The RFI">http://procurement.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=128415]RFI (Request For Information) is from NASA Learning Technologies (LT). It goes on to say that:
Quote:NASA is in a position to develop an online game that functions as a persistent, synthetic environment supporting education as a laboratory, a massive visualization tool, and collaborative workspace while simultaneously drawing users into a challenging, game-play experience.
While I agree that this is a laudable goal, I have at least these several concerns:
1. Nowhere in this RFI is there mentioned anything about the dangers of addiction in MMORPGs. Perhaps an RFI is not the proper place to place such concerns. Regardless, although I would hope that NASA would try to avoid having the most addictive aspects of these existing games be in their proposed "games", that is hardly something we can necessarily assume if it is not made explicit.
2. With an organization with the prestige of NASA trying to create an educational MMO game, I believe that this will give more credence to things like more educational institutions using Second Life (SL) as part of their program (see Second">http://www.olganon.org/?q=node/5306]Second Life and the education system for more details) and perhaps other groups trying to create educational MMO games that may be rather addictive in nature.
I certainly applaud LT at looking at ways to "enhance formal and informal education in STEM fields with the goal of increasing the number of students in those fields of study" (where STEM stands for "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics"). However, I hope that they are aware of some of the potential risks from what they are trying to do both in terms of their own game and how it may affect other institutions. In particular, I hope that they take publicly active steps to minimize any such problems before they arise. To help make sure that they are aware of these potential problems, I have written an e-mail to the contact person listed at the bottom of the RFI, i.e., Daniel D Laughlin at [email]Daniel.D.Laughlin@nasa.gov[/email]. If anybody else has any particular concerns, they may wish to also send him an e-mail.
- John O.
[em]Carpe Diem![/em] (Seize the Day!)
I have just read a related BBC News article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7195718.stm regarding this.A It states that:
- John O.
[em]Carpe Diem![/em] (Seize the Day!)
The article "NASA Wants its MMO Created for Free" at http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/04/21/1744251 says that NASA no longer has a budget of $3 million for this project.A Instead, it wants to find a development partner to create and maintain this MMO for free.A In particular, their RFP says that:
Assuming that NASA is even able to find a company willing to do this, the "brand placement" statement implies to me that they will allow advertising to take place.A I have not read through the entire RFP for anything regarding the type of advertising that will be allowed but I suspect that there is very little, if any, specific restrictions.A As such, most of these ads will likely be for things like junk food (e.g., pop, fast food, etc.) and for other MMO's such as World of Warcraft.A If so, then in addition to any potential problems of these bright, talented children becoming addicted to this game, they may be inundated with advertising such as for unhealthy eating practices and for other MMO's that may make them more likely to become addicted!
- John O.
[em]Carpe Diem![/em] (Seize the Day!)
The article Demo For NASA MMO Coming In January briefly discusses their upcoming MMO, Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond. Since they are definitely going ahead with this, I just hope that my concerns mentioned in my posts above will not come to pass.
- John O.
[em]Carpe Diem![/em] (Seize the Day!)
All of a sudden, I am starting to feel like I will end up living on the reservation in this brave new world.