In preparation for Discussion Friday #2 (which happens on Sept. 3), each student will play five "casual" video games and then discuss them in a critical comment of about 500 words. Students will select one game from each list below, and then identify two other games independently.

Select one of the games in this list:

• Canabalt (online)
• Pocket Full of Stars (online)
• Among the Clouds (online)
• The Bottom of the Sea (online)
• The Way Home (online)
• Bugs (online)
• Winterbells (online)
• Sunny Day Sky (online)

Select one of the games in this list:

• Wii Sports (Nintendo Wii)
• Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo Wii)
• Wii Fit (Nintendo Wii)
• Flight Control (iOS)
• Zen Bound (iOS)
• Eliss (iOS)
• Squareball (iOS)
• Nintendogs (Nintendo DS)
• Brain Age (Nintendo DS)
• Rock Band (any version) (Xbox 360)

Select one of the games in this list:

• Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360)
• FarmVille (Facebook)
• Mafia Wars (Facebook)
• Bejeweled Blitz (Facebook)
• Sketch Online (Android, iOS)
• Parallel Kingdom (Android, iOS)
• Plants vs Zombies (online)
• Bookworm (online)
• Zuma's Revenge! (online)

Now find two casual games on your own to play. You may select two titles from the lists above, or you may choose completely different games. Feel free to stretch the boundaries of what a casual game might be. Be aware that Sharky's Game Room in Fisher Student Center has Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles and games available for students.

Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding these games, such as:

• The differences among your various experiences playing the games
• Why you selected particular games
• How games controlled through motion, gestures, or touch contrast with those controlled by keyboard or gamepad
• The economic issues involved with these games
• The potentially addictive nature of these games
• The criteria that might be used to classify a game as casual
• The applicable issues of race, class, or gender in the games
• How Johnson's reading connects with the games
• Which one or two games seem particularly notable in contrast to the others

The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class.