Chapter 5

Two games are used to discuss Gee's concepts: the first being "Tomb Raider" (and incidentally the first portion of the chapter), the second being "After Shock" (the second portion).

The first portion of the book talks about starting at a basic 'tutorial' level, where the player is protected and is given minimal instructions for how to play the game. Although not explicitly mentioned in his learning principles, in Tomb Raider, the player is encouraged to be deviant from the game's instructions, and explore, as they are rewarded by finding items throughout the level which they wouldn't if they were to adhere strictly to the instructions. Learning is also incremental, as the level of difficulty of each level progressively rises.

A transition takes place where Gee discusses 'transfer,' that is, when one uses their prior knowledge from a different situation and applies it to a new situation. This might be dodging an enemies' bullets (like you would in James Bond GoldenEye) and doing the same in say, Medal of Honor.

The second portion talks about how learning throughout the game is distributed, that is, bits of information are spread throughout levels (such as information kiosks with explicit information). The player then combines this knowledge with prior knowledge of how to play the game and comes up with creative ways to solve the game (which touches on the Discovery Principle).

-Chandler Krynen