(Begins May 25 - June 1)
Read Ender's Game, Chapters 11 and 12, and respond to these questions:
Chapter 11
1) In this chapter, we see how the game masters at the battle school intend to make the game “unfair” for Ender. How, then, do they make the game “unfair”? How does Ender respond?
2)Ender once again turns to study the strategy of the “enemy”. What enemy becomes his concern in this chapter?
3)What is Bean’s new role? Should every team have a team member like Bean? Why?
Chapter 12
1) What do the adults want Ender to think and feel about danger and escape? Does Ender eventually have the desired realization? Have you ever had this realization – in real life, or in a game scenario? Would you want to? How would this effect the way you play a game?
2) How neccesary is it to “win” a game? What is the point of winning? Why is winning a part of games?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Chapter 11:
ReplyDelete1) The game masters at Enders school rigged the battles unfairly against his toon by physically exhausting them (making them play one, twice every day), giving them battles with little to no advance notice, and finally, making them play against two teams at the same time. Ender responded by innovating, and creatively finding new ways to play the games. He commissioned Bean to come up with new, insane, ridiculous ways to play, and reacted to each situation he was handed. He didn’t give up or stop caring until the final game, when he was graduated.
2) Ender is studying the buggers, and how they fought against the humans in the earlier conflict. He notes their surprisingly structured style of attack, and begins to figure out their command hierarchy. For all intents and purposes, he’s learned everything that he possibly could from his human opponents at the school.
3) Beans role is to come up with ideas Ender could not anticipate. Ideas so insane, so wild, so tactically faux pas, that they just might work. Depending on the size/scope of the team, it can always be a good thing to have a team member who serves primarily to introduce nontraditional ideas into the group. It breaks the comfort level, and forces everybody to think out of the box, as it did for Enders group.
Chapter 12:
1) The adults are trying to make Ender feel one type of reality – isolation. They turn him completely into a lone wolf, reliant only on himself, that when he is confronted with danger, there is no possible solution or safety but what he can do for himself. They eventually accomplish this, as he realizes that they would have let him die in the showers, rather than interfere and stop the fight. I’ve never had the same type of revelation that Ender had (realizing that those he counted on were prepared to let him be killed by other children), but I personally have ideals that I believe make it my moral duty to rely on myself for anything I want out of life, and not depend on the welfare of others. On an emotional level, though, I would never want to live the life Ender does. I have friends and family that I do rely on for support and help through good times and bad, and that’s an important part of human relations. In the real world, no man is an island – in Enders world, islands are for chumps, teach yourself how to fly. I have never had this specific realization in a game, unless it would count to point to the frequent times you discover that the AI programmed into your teammates/squadron/wingmen is so unbelievably awful that they aren’t worth, as Ender would put it, a “sneeze in a space suit”. Or something like that.
2) It depends almost entirely on the type of game. I’ve frequently played social games where everybody is having so much fun, that by the end nobody really even cared or was concerned with who won. That’s also the primary motivation for nearly all drinking games. But in games of strategy, and tactics, the enjoyment and fun that is derived from the game comes from the fact that you are trying to outthink, outmaneuver, and best your opponent. If being the victor isn’t important, then there is no tension in heated battles, and if there is no tension, nobody will want to play. Not only that, but goals always produce better results. People try harder when they want to succeed, and competition always produces better results from both parties. Without a chance to win (and prove yourself better than you were before), then there is no reason to continually play any game past the point of mere amusement. Stasis = death, as do games that don’t allow you to win.
ch 11
ReplyDelete1)The teachers/masters at the battle school have made the game unfair for Ender by completely tiring out his toon, giving them little to no advantage in battles, allowing other toons to cheat, and then pits him against two toons at once. Ender responds by getting angry, but never giving up. Ender becomes extremely creative and thinks of ways he can win, even if they bend the rules.
2)Ender is studying the Buggers in this chapter, seeing how they attacked in the 1st and second evasion. Ender uses these strategies in the battles later on.
3)BEan becomes Ender's right hand man. He is the innovator of the time. He is the crazy creative member of the toon, as such he can come up with ideas so out there, not even Ender could think of them. Bean is a great asset to his team, and it would be great if every team could have a member that thought outside the box like that.
ch 12
1)The masterminds at the battle school want Ender to feel completely and totally alone. He is not to believe that anyone will ever come to his aid and that he must do everything on his own. Ender comes to this realization during his fight with Bonzo, when he was in great danger and no one stepped up to help him. I have had this feeling before, and it is not a good experience. This tactic is used a lot in survival horror games, and it makes the player more cautious.
2)Winning is an important aspect of gaming. Winning is the measurement of a players success. If the player never feels successful or accomplished, they will no longer want to play.
Ch 11
ReplyDelete1. The game masters begin to stack the odds against Ender in any way imaginable. First they give him a game every day. Then two games a day. They also play little tricks on him like only giving him a 10 minute warning before a game and also intentionally positioning the stars to give the advantage to the opposing army. Ender doesn’t really have a choice in how he responds other than to meet the challenge head on with his army which he successfully does.
2. Ender becomes concerned when he notices that all the videos of the previous bugger war have been censored by the IF. He begins wondering why the IF would cut out all the scenes that would reveal the strategies used by the IF and so instead studies the bugger strategies.
3. Bean basically takes the roll of R&D (research and development) and is told to explore new, unheard of tactics. I think a member like Bean’s is really beneficial, that way someone is always working on unconventional tactics that can then but used in the field.
Ch 12
1. The adults want Ender to realize that no matter what, nobody will help him or get him out of trouble when things get too tough. That he only has himself to rely on. He eventually does realize it, although a little too late, after he has to defend himself against his old commander, Bonzo. Personally I have come to the same realization, that I must solve my own problems and rely on myself, during an intense 2006. In real life I think it’s an essential mind set to have because eventually we will all only have ourselves to rely on.
2. I think it depends on the stakes of the game, which determine how necessary it is to win. In Ender’s case the stakes are his life and ultimately the fate of humanity. In his particular case not winning is not an option. The same goes for any “game” that is designed to develop skills that ones life depends on. However, in the case of most casual games, winning is not paramount, but it does make the game more fun.
Ch 11
ReplyDelete1) Giving him back to back battles, and multiple per day. Also giving him late notice. He responds with quick action, on the fly tactical brilliance.
2) Keeping up with his study of the other teams, however, his major focus becomes that of the Buggers.
3) Bean seems to have been given a special forces role, or even maybe an advisory position of sorts. I think it's important because if you have more than one mind working on tasks it can only increase your chances for success.
Ch 12
1) They want him to know that there isn't going to be anyone to save him in a real combat situation. Yes he does realize it. I've had to realize it in games, of course, be they video games, or airsoft related, but, perhaps not life threatening. Deep down inside I say yes, because it puts you to the test, I'm curious about what I'm capable of. Perhaps it would affect the level of seriousness.
2) Everything in life is about winning, or succeeding. Pride, joy, satisfaction, there are many reasons. Winning is part of games, because losing doesn't get you very far, however, I suppose you could make the goal be most deaths. ;)
Karinza
ReplyDeleteChapter 11
1) They pelt Ender with game after game! The unfair tactics also consist of blind fights and overwhelmed odds. Ender responds as usual - intuitively.
2)The Buggers.
3)Bean's role is to strategically plan outside the conventionality of the normal. Every team should have this because... well, why not?
Chapter 12
1) The adults want Ender to feel that there is no escape and that he is always in danger. Ender eventually realizes this. Sure, I have realized this. I would have wanted to realize this anyway because there is no real passion without threat.
2) Games make it the only necessity to win. The point of winning is solely gratification Games are solely for gratification and therefore necessitate winning.
1To make the game unfair they position the asteroids to interfere with Enders team. As well as lessen Enders practice time. Then finally sending two teams ageist ender him. In which case ender is forced to beat be better than his opponents. Until the end when he goes all in.
ReplyDelete2Bean is Enders second who needs to help him come up with stupid ideas whether they are good or not. So ender won’t feel all the presser.
1 they want ender to know that he has to get out of it by himself and that no one will come to help him. Ender being smart that he is realizes this. In most games we are usually aware that help will not come. Even if the game is set ageist you if you lose its game over.
2Most of the time you play the game to win. Overcoming the challenge set before you.
Chapter 11
ReplyDelete1. They make the game unfair by consistently putting his team into battle, even after tiring them out from pervious battles. They also gave Ender short notices on upcoming battles, leaving his toon less time to prepare for them. Then at the end they made his toon fight two others teams at the same time. Ender notices the unfairness of the battles which makes him angry. His anger is what makes him continue on and not give up.
2. Ender starts studying the buggers and it’s from watching these videos that he comes up with new modes of attack. In this chapter you can say the buggers are part of Ender’s concern but I think his main enemy is Bonzo and his army, mainly because the chapter foreshadows a potential future conflict with him due to his hatred for Ender. Ender realizes that he might have to deal with the hate they direct at him, including Bonzo.
3. Ender enlisted Bean to assist with train with the rest of the team, so they can be prepared for anything that comes their way. Two heads are always better than one and I think Bean helping Ender makes the team better. Ender is only human and can handle but so much. If he has help and can trust his team mates to work together, they can overcome any problem. I think Ender knows this, that why he asked for Bean’s help.
Chapter 12
1.The people in charge want Ender to rely on himself and only on himself. They want him to realize in most danger situations you are alone to fend for yourself. Ender does realize this after his fight with Bonzo, when he notices none of the adults came to help him. As a result it upset Ender greatly. In real life I have faced situations where I thought people would look out for me but at the end realize they were never looking out for me to being with but rather for themselves. Facing situations like that force you to rely on only on yourself and to consider your be interest. You don’t want to be selfish but some cases you kind of have to because some people will definitely leave you high and dry. If I want to? No but I’ve had no choice but to face these kind of situations. In game it would be no different to me except that it’s fiction.
2.I don’t think it’s necessary to win a game, especially if you’re just playing for fun. But I think most people act as if it’s necessary because winning a game is like basically getting a title that tells the rest of the players, you were the best in the game. Winning ultimately makes people feel good about the skills and about themselves.