Entry #10- Uno & Friends

Preliminary Elements:

Title: Uno & Friends ( Iphone App)
Publisher: Gameloft

Release Date: 2013
Game Type:  Card Game

Game Summary: This free app downloaded to the iPhone is one of the latest versions of the well-known card game known as Uno.  The rules are simple; players are dealt seven cards and start discarding cards based on number and color.  When a single card is left in a player's hand, the player must yell (click) "Uno".  The goal is to be the first to get rid of your entire hand.  In Uno & Friends, this game is given a community and interactive feel as you are immediately connected to others playing on their own devices.  It is true multiplayer as you wait your turn and strategize once the other players make their moves.  I believe a player has the ability to choose a random assortment of people or play against friends.  Throughout the rounds, player are given special points and bonuses based on their choices.  The player can also keep track of points accumulated at the end of each level for greater incentives.  

Educational Value: This is another example of a game that could act as a terrific introduction for students to learn multiplayer gaming.  They must exhibit patience and civility as they play Uno against each other and other random people that also have this app.  For much younger children, this game also serves as an introduction to numbers, colors and card games.  

Opinion:  Who doesn't like Uno?!  This is the card game that so many of us played when younger and gave us a strong base for many other card games that we have enjoyed in later years.  I really believe that students would continually enjoy playing Uno through many many rounds of the game.  It simply never gets old or boring and when adding the multiplayer element, the students will enjoy playing against real people as opposed just a faceless computer.  I'm glad that the Apple App Store offers games of this nature for free.  The gameplay can be fast and a time limit per move keeps slower players from bringing the game to a crawl.  Ultimately, I think I would use a game such as Uno & Friends in the classroom as a reward for hard work in various subjects.