The idea of video games and education is nothing new. In fact there’s entire colleges dedicated to getting involved in the video game industry. However, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find anything involving video games at a traditional school. Unless you attend UC - Berkeley.

If you happen to be starting your college career, or are in the middle of it then you might want to take a look at UC-Berkeley’s latest course; StarCraft Decal. It’s in this class you’ll find a curriculum based around StarCraft strategy.

You might be thinking that the class is nothing but sitting around playing the game for a hour. You’d be wrong. In the course, you’ll discuss everything from strategies, calculations, formulas, with some extensive lectures.

Here’s a description of the course, and everything it entails:

UC Berkeley students with an interest in real-time strategy games and the competitive gaming landscape are encouraged to participate in this class.

Furthermore, the class will take the theoretical into the practical world by analyzing games and replays to reinforce decision-making skills and advanced Starcraft theory. Class will start with lecture and usually include a special discussion topic having to do with the day’s lecture to inspire new and original thought. At the end of lecture, there may be time to analyze student-submitted replays to illustrate a point or to improve analysis. Homework will be assigned at the end of each class and is due at the beginning of each lecture

In case you were wondering, there is homework. Instead of studying, or answering questions from a book you’ll be instructed to watch replays from StarCraft matches. You’ll have to find out what happened during the tide of battle, and strategize a win.

If you’re interested to see what happens during a class, here’s one of the first lectured given:

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Pirates have really made a comeback in this past decade. Granted, they aren’t wearing eye patches, walking on wooden legs, or getting scurvy but pirates are showing up none the less. Ok, maybe some of them might get scurvy.

Nintendo is looking to combat these pirates, specifically the ones who are distributing illegal copies of Nintendo games. In fact, Nintendo is looking to the U.S Trade Representative for help. They have compiled a list of where game piracy is rampant throughout the world. Surprisingly, the US isn’t on the list.

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 25, 2009 – Nintendo has outlined a list of countries around the globe that remain leaders in denying adequate and effective protection of video game products. In its annual comments to the U.S. Trade Representative under the “Special 301″ process, Nintendo has singled out countries where piracy is rampant and has asked the United States to take further steps to combat it.

Nintendo reports that piracy of its most popular products, the Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ systems, has increased during the year. Nintendo attributes this increase to the availability of circumvention devices, such as “game copiers” and “mod chips.” These devices skirt the product security embedded in Nintendo’s famous products and enable the play of illegal Nintendo software.

“It is important for parents to note that if users of circumvention devices are children, they may be exposed to unsuitable content downloaded from the Internet and played on their Nintendo systems,” said Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America’s senior director of anti-piracy.

Below is a summary of Nintendo’s filing:

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: China continues to be the hub of production for counterfeit Nintendo video game products. The number of online shopping sites in China selling infringing Nintendo products is increasing, and help is needed by the government to curtail the growth of these illegal marketplaces. These products are sold both inside China and to the world, including our key market in the United States. Chinese customs officials must stop shipments of game copiers and other infringing products out of China, and China should work in the coming year to eliminate barriers to its enforcement laws.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Internet piracy in Korea continues to increase, as does the availability of devices that get around product security and allow for the play of illegal Nintendo software. A massive customs raid of 10 premises that resulted in the seizure of more than 75,000 game copiers at the beginning of 2009 is a positive sign the government is serious about enforcement. Nintendo is pleased with Korea’s consistent customs seizures, and courts are now starting to hold distributors of circumvention devices, such as game copiers, accountable. The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is important to all intellectual property rights holders.

BRAZIL: Federal anti-piracy actions are not reducing piracy in Brazil, and local enforcement efforts are weak. Efforts to prosecute for piracy are virtually nonexistent. Customs and border control agents failed to seize a single shipment of Nintendo video game products in Brazil in 2008. Internet piracy is increasing with no legal infrastructure in place to respond to the threat it poses to rights holders. High tariffs and taxes also constitute market barriers for legitimate video game products.

MEXICO: Anti-piracy actions by the Mexican government in 2008 were wholly inadequate. The Mexican government must recognize the seriousness of the piracy problem and start using existing enforcement tools. Mexico’s participation in negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is encouraging, but enforcement efforts need to move forward now. The willingness of Mexican customs and Mexican postal service workers to be trained by trademark owners was a positive sign in 2008.

SPAIN: The availability of game-copying devices in Spain is alarming. Internet sites offering game-copying devices and illegal Nintendo software are widespread and must be addressed. Nintendo asks that the Spanish government implement laws protecting the creative copyright industry and enact laws against Internet piracy. Nintendo considers education a priority in its fight against piracy in the European Union. Customs authorities play an important role in enforcing intellectual property rights, and Nintendo is seeing positive signs in this area. Nintendo is pleased about recent steps taken by the Spanish National Police against distributors of game copiers.

PARAGUAY: Corruption continues to hamper anti-piracy efforts. Nintendo’s anti-piracy actions in Paraguay show that illegal goods are imported and also locally produced. Border controls are key to decreasing piracy, and the revised criminal code will increase penalties against those distributing circumvention devices in Paraguay.

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Video games have had an interesting journey, in terms of how they’ve been depicted. Being a gamer used to mean that you were socially akward, living in your parent’s basement, and were addicted to Surge. You have to love old school stereotypes.

Times have definitely changed, as gaming is now main stream. It’s cool to game on. With titles like Guitar Hero, Wii Sports, everyone is getting in on the action.

Of course, as the popularity of gaming has grown, so has the depictions of people playing them. And boy, are they pretty awful. As demonstrated by this ‘the minus-world’ article. The author, agent b, scoured through stock photo sites to find images of people playing video games. Here are some of my favorites he found, with hilarious captions accompanying them.

“Hey Paulo, what say we play round of 20 year old game video before make erotic at Italian discotheque?”

“It was the best mid-80’s Special Ed School Picture Day ever for helmeted student Timmy Whisner, imagined Timmy whisner.”

“You’re on, Ryan Seacrest!”

“Oh fuck you, Ryan Seacrest!”

“We love little boys! Uh, I mean games! We love games!”

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If you’ve ever been to an amusement park, or theme park I’m sure you’ve ridden a movie based ride before. The ones where you walk in, and it’s shaped like a movie theater, but the seats will move along with the motions of what’s happening on screen. Imagine something close to that, but having it the luxury of your home theater setup. Plus, it works with movies you already own.

D-Box is the company developing the hardware for this experience. They’ve created an entire line of Home Theater products, catering to different consumers. They have a gaming line as well, that focuses mainly on driving games.

The GPH-120 is the top of the line gaming chair that D-Box manufactures. It cost $2,999, but with a steep price tag it provides a visceral experience like no other. It acts as a hybrid chair, so you can use this for movie viewing as well. It has two motion actuators that pitch, roll, and heave along with what’s happening in-game. The chair comes with a built-in steering wheel, and foot pedals as well.

D-Box has a licensing agreement with Disney, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Blue Underground. So, most of the high profile Hollywood movies will be immediately compatible with D-Box’s products.

If you want to check out more on how it works, you can view a ‘How-To’ video, here.

Here’s a video provided by WebProNews. It’s D-Box’s demonstration at CES 2009, and shows off some more of their products.

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