Drop In Hockey Online

*Guide to the Swedish Drag*

Video games have evolved to great lengths over the past decade. They use to be a 2D side scroller where you'd just follow a story. If you had a friend over you might be able to play up to 2 people at once. Things have changed though and as video games changed and sports gaming entered the market... video games in whole was pushed to the next level. For my presentation I used NHL 08 published by EA Sports for my example to show how gaming has become a convergent in digital media.

For starters I talked bout the basics for the game. Modes, features, etc... but the important factors came in the online gaming. Just like a Tuesday night at the rink you can join in a open hockey game where up to 12 players could go in, take any of the 6 positions on a team and play a game of hockey. If you have a microphone you can literally talk with you own team, directing them where you will be and where to go or what to do. There are leagues within the online play where a group a up to 28 teams could play a season then play for a championship in a playoff series. The manager would make a post on a forum, spread the word around the net, and develop a schedule. When the league is set to start he or she will pass out the e-mails to those who would be playing one another for that week and the two players would then talk by e-mail or messenger to set up a time and maybe talk with one another. The game goes beyond online gaming as well. The example above featuring the Swedish Drag is just one of many moves many players try to imitate in the game itself. Usually when a player makes a crazy goal or wants to teach others how to do these moves they will record their performance somehow and upload the movie on YouTube. The creator will put emphasis on the controller to show how to perform the move then the watcher will try to copy or improve on the move itself.


Basically with the game, internet, online videos, and personal communication the game turns into a convergence of collective intelligence.