Rhi Axtell – Writer

My wife has left for the week and I am home alone. What does that mean? Well, today it has meant starting a new puzzle (was that ever in doubt?) and treating myself to a Humble Bundle game collection (so I don’t get bored without my wife’s dazzling company).

The bundle I bought was filled with educational games. I have a soft spot for games which try to teach something because they where the topic of my undergraduate dissertation. The dissertation asked the question: how effective are video games as a teaching tool in the classroom?*

(The answer? Not very effective! Teachers are too stressed and overworked as it is, they don’t need to learn the mechanics of educational games as well)

Anyway, I now have a selection of games which teach typing, language, and meditation. You can probably guess, considering the theme of my last few blogs, which game I was drawn to first.

It was the meditation one. If you’re tired of my constant guessing games, I’m sorry.

The game is called Playne, and actually calling it a ‘game’ might be pushing it a little. Really it is more of a ‘meditation simulator’.

You put on your headphones, you get comfy, you have a short conversation with a philosphical fox on your special meditation island (naturally), and then you… meditate. You can have the soft sound of wind blowing, or the lapping of waves, or a fire crackling as you meditate, watching a bubble expand and contract in time with your breathing.

I’m a wind guy, myself.

That sounded weird.

The game (simulator) encourages you to acknowledge any thoughts that pop up during meditation with a click of the mouse (and it makes a little ploof sound too, which is weirdly satisfying). It encourages you to let the thoughts pass once you have clicked and go back to focusing on your breath. It’s very calming and follows a similar theme to the meditations I have done on the Headspace app (although there are less foxes to talk to on the app).

The idea is that you come back every day and do another meditation. With every meditation, the island grows a little bit more around you. You get achievements for the more your island grows and can unlock different types of guided meditations. While I hate the obsession with ‘streaks’ that seems to have infected every app (looking at you with an accusatory glare, Duolingo), I do like the idea of the island growing. I’m interested to see what it looks like.

I have only managed my second meditation so far, so I can’t give you too much detail about if it works or not, but it’s an interesting idea. In the name of trying to slow down and be more mindful, I’m willing to explore Playne some more.

As for the typing and language learning games… well you’ll no doubt be hearing about them in a later blog post.

See you tomorrow.