What do you think of this concept? http://pc.ign.com/articles/107/1079328p1.html

"It's a 2 player networked experience that you can play online or through a local connection. One player acts as a storyteller and has access to a full set of editing tools, character models, environmental objects, and a music generator. The second player is the actor in a story that the first player prepares.

Each player has 30 seconds to take a turn. As the player you can move your character anywhere on screen, type in dialogue, and interact with any object on the screen by typing a short command into an action box. The storyteller then has 30 seconds to respond to the player's moves by rearranging the scenery in accordance with your desired actions, changing the mood, or introducing new characters and objects to guide the story."

Could it be used for language learning? ;p

Nestor, are you on a trust fund? Where do you find time for all this?

My wife was actually really interested in this game and i've seen a fully done demo of the creator playing it with an online player. It was a little odd to me, but I suppose if one of your two players is fluent, it _could_ be played for language learning. But I really don't see whereas it would do much good.
I think you would do better throwing yourself into the deep end of a Japanese hosted MMO where you are immersed in the language both in the game and with the players.
Interesting thought, though, Nest0r, and one that had not occurred to me.

bodhisamaya Wrote:Nestor, are you on a trust fund? Where do you find time for all this?

She caries a laptop, hacks nearby networks and then cracks the security of online databases. She then links related websites. Teacher can't complain because she appears to be studying. ALL THE TIME.

1. what a morbid title. I like it.

2. Interesting concept. I guess you'd have to be quite high level though, if the person types something in Japanese and you don't know what they're commanding, kinda hard to fit in a dictionary lookup in 30 seconds.
Or maybe you could ignore it and do something really random, lol.

3. nest0r is female? 0.o

Fuamnach Wrote:3. nest0r is female? 0.o

Gender ambiguity is one of the great joys of the internet.

nest0r Wrote:I have a penis

sowwww.... nest0r is a hermaphrodite? xD

astrangerhere Wrote:

Fuamnach Wrote:3. nest0r is female? 0.o

Gender ambiguity is one of the great joys of the internet.

Wrong. There are no women on the internet.

I agree, there is much potential in this game. I'm wondering if it allows Japanese text/IME or somesuch. Haven't played it. I can imagine there'd have to be a lot of 'scripting' (like one of those roleplaying 'DM' people that I know nothing about because I am cool and have never played such things).

Well played nest0r. Well played.

The concept itself does have potential as a language learning aid. I don't know how flexible the software is, but I can envision language instructors/tutors/partners using it to create customized learning scenarios for their students based on individual interests/needs in a completely non-threatening "environment". Ex: Job interview, ordering out, asking someone out on a date, slaying dragons, trying to ascertain the gender of someone on an internet forum, giant robots... Seriously though, while the actual game may or may not be a useful tool for language learning, the concept lends itself quite readily to language instruction.