LittleBigPlanet Playing Part in Obama's STEM Plan
U.S President Barack Obama is promoting an "Educate to Innovate" plan that hopes to boost the focus on STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
"I'm committed to moving our country from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade," Obama said during an event launching the project, at which he announced a $4 billion education reform investment fund, according to Gamasutra.
Microsoft, Sony, and the Entertainment Software Association all have plans to support the U.S. Government in its programs.
Sony, in conjunction with MacArthur, the ISA and the ESA are launching the Game Changers competition, which will make use of LittleBigPlanet (available for the PS3 and PSP) to create new and innovative levels that enhance STEM principles.
IGN reports that Sony will donate 1,000 PS3s and LittleBigPlanet to libraries and community-based organizations in low-income communities. Winners will be announced in spring and the levels will be made available for download for the whole world to play.
"This challenge truly embodies what's possible when you place the learning tools and the opportunity into the hands of creative and imaginative minds," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "When leveraging the innovative technology of LittleBigPlanet and the PS3 system, both advanced and novice gamers have access to an open canvas to learn, build, and explore entirely new kinds of gaming experiences. They can also share their creations with millions of gamers around the world to play, rate, and review their levels. There's no better training ground for anyone interested in digital media."
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please donate one to me Sony and
me love you long time
While I'm no US citizen this seems like a great idea, the children truly are our future and a good grasp of technology as well as the disciplines governing it is vital.
This will all end very badly once the kids get their parents and/or teacher to buy them a GTA4-like game.
This is a great idea. Many countries try to hinder access to video games by kids in order to promote education. Hopefully our government has learned that it's a much better idea to make games more educational rather than taking them away.
Why not actually reward people trying to innovate? Why not set up a competition smiler to the Intel Talent Search, ISEF, or Siemens Competition?
Nice.. What other way to get a good headstart with our kids needing more yelling at and pushing away from the video games when they have no sence of measure. I love gaming myself but this is just wrong... Even if pleasant for kids.
Nice.. What other way to get a good headstart with our kids needing more yelling at and pushing away from the video games when they have no sence of measure. I love gaming myself but this is just wrong... Even if pleasant for kids.
Yes because it's obviously the video games that are causing kids to lose grip on what the world is like. It's got nothing to do with a parent that is too lazy to grab their child at a young age and actually BOND with them..... I'm a parent, I will have no problem with my kid playing video games when they are old enough. But to suggest the notion that video games have no value twords learning is insane. Oh and by the way, yelling at your kid never works.
I seem to remember them trying to do this with the PS2 and the utter failure it was because no one played the boring crap they came out from it (instead they rented real games and played them).
Good promotion for Sony, waste of my tax $'s once again!
While I'm no US citizen this seems like a great idea, the children truly are our future and a good grasp of technology as well as the disciplines governing it is vital.
Everything the gov't touches...breaks
I seem to remember them trying to do this with the PS2 and the utter failure it was because no one played the boring crap they came out from it (instead they rented real games and played them).Good promotion for Sony, waste of my tax $'s once again!
You've clearly never played LBP. It's an amazing game, and it actually has a huge community (which mean that PEOPLE ACTUALLY PLAY IT).
It's a nice idea, but I can't help but point out the irony of trying to improve the USA's education level by partnering with a Japanese company using a UK-developed game...
It's a nice idea, but I can't help but point out the irony of trying to improve the USA's education level by partnering with a Japanese company using a UK-developed game...
Foreign exchange students come to America and go back home with a better education, it's the same concept if you think about it. If they have something better, why not use it for our benefit? Doesn't make us inferior, just means they have one thing that's better.
So unfair that you guys get a smart president, and we europeans are stuck with monkeys! We felt much smarter when you were stuck with that catastrophy that was bush, cause back then our goverments did nothing, while yours tore apart your country and its already shallow reputation
This place is falling apart.
This will actually get people to go in a library! ... and steal the PS3.
Why not also allow LBP for the PSP for free? There isn't a single free PSP downloadable game (legitimately) yet...
And only 1000?
gay