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Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.

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Gaming lemurs not so dumb after all

by Ian Bogost May 13, 2004

categories: Educational Games

I have no idea what to make of this. A new study shows that lemurs, previously thought to be "cute but basically stupid" are actually quite bright when they are allowed to play videogames.

Comments (4)

I wonder if Lemmings also get smarter when they play games?

nickcan on May 13, 2004 3:37 PM

So far, it suggests primitive animals such as lemurs need a good reason, such as a treat, to bother trying to count. Humans and monkeys, in contrast, will stretch their minds simply out of curiosity. Not science reporting at its best. :) Monkeys also need to be conditioned with treats and, besides, it's what they performed not their sweet-tooth that is interesting.

http://www.mind.duke.edu/level2/faculty/liz/interview.htm

There's an audio clip from an old NPR piece, including brief interview with Dr. Brannon quoted in the Reuters article), that touches on the work they are doing. Also, Mark Hauser's book "Wild Minds" is a fair intro to the subject for interested lay people like myself.

isaac on May 14, 2004 3:12 AM

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