Kids learn about Asian culture through PC game

Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - High school students from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are learning to know more about each other’s culture through a computer game competition developed by Filipinos.

Launched on Tuesday morning during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 ASEAN Youth Science Summit is an ASEAN Quest Games Competition which involves a personal computer-based game especially designed to make learning fun.

Some 20 representatives from the ASEAN member countries will vie for the top three prizes which will be awarded tomorrow at the closing ceremonies of the two-day event.

Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr., executive director of the ASEAN Foundation, which is funding the game, said the first prize winner will receive $400, second prize winner, $300 and third prize winner, $200.

“Computer video games have become extremely popular among the young," said Uriarte at the opening ceremonies. “We want to experiment in using this popular medium to capture the interest of young people while providing them an opportunity to learn about ASEAN and the ten ASEAN countries."

The objective of the game is to solve some almost real life problems, such as power outage caused by a powerful storm, in the shortest possible time. But since the game also intends to teach the youth about ASEAN culture, the gamers will have to respond to culture-related questions to navigate through the game which includes sub-quests and mini games.

To enter a level in the game, the gamer must use a password based on the language of the ASEAN country involved. For instance, to get to Malaysia to help solve their power problem, the gamer must enter Malaysia through the Malaysian greeting “Selamat Datang."

Gamers need to go through each country to be able to restore the power in the Southeast Asian region by building an ASEAN Electricity Grid, explained Uriarte, a former secretary of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

To make learning fun, country game rooms include valuable country information such as the national anthem, flags, and leaders.

Uriarte added that the youths’ participation in the game will hopefully “be a preview of their active participation in the political, economic and social affairs of ASEAN in the not too distant future."

The PC game was developed by professors of the Philippine De La Salle University and was pre-tested through a mock game last May in DLSU involving DLSU students.

The ASEAN Youth Science Summit is being held during the 2008 National Science and Technology Week, an annual event organized by the DOST, and the 8th triennial ASEAN S&T Week celebration. ASEAN S&T Ministers are also holding their 5^th Informal Ministerial Meeting in Manila during the week.