Blog 4

One of the claims that Marc Prensky writes about in page 104, is how a 10 year old named Tyler that he interviewed plays runescape and worked with friends to make money and treasures made a business mistake. Tyler crafted the wrong item and realized that many people had this item and so he didn't profit. The reason that this is important and can be a claim that kids are actually learning from video games is because Prensky says that this is an example of supply and demand. In page 104 Prensky continues to break down his interview with Tyler and sorts out what aspects of this game are related to business and managing business and how kids playing mmorpg games like these learn how to do everyday thing and are not aware of the term for whats going on but are on a level of fully understanding the concept. The reason being is that the way these games work to get money and such things like treasure is that there is an in game economy that players need to be aware of so they can become wealthy in game so they can advance and get better equipment. Tyler and his friends play a free version of runescape that lacks additional levels and subtleties accord to Prensky. But there is an expansion to the game where players pay 10 dollars a month for the full version of the game and when Prensky asked tyler why doesn't he get that instead of just playing the free version. Tyler replied that his mother would get mad because he would be too addictive and he wouldn't get his money's worth. So according to Prensky at the end of page 105 getting your moneys worth is the greatest economic lesson of all.