Learning from Video Games?

Can our class "Eco 202: Economics in a Historical Perspective" really learn about the history of economics from Civilizations IV? It's not a yes or no question as much as it's a grey area between.

Ways we can learn from CIV IV: The games that Balak has assigned to us (regular length, world map) start at 5000 b.c. and with a victory end somewhere in the 2000's usually. We see the progression of our civilization over a 7000 year timespan. We are directly involved in decision making that effects the technological, social, political, and essentially the economic route of our nation. This is an effective method of hands on learning and pushes the students more towards the conceptualization level of learning: rather than the memorization and regurgitation of info. However, because of this style's nature, there is less attention to the specifics like the different foundations for economic policy, different economic philosophies, or real life and actual historical economic occurrences...which brings me to my next point.

Things we can't learn from CIV IV: Economics and the study of economics are different concepts. Economics is a sideffect of human interaction, growth, and civilization that has been with mankind since his dawn. The formal study of economics itself, however, is very young. It is generally accepted that the study of economics was born from Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, at least those existing ideas regarding what would be called "Economics" finally amalgamated in his book. In years to come, especially because of increasing size and trade between nations, the concepts would grow into formal theory. This type of economics is not reflected in CIV IV. Keynesian Macro Economics don't show up in the game, no unemployment (at least in our terms), no money control, no interest, or loans for that matter, and several other lacking elements. CIV IV doesn't show the "real history" of the world, or of world economics.

For better or worse? The benefits are about the same, sure playing the game cuts away at some of the formal theory and principles, but that's not necessarily necessary in our class. It is, after all, Economics in a historical perspective. We'll have plenty of time for memorization and regurgitation in the Economics classes ahead of us. Right now, the conceptualization method is working pretty well...it's better than reading. GO USA!