper rifles having fraggin fun again

I wonder when I’ll be able to do some maps for this game. I would like to try some huge maps, these maps are small… too fast also. Want some huge maps for a change…

New player in da house delivered by Santa

This is Xavier, my new buddy Xavier don’t know much… yet! During xmas I will teach him a few tricks.

Meanwhile, he walks around the house making strange noises… Below, there’s a rare pic of Xavier and his “mummy”

Some stats about Portugal, computers in education and videogames

2006/2007 @ Portugal 

(source: Ministry of Education)

(mainland only; Azores and Madeira not included)

(pre-school to secondary only; higher education – university and polytechnic – not included)

 

 Computers in private school: 34.190 (27.001 with Internet connection)

Computers in public schools : 116.936 (91.994 with Internet connection)

Computers in schools (total): 151.126 (118.995 with Internet connection)

Students in private schools: 308.907

Students in public schools: 1.360.563

Students (total): 1.669.470

 

Playstation or Playnation? The Sony country…

 

11/10/2007 – 30.000 PS3 sold in Portugal (source: Sandra Páscoa, PR manager from Sony Portugal)

22/3/2007 -  we have 720.000 PS2 in Portugal (source: Pedro Almeida, Country Manager from Sony)

 

Any comments?

cod4 uses mmorpg mechanics

Best part in COD4? The multiplayer actually, the “role-playing” dimension: costumization features based on a XP system. I guess some game mechanics are here to stay. The multiplayer reward system (the challenges) is also new. You have all the rush and fun from the multiplayer battlezones combined with  individual  achievements  and  XP progression which unlocks upgrades for weapons and special abilities. So, you can use premade classes (i.e. sniper, etc.) or create a class (actually, you can create several) and choose it’s weapons and special abilities. While playing online, you complete challenges and gain XP, you level up and unlock new weapons and abilities… seems familiar? But I want to choose my char face and gender!!!!!!!

Like this, no educational technology will help…

 

Last week, I went to a Symposium about computers and education. This is an advertisement pic I found there. It says “the technology that grabs the student’s attention” (the translation is not the best but you get the picture

So, the students work alone (a desk per student) and the teacher is still on the stage (instead of blackboard, he uses a  digital board).

We can use technology to update the classroom, make it “modern” and “prettier” but… is this the best we can do? I don’t want to update the classroom, I want to change them!!! This isn’t e-learning 2.0, this is “traditional classroom 2.0″… Or, as gamers would say: this isn’t remodelling, it’s just reskinning  arghhhh

Beowulf

Thurday night, after the oral presentation, to comemorate both presentations (me and maria) and the poster (rute), we went to see Beowulf And it was awesome!

This is maria with the 3D glasses kinda cool

During most of the time, while seeing the movie, I was “seeing” eye of the north. If you like GW don’t miss this movie, don’t miss the 3D!!!

Feeling sick an tired

Last week, I had to struggle against a cold (still fighting…) and do an oral presentation at CIANEI 2007. Meanwhile, I also went to SIIE2007 and took 2 posters there.

SIIE 2007 (ESE Porto)

 

Fórum da Maia – CIANEI 2007

Wednesday: all day at SIIE 2007

Thursday: all day at CIANEI 2007 (oral presentation…)

Friday: morning at SIIE and afternoon at CIANEI

I’m still tired and feeling sick…

Stats and number for MMO players

Besides the “always quoted” MMOchart (which is already old data… over 1 year old…), where can I get updated/good stats and numbers for MMOG players? Anyone? Please…

Family update

Just updated the GW family shots