Super+Mario+Bros.+for+the+Wii

=**Eliane's Game Review**= =Game Description:= This Super Mario Bros. game has a story line of the overall goal being to set Princess Peach free from the evil Bowser who has kidnapped her from her castle. In this game, Mario and his friends, depending on the amount of players, work together defeating different 'bad guys' with different levels and lands of the game. Each levels objective is to get through the level in the timed allowed. Another objective is to collect all the star coins, however you don't need them to return Princess Peach, but you do if you want to open up World 9 in the game. The goals of this game are to: beat each level in the amount of time allowed, find all the start coins in each level, find the secret finish points to open up the short cut cannons (these allow you to be shot into another world without having to beat certain levels), and collect as many coins as you can. To accomplish these tasks, many tools can be aquired throughout the game, star power, freezing power, fire ball power, flying power, extra lives, all through the different mushroom houses in the lands and levels. These special abilities make each level easier to beat. The end of World 8 has you battling against Bowser to return the princess, if successful accomplished. After this, Mario and Peach can hotair balloon away safely. =Learning Involved:= What you learn from playing this game is there are different objectives carried throughout the game, with the overall main goal being to return Princess Peach. The game gives you plenty of choices that will effect how the game is beaten. For example, you can collect the least amount of coins as you want, as long as you maintain a useful amount of 'lives', find all the short cut cannons, collect none of the star coins, and defeat Bowser at the end, all while still beating the game. These choices will make an impact on how the game is beaten and other opportunities that you may or may not encounter. If you chose to collect as many coins as you can, you are more likely to get more 'lives' allowing you to take more risks because you have backup. Also, if you choose to collect all the star coins in every single level it opens up World 9 and all it's levels. You can certainly beat the game without doing any of these tasks and in addition, go back and complete them after you beat Bowser.
 * //(4 points)// A brief description of the game. You may include images or even video clips to help give readers a better idea of the game.
 * //(5 points)// The kinds of learning involved (i.e. What specifically did you learn from playing the game?). Think about the game tasks, objectives, terminology, etc. What skills did you need to learn to be successful at the game?
 * //(5 points)// The kinds of teaching involved (i.e. How did the game teach you?). Think about the kinds of feedback, rewards, guidance, and information the game gave you, and how it paced and structured your learning. Which Principles of Learning did the game utilize?
 * //(3 points)// A brief description of the kinds (and quantity) of online sites, forums, wikis, etc. devoted to the game. What game activities (e.g. walk-thoughs/guides, databases, cheats, theorycrafting, modding, etc.) are most-commonly discussed?
 * //(3 points)// Your overall reflections on playing the game.

Along with choices comes the stratigies, the player has to choose wisely on wether they would like to use, for example, their 'powers' to help them beat a certain level or save it for another time. Also, players need to take into consideration how to beat the enemie(s) they face in each level, with or without powers, or find a way around them. Furthermore, is it in the players best interest to beat a level or look for the hidden exit to help for future level avoidances?

This game involves simple and basic hand/eye coordination. The button and arrow direction you push is what the game character will do. The basic remote movements allow this game to be very user friendly for all ages.

The challenge in this game is certainly beating each level to be able to move onto the next. Each level gets progressively harder as you go. It is motivating for the player to beat a level and be able to move onto the next with surroundings of new tasks and adventure. What keeps a player motivated and interested is the variety of levels and challenges presented that are unpredictable. One of the skills of this game is to master it, and the player can sucessfuly do that by completing all the tasks of the game and not just returning the princess.

=Teaching Involved:= The teaching that is involved when playing was the feedback received of allowing the player to open up different levels and new world after accomplishing a previous level and world. This keeps the player motivated to beat all the levels because they have the desire to continue on and want to open all the levels possible. The hard work of beating each level was rewarded with a new level challenge. The unknown factor helps with this dertermination. Another motivation was that every time the player collects 100 coins they recieve an extra 'life'. Players will then want to collect as many coins as they can to not die in the game.

Mario teaches the player how to think and value the choices they make to beat each level. The choices are made based upon the players goals of how they want to beat the game, this also allows for the player to feel a sense of control over how the game is played. The main objective of returning the princess can be done in multiple ways. Players can evaluate their proformance by how well they beat each level. Did they collect as many coins as possible, rewarded with any addtional powers, and collect all the star coins? The unpredictable factor of this game is the amount of levels and worlds the player will have to beat before meeting up with Bowser again to return Princess Peach.

Principals of learning
Achievement Principle- For learners of all levels of skill there are intrinsic rewards from the beginning, customized to each learner's level, effort, and growing mastery and signaling the learner's ongoing achievements. //Applied because of wether the player wants to collect star coins, coins, and how they want to beat each level//

Practice Principle- Learners get lots and lots of practice in a context where they practice is not boring. They spend lots of time on task. //Applied because levels are basic mastery levels that have different obsticales, but the same task of getting to the finish line//

"Regime of Competence" Principle- The learner gets ample opporunity to operate within, but at the outer edge of, his or her resources, so that at those points things are felt as challengingin but not "undoable." //Applied because each level gets progressivly harder to beat and new 'enemies' are introduced and varied in size and ability//

Multiple Routes Principle- There are multiple ways to make progress or move ahead. This allows learners to make choices, rely on their own strengths and styles of learning and problem solving, while also exploring alternative styles. //Applied because the player has a choice on how they want to beat the game. It has one main focus, but to add the extra benefits is up to them.//

=Online Sites:= Wiki []

Offical Site []


 * Websites involve the other versions of Mario Bros as well.
 * Cheats center around short cuts to beating the levels, finding the cannon flag, having an endless amount of 'lives', and collecting all the star coins.
 * The quality of the websites are poor because it mostly has to do with selling the game and not the actual playing aspects of it.
 * Appears to be more Youtube videos associated to describe the game and cheats, as opposed to actual webpages.

=Overall Reflection:= This by far one of my favorite games. I really enjoy the simplicity of it, paired with it's own increased challenges in each level as one progresses through the game. The highlights for me include the fact that it has evolved from a long time ago over the years from the same basic concept, to a more time related and task oriented approach. I would recommend this game to anyone and to play with a group of friends to accomplish each level as a whole. It may seem easier in some aspects, but harder in others as well. It's easier to have multiple people playing because for the most part someone is always alive. On the other hand, it's hard with other players take your powers, hold you up, or get in your way. I enjoy playing the game because it allows for new challenges, assistance with 'powers' and the ability to feel like it's not easy to beat, but definatly something that can be done with time and practice.

[|Youtube Video]