When I first viewed the teaser trailer for the game Gone Home I was instantaneously hooked. I loved how atmospheric it appeared. Who can resist a spooky house with an overwrought and very cryptic note tacked to the front door? In addition, the idea of a game taking place in the mid 1990s was very cool. What? You know you sometimes miss your VCR, SNICK, and reading zines too.
Once you play Gone Home you quickly realize how much more than just a video game it is. If you thought I was a little nutty about taking in all of the fantasy tales from WOW then you can certainly imagine the laser focus I developed while furtively searching the Gone Home house for clues as to where the heck Katie's missing family was and why Sam had run away. As I picked up plants, rummaged through drawers, and peeked under beds a rich history unfurled itself, eventually leading to a unique and beautiful ending. It was unlike any game I'd ever played and I can't wait to see what the FullBright Company comes up with next.
Others have also, thankfully, realized how brilliant the game's plot line is and I was happy to learn that a teacher in Canada has begun using Gone Home as a form of literature in his class. [<--- Note: This linked website is a MUST read...or at least a skim heavily]. Here are some additional optional items about the game:
Why Alice Monroe Should Read Gone Home: The Video Game as Story and Experience
Why is Gone Home a Game (Note: select your sections carefully to avoid plot spoilers)
While we will be looking at several other solid examples of games with story-lines that could give many novels a run for their money, if you only choose one thing to buy and try in this class I would highly recommend purchasing Gone Home. WOW is probably the most often cited example in scholarly works written about game based learning, but I think that this game is a much more approachable entry point to buying into the idea that games really can have a valuable place in the classroom. Plus, don't you want to know where Sam is?!
Let's move on to the next section.