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When something like that happens, people respond in different ways. Some shut down. Others try to stay busy. Some go outside, take walks, or try to reconnect with the world around them. And then there are those who stay inside, not quite ready to face everything all at once, but still needing something to help them process what they’re feeling.

That’s where my mind went.

I started thinking back to the pandemic. That time when everything stopped, when we were all suddenly confined to our homes, dealing with uncertainty, stress, and a lot of quiet moments with our thoughts. And I realized something about myself.

I was lucky.

Because right before everything shut down, in February of 2020, I had made a simple decision. I decided to go back to gaming after almost ten years away. I picked up a Nintendo Switch, thinking it would just be a way to relax, maybe revisit something I used to enjoy.

I had no idea how important that decision would become.

When the pandemic hit in March and we were all stuck inside, that small choice turned into something much bigger. Like everyone else, I felt that cabin fever. That restlessness. That sense of being stuck. But I also had something that helped me manage those feelings.

I had my Switch.

And more specifically, I had Pokémon Sword.

Now, I’ll be honest. It’s not the best Pokémon game. And as someone who grew up with the series, I’ve realized that the traditional RPG style doesn’t always fit into my adult life the way it used to. Time is different now.

But during the pandemic, I had time.

And that game gave me something I needed. At night, when sleep didn’t come easily, I would find myself exploring the Galar region, catching Pokémon, moving through the story, just being somewhere else for a while. It wasn’t about escaping reality completely. It was about managing it. About giving my mind space to breathe.

It helped.

And that got me thinking.

If a game like that could help me through a difficult time, how many other people had similar experiences?

So I reached out.

I invited other writers and readers to share a moment where a video game helped them through something meaningful in their lives. What they sent back wasn’t just about games. It was about grief, stress, illness, change, and the different ways we all try to move forward.

Here are their stories.

from YouTube

Before Covid, I would say there was this moment in my life where I was very nihilistic. I was very bitter about every aspect of life, it seemed. At the time, both my grandmas died pretty close to each other. To say it affected me greatly would have been an understatement. I was fighting at home all the time, and when I was out at work, I would fight there too. By “fighting,” I mean verbal arguments and lashing out verbally. It wasn’t great, and I was increasingly isolating myself from friends and family.

Now, there was a game that I had zero intention of playing, mostly because, in my current state of being, I loathed the fandom and the memes. The game in question was Undertale. I’m not sure why, but I was gifted the game on Steam. It was from a friend of mine that I haven’t spoken to in a while, but I greatly respected their opinion on games. The message that was left with the gift was, “I have no words for you, just play this game.”

The game changed my outlook on media and games as a whole, but not only that, I found myself not being so nihilistic anymore. I started to be more accepting of people, even if I didn’t realize it. I wasn’t so nasty anymore, and I think it made me realize how much I genuinely love a good story, how I love the characters of that story. In short, it’s like Undertale helped me remember something.

That things did matter to me. There was a reason I was so moved by the characters and the story, to the point I could never even bring myself to do a genocide run, because I couldn’t bear to see the characters I loved so much in pain. That things always mattered to me, maybe a little too much, and to move on with my life and accept the things I can’t change and change the things I can.

I know I could never bring my grandparents back, but I can accept the life they lived and the love we shared and move on. So when you asked me a question, if video games ever got me through a tough or meaningful moment in my life, I can unequivocally say yes, it most certainly has.

Evan C. Moore from Play Moore.

I owe quite a lot to Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores.

Three years ago, I hit a really low point. I’ve had panic attacks most of my life. During a particularly difficult time in April 2023, I had them consistently and couldn’t find a way out. I wasn’t eating. I enjoyed nothing.

I was part of the way into my second playthrough of HFW, and the “Burning Shores” DLC was about to come out. It took everything I had to play again, but I did. I spent a couple dozen hours over a few weeks guiding Aloy through her story. Upon the DLC’s release, I was ready to embark to the new area for a new adventure. Going to the DLC area for the first time was pure magic. I got to relax, overcome difficulty, explore, and escape.

And it worked. I had to reinvent myself with the confidence that I could still tap into something I love. After that April, I doubled down on games and play. I got on some medication and found a great therapist. I felt like myself again.

from thoughts & trinkets

When Gris was first added to my Steam library in 2018, I was in a very dark hole. I had given up on hope, and I was just waiting for my end of the line. I launched the game for the first time, and in under a minute, I was in tears. It felt so good. I didn’t know what message the developers were trying to portray yet, but I knew it was for me.

In Gris, you play as Mae, a girl who has lost her voice and whose world has quite literally fallen from under her feet. Accompanied by what, to me, is the most powerful game soundtrack by Berlinist, you navigate the world, regaining Mae’s color and voice. The beautiful thing about Gris is that it’s about whatever you want it to be about, and in that time, it gave me much-needed hope. It pushed me to get out of the hole. It helped me save myself.

Fast forward to my mother’s passing in 2025: I replayed the game, and suddenly it wasn’t about depression. It was about grief. Gris held me close and tight in the time I had to navigate that loss by myself. It has remained a love letter and a vessel of hope.

Mo from from Retro Mo - Game Reviews

Chrono Trigger was there for me many years ago when I was very sick. I was about 11 years old, and I had contracted whatever nasty virus was going around rural Kansas at the time. It was one of the worst bouts of sickness I can remember from my childhood. I missed at least a week of school.

I was so weak I could hardly do anything. My throat was so sore, I couldn’t talk, and it hurt to swallow. Like a sack of potatoes, I sank into the recliner in our living room, sipping water through a straw and playing Chrono Trigger.

I escaped into this incredible fantasy world, able to muster up just enough energy to keep up with the Active Time Battle system. Thanks to Chrono Trigger, what could have been one of the worst weeks of my childhood became one of my favorite memories.

from ROP’s Passions

There was a period when work felt like a constant uphill sprint—heavy workloads, daily deadlines, and so much stress and pressure that even my free time felt… heavy. I needed to relax, but nothing worked. Slower, cozy games couldn’t hold my attention, and even my usual stress-relief old-school shooters, like Serious Sam, felt like too much. I was too tired to aim, too restless to unwind.

Then, somehow, I stumbled onto Clustertruck.

I don’t remember why I picked it. Maybe I wanted something simple, almost childish… it’s basically a “floor is lava” game, but with trucks. And what I found was… unexpected chaos. Fast, unpredictable, ridiculous chaos. Jumping from one wildly moving truck to another, barely holding on, failing, retrying… and laughing.

No story. No pressure. Just pure gameplay and pure joy. It was exactly what I needed.

I didn’t need to think too much, so it cut through the exhaustion. It was fast enough to burn off stress and simple enough not to overwhelm. Every run was messy, unexpected, and always hilarious, on the brink of comedy.

I remember it dearly. A game I never expected to have such an impact and to be one I would replay many times since.

Maddie from Maddie The Game Traveller

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s a recent game, you probably heard the name a lot last year. This game was probably the best distraction while still being present in my partner’s life.

Last year in April, my partner shared something deeply personal with me. This was an amazing moment and I was so proud, but I knew a lot of change was coming, and that scared me. I’m the kind of person who would wear the same thing every day, keep a routine to make sure I didn’t forget to do something. Change is hard.

A month later, it was our anniversary, and I had been hearing about this game for a while and wanted to try it. We started the game, and we were blown away by the music, world, and characters. It was absolutely charming.

This game took us months to play, but we never stopped talking about the topics it tackled about reality and family. It gave me something to think about while being present in my partner’s life. We experienced something together without the weight of the world. This gave me a moment of peace while trying to figure out what to do next.

from GameThink

Just like many of my peers, my formative years were spent on Call of Duty. I have since moved on, but I will always cherish my early memories with the series, especially Black Ops 3 in particular.

I will always remember the excitement I felt on Christmas Eve of 2015, opening my very own PS4 alongside a copy of Black Ops 3. That same night, I recorded my first attempt on the new Zombies map, Shadows of Evil, and every time a new DLC dropped thereafter, I was up at 4 a.m. to livestream before school. By the time Zombies Chronicles released, I had amassed a community of over 1,000 subscribers on YouTube, all of whom shared the same passion for the game that I did.

This took place during a turbulent time in my home life, but Black Ops 3 gave me something to look forward to. Despite my dad’s constant protesting, I continued creating, and it helped shape who I am today. I learned that there were like-minded people out there.

I wasn’t alone.

Back To Me

After reading through these, one thing becomes clear.

We all cope differently.

There isn’t a single correct way to deal with grief, loss, or difficult moments in life. Some people go outside. Some people talk. Some people create. And some people pick up a controller and step into another world for a while.

And that’s okay.

Video games aren’t always the negative escape they’re sometimes made out to be. Like anything else, it depends on how we use them. In the right space, at the right time, they can offer comfort, structure, connection, and even healing.

What matters is that we find something that helps us move forward.

Not to avoid what we’re feeling, but to process it, little by little, in a way that works for us.

—- Prof. Rock

I want to thank everyone who collaborated with me on this article. Here are their s so you can quickly subscribe if you want to read more interesting thoughts from them.

You can follow over on BlueSky, X and on YouTube!

Play Moore

Medievalist and game studies scholar Evan C. Moore posts rants inspired by student questions and whatever he finds interesting at the time.

By Evan C. Moore

thoughts & trinkets

a brain dump, but a more grammatically correct brain dump than my other brain dumps.

By fawn

Retro Mo – Video Game Reviews

Reviews of old video games (and a few new ones too).

ROP’s Passions

A father, gamer, and geek sharing thoughtful takes on games, tech, collectibles, and the joy of passing it all on.

Maddy The Game Traveller

I share my adventures within games

GameThink

Thoughtful analysis of video games and the industry at large.

By Tobias James

Once again Thanks for reading!

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For years, physical and digital games have shared the same price. Whether you walked into a store and picked up a cartridge or downloaded the game directly from the eShop, the cost didn’t change. It felt balanced. It felt fair. But now, Nintendo has started signaling that this might not be the case anymore. Going forward, digital versions of their games may actually be cheaper than physical ones.

At first glance, that sounds like good news. Who wouldn’t want to save ten dollars? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this decision isn’t really about giving players a deal. It’s about something much bigger.

It started with a simple realization. If a game is sold digitally, what are you actually paying for? There’s no cartridge being produced, no plastic case, no shipping trucks, no shelves in a retail store. There isn’t even a middleman in the traditional sense. It’s just a file, delivered directly to your system. And when you look at it that way, it becomes clear that the cost structure behind digital games is completely different.

When Nintendo sells a physical game, that sale is divided across multiple layers. Retailers take a portion. Manufacturing costs add up, especially with cartridges, which are more expensive than discs. Distribution and logistics also play a role. By the time everything is accounted for, Nintendo ends up keeping only a portion of the final price.

Digital changes that equation entirely. When a game is purchased through the eShop, the transaction happens within Nintendo’s own ecosystem. There are still costs, of course, such as payment processing and server infrastructure, but they are minimal compared to producing and distributing a physical product. As a result, Nintendo keeps a much larger share of each sale.

This is where the pricing shift starts to make sense. Even if Nintendo lowers the price of a digital game by ten dollars, they can still earn more per copy than they would from a physical version sold at a higher price. In other words, the discount isn’t a loss. It’s a strategy.

What makes this even more interesting is that this isn’t new for the gaming industry as a whole. On PC, digital has already become the standard. Platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store have operated without physical releases for years. Players download their games, build digital libraries, and rarely think twice about not owning a physical copy. In many ways, the shift Nintendo is making now is simply bringing console gaming closer to a model that already exists elsewhere.

And yet, there’s still something about it that feels a little uncomfortable.

Physical games carry a sense of ownership that digital purchases don’t fully replicate. You can hold them, lend them, resell them, or revisit them years later without worrying about servers or account access. Digital games, while convenient, depend on systems that can change over time.

We’ve already seen what happens when those systems disappear. When the Nintendo 3DS eShop shut down, a large number of games became difficult to access or vanished entirely unless they had been downloaded beforehand. That moment served as a reminder that digital libraries, for all their convenience, are not permanent in the same way physical collections are.

At the same time, it does seem like Nintendo has been trying to adapt. Through services like Nintendo Switch Online and the steady re-release of older titles, there is an effort to preserve access, even if it’s not always in the form players might prefer. It’s not a perfect solution, but it suggests an awareness of the problem.

In the end, this shift toward cheaper digital pricing feels less like a simple change and more like a clear signal. Nintendo is leaning into a future where digital distribution becomes the norm, physical copies become less central, and pricing reflects the realities of that model.

I still appreciate physical games. There’s something about inserting a cartridge and knowing it’s yours that hasn’t lost its value for me. But at the same time, it’s hard to ignore the direction things are heading. Digital is more efficient, more profitable, and now, increasingly, more affordable.

- Prof. Rock.

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In The Legend of Zelda, we meet characters like Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. But imagine if we had to repeat their names in every sentence…

That would get exhausting really fast.

That’s where pronouns come in.

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🧝‍♂️ What Is a Pronoun?

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.

Instead of repeating a name over and over, we can use words like:

• he, she, they

• him, her, them

• his, her, their

Let’s see it in action:

Link entered the castle. Link fought Ganondorf.

Now with pronouns:

Link entered the castle. He fought Ganondorf.

Much smoother.

⚔️ Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence.

• I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Examples:

He saved Hyrule.
She protected the kingdom.
They traveled across the land.

👉 These tell us who is doing the action.

🛡️ Object Pronouns

Object pronouns receive the action.

• me, you, him, her, it, us, them

Examples:

Zelda helped him.
Ganondorf attacked them.
The king trusted her.

👉 These tell us who is receiving the action.

👑 Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns

💰 Possessive Pronouns (show ownership)

• mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs

Examples:

This sword is his.
The kingdom is hers.

👉 Demonstrative Pronouns (point to things)

• this, that, these, those

Examples:

This is the Master Sword.
Those are the enemies approaching.

🧩 Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs

These help connect ideas and give more information.

🔗 Relative Pronouns:

• who, whom, whose, which, that

Example:

Link is the hero who saved Hyrule.

⏳ Relative Adverbs:

• where, when, why

Example:

This is the place where Link found the sword.

🔄 Contractions with Pronouns

Contractions combine pronouns with other words to make speech more natural.

• he’s (he is)

• she’s (she is)

• they’re (they are)

• it’s (it is)

Examples:

He’s ready for battle.
They’re exploring the dungeon.

👉 These are very common in everyday writing and conversation.

📝 Quick Practice

Part 1: Replace the Noun

Rewrite using a pronoun.

Link found the sword. → ______ found the sword.

Zelda protected the kingdom. → ______ protected the kingdom.

Part 2: Choose the Correct Pronoun

Zelda helped (he / him).

Ganondorf attacked (they / them).

Part 3: Identify the Type

What type of pronoun is underlined?

She saved Hyrule. ______

This shield is his. ______

Link is the hero who fights evil. ______

💬 Why Zelda?

The world of The Legend of Zelda is full of characters, stories, and relationships.

Without pronouns, every sentence would feel repetitive.

Pronouns help us:

• avoid repetition

• make writing smoother

• connect ideas more clearly

And just like Link doesn’t need to say his name every time…

our writing doesn’t either.

Thanks for adventuring through this lesson with me in Grammar Through Video Games.

Until next time, keep crafting and keep learning.

— Prof. Rock

Not because I don’t love Pokémon. It’s actually the opposite. I’ve always loved the idea of it. The strategy, the team-building, the battles. But if I’m being honest, there’s always been this quiet barrier sitting in the background. That feeling that if you didn’t keep up with every release, if you didn’t grind for hours, if you didn’t understand EVs, IVs, natures, abilities… then you were kind of just watching from the outside.

That’s why when I watched the trailer for Pokémon Champions, something felt different.

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This isn’t about exploring a region or collecting badges. This is just battles. Straight to the point. And for the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like the game was asking me to prove anything before letting me play. It actually felt like it was inviting me in.

What really stood out to me was the idea that you can just log in and start building a team. You don’t need to own the latest mainline game. You don’t need to transfer a perfectly trained Pokémon through Pokémon HOME. You can simply recruit one, try it out, and jump into a match. There’s something refreshing about that. It lowers the barrier in a way that Pokémon hasn’t really done before.

At the same time, I’ll admit there’s a part of me that wonders how fair it’s all going to feel. Because while one player might be experimenting with a newly recruited Pokémon, another could be bringing in a team they’ve carefully built over years, possibly even transferred from Pokémon GO or other titles. That gap could feel pretty real. But then again, the system with Victory Points, where you can gradually build and customize your own team, makes me think the game is trying to meet players halfway. You don’t start with everything, but you’re not locked out either.

And honestly, I like that balance. It feels a bit like real life learning. You don’t walk into a classroom knowing everything, but you’re given tools, opportunities, and time to grow into it.

Another moment that stuck with me was being able to see your opponent’s team before the battle. That small detail changes everything. Suddenly it’s not just about having strong Pokémon. It’s about thinking ahead, making decisions, predicting what someone else might do. It becomes less about grinding and more about strategy. And that’s the kind of gameplay that keeps people coming back.

The more I think about it, the more I realize why this announcement hit me the way it did. I’ve seen competitive Pokémon battles before, and I’ve always thought, “That looks amazing… but I’m never going to get there.” This might be the first time I feel like I actually could. Not because I suddenly have more time, but because the game is finally designed in a way that respects the time I do have.

Of course, there’s still that question in the back of my mind about the Starter Pack. We don’t know the price yet, and if there’s one thing games like this have taught us, it’s that pricing can make or break the experience. If it feels fair, people will jump in. If it feels like a paywall, that excitement can disappear quickly. I’m really hoping they get that part right, because everything else they’re building here feels like it’s pointing in a really good direction.

At the end of the day, what stayed with me most is this feeling that Pokémon Champions isn’t just for the longtime competitive players. It’s for people like me. People who love the idea of battling, who enjoy the strategy, but who don’t always have the time or energy to keep up with everything the series demands.

And if this game really delivers on that promise… I can already see myself jumping into a match after a long day, picking a team, thinking through my moves, and just enjoying the moment.

No pressure. Just play.

— Prof. Rock

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Kirby is known for one thing above all… copying and combining abilities. Whether he’s inhaling enemies or mixing powers, Kirby shows us how combining things can create something stronger.

That’s exactly what conjunctions do in language.

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🔗 What Is a Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that joins ideas together.

It can connect:

• words

• phrases

• or complete sentences

Some common conjunctions include:

• and

• but

• so

• because

Let’s look at them in action:

Kirby floats and fights enemies.
Kirby is small but powerful.
Kirby inhaled the enemy so he gained a new ability.
Kirby won the battle because he adapted quickly.

🌟 Combining Ideas Like Kirby

Think about how Kirby works:

• He takes in one ability

• Then combines it with his actions

• And creates something new

Without conjunctions, sentences feel separate:

Kirby jumps. He attacks.

With conjunctions:

Kirby jumps and attacks.

Now the idea feels complete.

🧠 Meet FANBOYS (The Power-Up Set)

There’s a group of conjunctions that work like Kirby’s main abilities. We call them FANBOYS:

• F – for (reason)

• A – and (addition)

• N – nor (negative)

• B – but (contrast)

• O – or (choice)

• Y – yet (contrast)

• S – so (result)

Examples:

Kirby jumps and attacks.
You can fly or run.
Kirby is small yet powerful.
Kirby was tired, so he rested.

These are called coordinating conjunctions, and they help connect equal ideas.

🧩 Going a Step Further

Some conjunctions help us explain time, cause, or conditions. These include:

• because

• when

• after

• before

• if

• while

Examples:

Kirby won because he trained.
When Kirby flies, he avoids danger.
Kirby rested after the battle.

These help students create more detailed and meaningful sentences.

📝 Quick Practice

Part 1: Choose the Conjunction

Fill in the blank with the best conjunction.

Kirby is cute ___ powerful.

Kirby inhaled the enemy ___ gained a new ability.

Kirby was tired ___ he kept going.

Kirby won ___ he never gave up.

Part 2: Combine the Sentences

Use a conjunction to join each pair.

Kirby jumped. Kirby attacked.

Kirby is small. Kirby is strong.

Kirby trained hard. Kirby won the battle.

Kirby was hungry. Kirby searched for food.

Part 3: Identify the Conjunction

Underline the conjunction in each sentence.

Kirby ran and dodged the attack.

Kirby is small but brave.

Kirby practiced because he wanted to improve.

Kirby was tired, so he rested.

💬 Why Kirby?

Kirby’s entire gameplay is about combining abilities to solve problems.

That’s exactly what students are learning here.

Conjunctions help them:

• connect ideas

• explain their thinking

• write more complete sentences

And once they understand this, their writing starts to feel more natural and more powerful.

Thanks for floating through this lesson with me in Grammar Through Video Games.

Next up… we keep leveling up.

Until next time, keep crafting and keep learning.

— Prof. Rock

(C) Images from https://wikirby.com/

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As I’m writing this, Prof. Rock’s Learning Arcade is about to reach 100 subscribers. Technically speaking, I’m writing this just before it happens. I wanted to get the words down while the moment still feels fresh. The plan is simple. This post will go live once the number hits 100.

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A few months ago, I actually slowed down my writing here on . When I first started, I was posting a lot. Almost every week there was something new. The reason was simple. I had a lot of ideas stuck in my head.

Originally, those ideas were meant for a YouTube channel. I tried creating some video content, but the reality is that I didn’t have the time for it, and the videos themselves were not really getting views. Eventually I stumbled onto Substack.

What immediately stood out to me was how simple it was. I had thought about starting a WordPress blog or trying other platforms, but those places always felt like you were just publishing something and hoping someone might find it. Substack felt different because there was already a community built into it.

When I started posting, I immediately began seeing notifications. People were reading, subscribing, commenting, and connecting with each other. That was very interesting to me. It did not feel like I was just throwing articles into the internet and hoping they landed somewhere.

In the process, I also started reading a lot of other Substacks. Many of them focus on gaming, which is an area where I seem to connect well with readers. So reaching 100 subscribers means a lot to me. One hundred people clicked the subscribe button and are willing to receive my nonsense in their inboxes.

Although, to be fair, there is a good chance most of those emails end up in the junk folder. I have noticed that many of the Substacks I subscribe to go straight to junk in my own email. Because of that, I usually just open the Substack app and browse around to see what everyone is writing.

Still, whether it is the inbox, the junk folder, or the app, the point is the same. I am grateful.

A funny thing happened along the way. The blog did not really start growing because I posted more. If anything, I became more selective with what I wrote. What changed was that Learning Arcade started to feel more like itself.

The intersection of gaming and education started becoming clearer.

When I call myself Prof. Rock, it is actually a small homage to Professor Oak from Pokémon. In those games, the professor guides players as they explore the world and learn new things. As an actual teacher in real life, I like leaning into that idea. The blog became a place where I could explore the connection between games, learning, and technology.

So now that we are about to hit 100 subscribers, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the articles that helped build this little corner of the internet.

Some of the Posts That Resonated the Most

A few posts clearly stood out and brought a lot of readers to the blog.

One of the biggest ones was How Stardew Valley Teaches Real-World Skills in the Classroom. That article really captured what Learning Arcade is about. It explored how a relaxing farming game can actually teach planning, resource management, and problem solving.

Another strong performer was Gamifying Learning with GimKit. Teachers seem to love practical tools, and GimKit is one of those platforms that can instantly make a classroom more engaging.

I also wrote Pokémon and Graphics: Are We Expecting Too Much or Too Little?, which sparked a lot of conversation. It turns out that talking about Pokémon always brings people out of the woodwork.

More recently, Why I Finally Understand Why Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Are $19.99 also did very well. Sometimes all it takes is revisiting an old topic with a new perspective.

Some Personal Favorites

Some articles may not have been the biggest traffic drivers, but they are still among my favorites.

From Love to Letting Go: My Journey with The Sims was one of those reflective pieces where I looked back at a game that meant a lot to me over the years.

Six Months with My Nintendo Switch 2 was another fun one to write, simply because it was a chance to reflect on how gaming habits evolve over time.

And Blocked for Using AI? What Happened to Me on BlueSky ended up being one of the more personal posts on the blog. It also generated a lot of discussion about how people perceive AI and online communities.

A Few Hidden Gems

Some posts did not get huge attention at first, but I still think they are worth checking out.

For example, RoomRecess.com: A Hidden Gem for Simple, Effective Learning highlights a really useful classroom resource that many teachers may not know about.

Another one was Flying Through Geography: Using GeoFS in Social Studies Class, which explored how a flight simulator can turn geography lessons into something far more interactive.

And then there is How I Built a Library of Free Games (Legally!). That one dives into something every gamer loves. Finding great games without spending a fortune.

The Posts That Didn’t Quite Take Off

Not every article becomes a hit, and that is perfectly fine.

For example, some of the Grammar Level One ESL lessons did not get much attention when they were first published. But those posts were created more as long term resources than headline articles.

The same goes for posts like Unlocking Vocabulary: How Greek Roots Bridge English and Spanish. It may not have been widely read at first, but it is exactly the kind of language topic I enjoy exploring.

Sometimes the quiet posts end up becoming the most useful ones later on.

So if you are a new subscriber, there is a good chance there are older posts hiding in the archive that you might enjoy discovering.

Thank You for Being Here

At the end of the day, this blog started as a place to share ideas that were originally meant for a YouTube channel that never quite happened.

Instead, it became something better.

It became a small community of readers who enjoy the overlap between gaming, education, and technology.

So whether you have been here since the early posts, or you just recently discovered Learning Arcade, thank you for clicking that subscribe button.

One hundred subscribers may be a small milestone in the grand scheme of the internet, but to me it means that this little experiment in writing has found an audience.

And that is pretty awesome.

— Prof. Rock

Before you go, I’m curious about something.

If you have been reading Learning Arcade for a while, which post brought you here?

Was it one of the gaming articles, one of the classroom ideas, or something else entirely?

I would love to know.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! 🥹

But after the recent Pokémon Direct, my perspective shifted.

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There had been a lot of speculation about whether FireRed and LeafGreen would connect to Pokémon HOME, and once it was officially confirmed that they would, the pricing started to make more sense to me. That connection changes the value proposition completely. These are no longer just nostalgic re-releases. They become part of the modern Pokémon ecosystem. And with Pokémon Champions positioned as the official competitive hub moving forward, that ecosystem matters more than ever. If a Pokémon you catch and train in FireRed can eventually battle alongside creatures from newer generations, then what you’re buying is not just an old cartridge experience. You’re buying long-term compatibility.

That realization also helped me understand why the game appears to be completely faithful to the original. No speed-up options. No modern quality-of-life changes. No faster dialogue or streamlined grinding. At first glance, that feels like a missed opportunity. We all know emulators and ROM hacks can speed things up. But once you introduce Pokémon Home compatibility, the integrity of the original mechanics becomes important. If these Pokémon are going to move forward into official competitive formats, then the experience has to remain authentic. The grind is part of the design. The pacing is part of the design. As much as we may want convenience, this is an official pipeline into the future of the franchise. That means fewer shortcuts.

That doesn’t mean everyone needs to buy it. I’m a fan. I grew up with these games. But I also know myself. I’m not planning to replay FireRed from beginning to end right now. If it were included in Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy library, I’d probably dip into it casually for nostalgia’s sake. But that’s different from intentionally raising a team with the purpose of transferring them forward. The people buying this are likely the ones who care about that long-term connectivity, the collectors and competitive players who see value in moving their Pokémon across generations.

And this is where I think there’s actually a smart middle ground. I see no issue with Nintendo eventually placing FireRed and LeafGreen into the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy library as well, but keeping that version disconnected from Pokémon Home. Let casual players enjoy it with save states and rewind features. Let them experience Kanto without worrying about transfers. Meanwhile, the $19.99 version remains the official, Home-compatible edition for those who want ownership and long-term integration. That would clearly separate the experiences and make the pricing easier to understand for everyone.

If I have one lingering wish, it’s that trading and transferring could feel more modern. Yes, local trades are part of Pokémon’s DNA, and there’s something charming about that. But we live in an era of online connectivity. It would be nice to see more seamless integration into current communication features. Still, that’s a smaller critique in the bigger picture.

And speaking of the bigger picture, it’s kind of wild to think about where we’re heading. After Pokémon Legends: Z-A, we’re finally stepping into what feels like a true next-generation era with Pokémon Winds and Waves. I wrote previously about hoping for a real graphical and structural leap for the series, and now we’re actually seeing that transition unfold. In that context, FireRed and LeafGreen feel less like simple nostalgia ports and more like bridges. They connect the early 2000s era of Pokémon to whatever the franchise is becoming next.

Am I personally rushing out to buy it? Probably not. But do I understand why it costs $19.99 now? Yes. Once you factor in Pokémon Home compatibility and the long-term competitive ecosystem, it feels less like paying for an old ROM and more like investing in a connected, evolving system. And honestly, I’m okay with that.

-Prof. Rock

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You can read my previous article about Pokémon and Graphics!

“Alright class, today we’re flying to Egypt.”

Not watching a video.
Not opening a textbook.
Not clicking through slides.

Flying.

Recently I came across GeoFS, a free, browser-based flight simulator that runs on global satellite imagery. No installation. No heavy gaming PC. Just open a browser and you’re in the cockpit.

And immediately my teacher brain started spinning.

Because this isn’t just a game.

It’s a virtual field trip machine.

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Why GeoFS Caught My Attention

Here’s what makes it interesting from an educator’s perspective:

• Free version available in the browser

• Real satellite imagery of the entire planet

• Multiplayer capability

• Real navigation charts and runway data

• Live weather pulled from real-world data

• Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even mobile

There’s also a paid HD subscription, but even the free 10-meter satellite resolution is more than enough for classroom exploration.

It runs on the Cesium virtual globe framework, similar in feel to Google Earth, but interactive and fully flyable.

And that’s where the magic starts.

Imagine This in a Social Studies Classroom

Let me walk you through what I pictured.

You start class at your local airport.

If I were doing this here in Puerto Rico, I’d load up Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Students take off.

The plane climbs.

You engage autopilot once stable.

And while the aircraft cruises…

Students research the destination.

Maybe today we’re studying:

• The Nile River

• The Amazon Rainforest

• The Great Wall of China

• Rome during the Roman Empire

• The Appalachian Mountains

Once students identify key landmarks, they become navigators.

“Alright, find the Nile Delta.”
“Where is the Colosseum?”
“Locate the Andes.”

Then they descend and fly toward those spots.

Now imagine the assignment:

Take aerial screenshots of three important geographic features.
Annotate them.
Explain their historical or economic importance.

That’s not passive learning.

That’s immersive geography.

Turning It Into a Structured Lesson

Here’s how I’d structure it:

1. Launch Phase

Students start at a local airport.
Quick refresher on latitude, longitude, and global regions.

2. Research Phase

While cruising at altitude, students research:

• Climate

• Population

• Major exports

• Historical significance

• Cultural landmarks

3. Navigation Phase

Students guide the plane toward specific landmarks using:

• Map search

• Coordinates

• Visual cues

4. Documentation Phase

Students capture screenshots of:

• Landforms

• Cities

• Rivers

• Borders

Then they create a short presentation explaining what they “observed from the air.”

Why This Works

As teachers, we know engagement changes everything.

When students feel like they’re traveling somewhere, geography stops being abstract.

It becomes spatial.
Visual.
Real.

GeoFS even simulates:

• Lift and drag

• Stall physics

• Weather patterns

• Day/night cycles

You could even integrate science by discussing wind currents or terrain elevation.

And because it’s massively multiplayer, you could theoretically have a whole class flying together.

Realistic and Accessible

One thing I appreciate is that GeoFS simplifies controls enough for beginners but keeps real aviation principles intact.

Students can:

• Fly a Cessna 172

• Try a glider

• Use autopilot

• Practice approaches with runway lights and PAPI guidance

And yes, there are fighter jets and airliners too. So, supervision matters.

But as a structured classroom tool? It has serious potential.

The Bigger Idea

We talk a lot about “virtual field trips.”

But most of the time that means clicking through photos.

This feels different.

This feels active.

This feels like giving students control over their exploration.

And I can’t help but imagine a unit where:

• Students “fly” trade routes

• Recreate historical voyages

• Track global climate zones

• Compare urban density from above

Learning through movement.

Learning through perspective.

Learning through play.

Final Thought

GeoFS wasn’t designed specifically for schools.

But sometimes the best educational tools aren’t labeled “educational.”

They’re just powerful and creative teachers see the possibilities.

If you’ve ever wanted to let your students travel the world without leaving the classroom…

You might want to open a browser and try a takeoff.

And if you do try it in your classroom, I’d genuinely love to hear how it goes.

Because whether it’s through games, tech, or teaching…

We’re all trying to help kids soar a little higher.

— Prof. Rock

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Because the truth is, football was never part of my life growing up. I didn’t watch it as a kid. I didn’t grow up in a house where Sundays revolved around a game. The closest I ever got to football was playing NFL Blitz on my GameCube. I knew Madden existed, but I never touched it. Football just wasn’t my thing.

That changed in 2013, the year I found out I was going to be a dad.

I remember feeling overwhelmed. Excited, yes, but also anxious in a way I had never felt before. A friend of mine noticed that and said something simple that stuck with me. He told me I needed something to focus on while I was preparing for this huge life change. Something steady. Something outside my own head. He suggested football.

So he took my wife and me to a bar to watch a game. She couldn’t drink at the time, obviously, but she came along anyway. As the game played, my friend explained what was happening. The rules. The pacing. Why certain plays mattered. And something clicked.

Football wasn’t fast in the way I expected. It took its time. There were pauses. There was strategy. It was still exciting, but it gave my mind something to settle into. During a moment in my life where everything felt like it was speeding up, football slowed things down just enough.

He gave me one rule. Pick a team, and stick with them for the rest of the season, no matter what.

So I did what any 90s kid would do. I looked at logos. And for whatever reason, my brain said, that’s it. The Houston Texans. As of today, if you know anything about football, you can imagine my love-hate relationship with this team.

By October of that year, when my son was born, I was fully in. I had even subscribed to ESPN Magazine, and the promo gift that came with it was a Texans jacket. That’s what I was wearing at the hospital the day my son was born. Looking back, it feels symbolic in a strange way. Football had become this quiet companion during one of the biggest moments of my life.

It stayed with us after that. The following Super Bowl, I bought my son a Broncos onesie because I was really hoping they would win that year. I enjoyed watching the game. I enjoyed the ritual of it. Over time, watching football became something social. Going to a friend’s house. Hanging out. Saying, yeah, let’s watch the Super Bowl.

But here’s where my mild frustration started.

A lot of those gatherings weren’t really about the game. People would talk through entire drives. Conversations would drown out the action. And eventually it became clear that many were just waiting for the halftime show. I enjoy the halftime show too, but I actually wanted to watch the game. That disconnect always stuck with me.

Even now, I’ll admit that over the last couple of years I haven’t been as invested as I once was. Life shifts. Focus changes. But when the playoffs roll around, I still know who’s playing. I know which teams were strong. I know who I’m rooting for. That part never really left.

What has always fascinated me is how much the Super Bowl conversation centers on halftime.

And honestly, it always has.

I remember as a kid watching the halftime show when NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Aerosmith performed together. I wasn’t watching the game. I didn’t even fully understand that this performance was happening in between something else. To me, it was just a big show.

So when people ask why halftime feels bigger now, I don’t think it’s new. We just notice it more.

This year, that conversation feels especially loud for me because I’m from Puerto Ric and having Bad Bunny connected to the Super Bowl is a big deal. His growth, his accolades, the way he’s put the island on the map, even though it’s always been there, that matters.

At the same time, I’ve heard people say, where are you going to watch the halftime show, instead of where are you going to watch the Super Bowl. I’m happy people are tuning in. I really am. I just wish the game itself didn’t feel like an afterthought.

Which brings me to my biggest halftime gripe.

Once I really started paying attention, I noticed that many Super Bowl halftime performances forget one important thing. They’re happening in a stadium.

On TV, these performances look incredible. Cinematic. Polished. They feel like full concerts designed for the viewer at home. And that’s great. But what about the people in the stands?

Some performers get this right. Katy Perry absolutely dominated the field. She used the space. The scale. That lion moving across the stage made the entire stadium feel alive. Coldplay did something similar, especially when the field became part of the experience.

Others, while still great, feel like a concert dropped into the middle of a football field. I remember watching Bruno Mars at the Super Bowl and enjoying it, but realizing I had seen that exact same concert in Puerto Rico the year before. It wasn’t reimagined for the space. It was translated.

You have the entire field. Not just a stage. That’s what excites me when performers really lean into it.

And yes, side note, my wife is still sad that Pink has never done a Super Bowl halftime show. I agree. She would absolutely light up that field.

But this article isn’t really about football. Or halftime. Or even the Super Bowl.

It’s about something bigger.

We live in a time where people are quick to tear things down. Quick to dismiss. Quick to say something is bad without really engaging with it. And that’s something I’ve noticed more the older I get.

I love living in Puerto Rico. I’ve also visited the Dominican Republic. I’ve spent time in New York. A summer in New Jersey with family. Educational conferences in Philadelphia. Every place had something beautiful about it. Something worth absorbing.

I think we’re missing that mindset.

You don’t have to like everything. You don’t have to care about football. Maybe you love soccer instead. That’s fine. But there’s a difference between not liking something and not even giving it a chance.

Football was something I could enjoy during a stressful, life-changing moment. It gave me focus when I needed it. And to this day, I still enjoy watching a game or two. Sitting with friends. Complaining about a call. Talking about a good play.

So this Super Bowl Sunday, enjoy what you enjoy. Watch the game. Watch the halftime show. Critique it if you want. Just don’t dismiss it without really seeing it.

There’s good in more things than we sometimes allow ourselves to notice.

-Prof. Rock

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When I bought mine, it was just the Mario Kart bundle. I played it, enjoyed it, and then moved on. So yes, I understand where that feeling comes from.

But my six months have been very different.

I genuinely needed the upgrade, especially for my eyesight. The original Switch just was not working for me anymore. On top of that, my son also got a Switch 2. We saved up. We took our time. This was not an impulse buy. And for him, the experience has been great. Games like Minecraft load noticeably faster, and everything just feels smoother.

We are mostly playing older games. I could have kept playing Ori and the Blind Forest on Switch 1, but the faster loading and performance bump make a real difference on Switch 2.

What really pushed me back in this week was the free update announcement for Donkey Kong Country HD. I bought it on sale for about 30 bucks, loved what I played, but never fully dove in. My son did not connect with it, so I happily took the cartridge back, so I will be playing that now.

I am also playing more now in general. Final Fantasy VII Remake just dropped, and the demo runs beautifully. I have Star Wars Outlaws too, and I jump in whenever I can.

So for me, these six months have been good. The spec bump is real, and it has improved how I actually use the system.

I still believe this though. If you are not constantly gaming on your Switch 1, then the Switch 2 probably is not for you. And that is okay. But if you needed the upgrade and you actually play, the experience has been absolutely worth it.

-Prof Rock

If you're new to the newsletter, you might want to check out the story of how I got my Switch 2.

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Chairs.

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We use them every day. We barely think about them. They’re just there. But the chair, as ordinary as it feels, didn’t suddenly appear one day fully formed.

If you go looking for who invented the chair, you quickly run into a problem. There isn’t a single answer. Historians point to ancient Egypt, where chairs were symbols of power and status as early as 2680 BC. Later, Greek and Roman cultures adapted them. During the Renaissance, chairs became more common, reflecting changes in craftsmanship, materials, and social structure. Even modern designers like Charles and Ray Eames didn’t invent the chair so much as redefine it for their time.

As several authors point out, including those writing for Wikipedia and design history sites like Enkledesigns, the chair is a collective creation. It evolved. It adapted. It changed based on human needs.

Now let’s narrow that focus.

The folding chair.

If you do a quick search, you’ll likely see Nathaniel Alexander credited with inventing the folding chair in 1911. And that’s not wrong. Alexander did patent a folding chair design, one that even included a book rest, making it especially useful for schools, churches, and auditoriums. ThoughtCo and Sciencing both discuss his contribution in detail.

But here’s the thing.

As Elias Nash explains in his Sciencing article, folding chairs existed long before that patent. Versions of collapsible chairs have been found in ancient civilizations, where they were symbols of authority rather than practical seating. Alexander didn’t invent the idea. He refined it. He adapted it. He made it work for a specific context and time.

Sound familiar?

Then there’s the part of the story that feels almost ridiculous at first.

Professional wrestling.

According to articles from WhatCulture and other wrestling historians, the folding chair found its way into wrestling in the 1940s, with Wild Bill Curry often cited as one of the first wrestlers to use it effectively. Later, the modern steel folding chair, mass produced after designs by Fredric Arnold in the late 1940s and 1950s, became synonymous with wrestling spectacle. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the folding chair wasn’t furniture anymore. It was a weapon. A symbol. A storytelling tool.

Same object. Completely different use.

So let me ask you something.

Can you see where I’m headed with this?

Because the problem was never the chair.

Something can be invented with a clear purpose, but the real issue is what we decide to do with it afterward. A chair exists so we can sit. A folding chair exists to make that easier, more flexible, more accessible. The moment it becomes something else, especially something harmful, the object itself hasn’t changed. The intent has.

That’s where my concern lies.

AI really isn’t the problem. The users are.

AI is a tool. And honestly, it can be a very good one. I use it when I write. I run my work through it for spelling. I check flow. Sometimes it helps me see a sentence more clearly or smooth out something that feels clunky. Used that way, AI is supportive. It doesn’t replace thinking. It sharpens it.

But we also have to be honest.

There are people using AI in ways that are careless at best and harmful at worst. Entire articles generated without thought. Websites filled with AI produced content meant to mislead. Fake news written faster than it can be fact checked. That misuse is real, and ignoring it doesn’t help anyone.

Still, disliking misuse does not mean hating the tool itself.

The problem has never been AI existing. The problem is how people choose to use it.

And this is where the chair comes back into the conversation.

A folding chair is useful. It’s practical. It’s been around for years because it solves a real need. But when it’s used as a weapon, the chair didn’t suddenly become evil. It was taken out of context and used in a way it was never meant to be used.

AI works the same way.

It isn’t dangerous by default. It becomes dangerous when it’s stripped of intention, responsibility, and ethics. When it replaces thinking instead of supporting it. When speed matters more than truth.

That distinction matters. Especially in education.

Because if we treat AI as the villain, we miss the real issue entirely. Tools don’t make choices. People do.

And that’s the conversation we actually need to be having.

So What Now?

If we’re being honest, we already know the problem.

AI isn’t inherently bad. The issue has always been how it’s used. And that means the next step doesn’t start with bans or panic. It starts with responsibility.

Us as users.

One of the simplest things we can do is stop rewarding content that adds nothing. If we’re creating what people now call “AI slop,” or if we’re consuming it without thinking, we’re teaching the algorithm that this is what we want.

And algorithms listen.

When I see a video and it’s clearly AI generated, I pause. I look at it. I don’t react emotionally. I ask myself, is this actually adding value? If the answer is no, I don’t like it. If anything, I do the opposite. On platforms like YouTube, that’s easy. I can tell the system, this isn’t for me.

I’ve noticed something interesting there. Many of those AI generated videos sit at ten likes. Sometimes fewer. That tells me people are paying attention. They’re quietly pushing back. They’re choosing not to amplify content that feels hollow or misleading.

Other platforms make this harder.

On TikTok, there’s no clear “unlike.” You can mark something as not interested, but it takes more effort, and AI generated content seems to thrive there. It circulates easily. It blends in. It gets rewarded simply because it exists.

So I make a choice.

If a platform becomes a place where low effort AI content dominates and there’s no meaningful way to push back, I stop supporting it. I scroll less. I disengage. I don’t feed the machine. That’s part of responsibility too.

This isn’t about being anti AI. It’s about being intentional.

We analyze what we see. We question what we consume. We decide what deserves attention. Whether we’re teachers, students, creators, or just people scrolling after a long day, we all shape the ecosystem in small ways.

That folding chair still works because we use it for what it was meant to do.

AI can work the same way.

It can support creativity, learning, and problem solving if we use it wisely. But if we turn it into noise, manipulation, or shortcuts that replace thinking, that’s on us.

The problem was never the chair.
And it was never AI.

The real question is whether we’re willing to be responsible users of the tools we’ve been given.

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References

Bellis, Mary. “Nathaniel Alexander, Inventor of a Folding Chair.” ThoughtCo.

https://www.thoughtco.com/nathaniel-alexander-folding-chair-4074172

“Folding Chair.” Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding_chair

“Who Invented the Folding Chair?” Blossom Furnishings.

https://blossomfurnishings.com/who-invented-the-folding-chair/

“The Origins of Wrestling’s Favorite Foreign Objects.” WhatCulture.

https://whatculture.com/wwe/the-origins-of-wrestling-s-6-favourite-foreign-objects

Final Note

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this.

This is my first article of 2026, and I won’t lie, it took some work to get here. A lot has been happening in my life, and I’m trying to get more organized and more intentional with what I create. I really want to keep this Substack going, but I also want the articles to be thoughtful, meaningful, and worth your time.

Last year, I wrote a lot because many of those posts were ideas I had been sitting on for a while. Some of them were originally meant to be videos. I eventually had to be honest with myself. I don’t have the time or energy right now for video editing or production. Writing lets the content exist in a way that’s accessible, searchable, and always there. And honestly, I think this is the right place for it.

I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to see people doing well on Substack. I don’t see this ever becoming something I monetize. This space is more about having somewhere to think out loud, reflect, and share ideas as they come together. And I’m grateful that you’re here for that.

If you’d like to subscribe or share this article, please feel free to do so. This one took about two weeks to write. I started the year saying I wanted to write more, then hyper focused on getting this piece right, connecting the ideas, and making sure it actually made sense.

Looking ahead, one of my goals is to keep building out the Grammar Through Video Games section. I’d like to create worksheets to go along with those posts, so teachers and English learners can practice the ideas a bit more. Simple sentence work, tied to the video game examples already discussed. Practical, usable, and hopefully helpful.

That’s where I’m headed.

Thanks again for reading and for being part of this space.

— Prof. Rock

And look, before anyone feels called out, I say this with love. I have made every mistake on this list. Probably more than once. Sometimes twice in the same test. Learning to design a good assessment is like leveling up in a game. You think you’ve mastered it, then suddenly a new mechanic pops up and you go back to the tutorial screen.

So today I want to talk about some common practices that quietly sabotage student success. Not because the students don’t know the content, but because the design of the evaluation gets in the way. And since this is the Learning Arcade, we’ll walk through these issues as if we’re chatting in the teacher’s lounge, holding cold coffee that we absolutely meant to drink an hour ago.

The Matching Mishap

The classic mistake we all make

Let’s start with the one that inspired this post. Matching questions.

Most teachers (my past self included) put the vocabulary words in Column A and the definitions in Column B. Seems harmless. But when you do that, students have to scan every definition each time. Over and over. And over.

This turns a vocabulary check into a Where’s Waldo puzzle. Except nobody asked for Waldo. Nobody wants Waldo. The kids just want to match the right word to the right definition without feeling like they’ve been dropped into a scavenger hunt.

A better way:
Put the definitions in Column A and the shorter labels in Column B. Their eyes move faster, their brain organizes the task better, and the confusion drops dramatically. It is a small difference that students actually feel.

When Multiple Choice Turns Into a Mini Boss

Tricky distractors do not make students smarter

Some teachers take pride in being the final boss of multiple choice exams. We all know the colleague who says things like, I want to see who really studied. Then they throw in distractors that would stump a philosopher.

This doesn’t measure mastery. It measures who can survive psychological warfare.

Examples of practices to avoid:
• Distractors that are so obviously wrong the question becomes a giveaway
• Distractors that are so close students are forced to guess
• Answers that differ by only one tiny word
• Using All of the above or None of the above as if that adds depth

Students begin to focus on test strategy instead of understanding. They become detectives looking for traps instead of scholars applying knowledge.

Better approach:
Make every distractor a real misconception. Something a student might reasonably think if they misunderstood the concept. That way the question actually diagnoses learning.

Patterned Answer Keys

Believe it or not, students see the pattern

Kids notice everything. You think they don’t see the answer key has had B three times in a row. Oh, they see it. They see it with the intensity of a speedrunner spotting a glitch.

Unintentional patterns make students doubt themselves. They assume something must be wrong because no teacher would put C four times in a row.

No teacher would. Except we all have.

Better approach:
Randomize answers, then check for patterns. A little shuffle goes a long way.

Memory Overload

When recall replaces comprehension

There’s a difference between knowing a word and understanding it. There’s also a difference between assessing a skill and checking who memorized a line from yesterday’s vocabulary list.

Tests that focus too much on straight recall end up rewarding short term memory instead of deep learning.

Examples:
• Asking for dictionary definitions instead of real use
• Matching terms students learned five minutes ago
• Asking students to copy content from the text rather than analyze it

Better approach:
Shift the task from What is it to How does it work or Why does it matter. Students show more thinking and less panic.

The Novel-Length Question

Short stem, happy brain

Picture a multiple choice question that takes up half the page. Students stare at it. Their soul leaves their body for a moment. They stop reading halfway through without realizing they stopped reading.

Long stems are one of the most common ways that assessments accidentally penalize slower readers or multilingual learners.

Better approach:
Keep the scenario short, clear, and essential. If you need a story problem, make it a story that respects the reader’s time.

Word Banks Gone Wild

Too many choices, too much stress

Some teachers add extra words to the word bank because they think it increases rigor. Technically, maybe. Practically, absolutely not.

Extra words increase cognitive load. Students spend more time sorting than solving.

Better approach:
Keep the word bank focused. Challenge through the task, not the clutter.

Negative Questions

The silent test-killers

Which of the following is NOT an example of...

Students miss the word NOT all the time. These questions are landmines. They test reading precision more than content knowledge.

Better approach:
Avoid negative phrasing when possible. If you absolutely must assess the negative concept, use short answer or matching.

Ambiguous Wording

If a student needs to guess what the question is asking, the question is the problem

This is where assessments can unintentionally drift into chaos. Vague verbs. Unclear pronouns. Stems that leave too much room for interpretation.

Better approach:
Tell students exactly what they need to do. Clarity is kindness.

When Images Confuse More Than They Clarify

Use visuals with intention

If the picture needs a picture, the question is doomed.

Better approach:
Make sure every image is clearly labeled or simple enough to interpret. The image should support the answer, not obstruct it.

Hidden Hints

The visual Easter eggs teachers forget to check

Students pick up accidental clues quickly.

Examples:
• The correct answer is the only one that is longer
• The correct answer uses the same word that appears in the question
• One option is noticeably more specific than the others

Better approach:
Proofread like a test taker. Look for giveaways you didn’t intend.

Give Students At Least One Place To Show Their Thinking

Matching, multiple choice, and word banks are fine. But if the entire test relies on them, we’re not measuring understanding. We’re measuring recognition.

A short open-ended question can reveal more than 15 multiple choice items combined. Students need room to show their voice.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, a good assessment isn’t meant to be a maze. Its job is to shine a light on what students understand, not trap them in formatting gimmicks.

And trust me, the kids feel the difference. When the test is fair, they relax. When they relax, they perform better. When they perform better, the data becomes something you can actually trust.

This is something I’m exploring deeply as part of my Assessment Redesign project. Because if we want students to level up, we have to design assessments that make sense, not battles that need cheat codes.

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If you want to support my work or my Extra Life fundraiser helping children’s hospitals, here’s the link:
https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantid=549127

See you at the next checkpoint
Prof. Rock

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Mobile game. Same heart. New lessons.

What SimCity BuildIt Actually Is

SimCity BuildIt is a free-to-play city-building game where you design a city from the ground up. Roads, water systems, power plants, residential zones, factories, parks... the whole package. You’re constantly balancing the needs of your citizens with the natural limitations of land, money, and time. And yes, because it’s a mobile game, it has waiting periods and microtransactions. But the core experience is still classic SimCity: plan, build, adjust, repeat.

Why It Works as a Classroom Lens

City-building games are hidden gold mines for teaching real-world concepts. Even though SimCity BuildIt simplifies things, it still requires players to think critically about:

• Urban planning
• Resource management
• Cause and effect
• Budgeting and prioritizing
• Patience and long-term planning
• Understanding how communities function

Students don’t always see how complex a city really is. But when a tiny virtual town suddenly needs more electricity, better fire coverage, or a new sewage system, they feel that complexity. And they have to solve it.

The Learning Connections

Here are the skills that naturally show up while playing:

Critical Thinking
You constantly evaluate what your city needs versus what you want to build. Power first, parks later.

Economics & Budgeting
You can’t build everything at once. Players learn fast that every decision has a cost, and prioritizing becomes essential.

Spatial Reasoning
Where you place buildings matters. Too much distance from services means unhappy citizens. Too little planning means everything feels cramped.

Patience & Time Management
Resources take time to build, upgrades don’t happen instantly, and expansions require long-term planning. Students who love rushing will quickly learn that slow and steady is sometimes the only option.

Problem-Solving
Your city will complain. A lot. Traffic, pollution, fires, unhappy Sims. But each complaint becomes a problem to solve rather than something to ignore.

Would I Use It in Class?

Not directly as a main lesson, but absolutely as:

• a brain break option for responsible students
• inspiration for a creative writing assignment
• a compare-and-contrast task with real-life city structures
• a design challenge where students sketch their own cities
• a discussion starter about why communities need rules and systems

SimCity BuildIt won’t turn students into civil engineers, but it will make them think like one for a moment. And honestly, that’s already a win.

Things Teachers and Parents Should Know

• It includes waiting timers, which can frustrate younger kids.
• There are microtransactions, easily avoidable but visible.
• It works best with students who enjoy planning and strategy.
• Ads aren’t constant, but they’re part of the mobile experience.

Still, the educational value outweighs the inconveniences, especially when used intentionally.

Final Thoughts

SimCity BuildIt is one of those mobile games that quietly teaches you as you play. You start placing buildings just for fun, and before long you’re balancing budgets, negotiating land use, and making sure your sewage system can handle new residential zones. It’s learning wrapped in strategy, wrapped in nostalgia.

If you enjoy games that make you think, this one is worth a tap. And if you grew up with SimCity like I did, it feels like coming home to an old friend who’s learned a few new tricks.

SimCity BuildIt - Apps on Google Play

‎SimCity BuildIt App - App Store

And with that in mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m genuinely thankful for.

I’m thankful for my wife. I’m thankful for my son. And I’m thankful for this . Even though I haven’t posted as often lately, I’m grateful that this space exists. It’s become an outlet where I can write, reflect, ramble, and somehow people respond positively. That means a lot. (You know who you are…, , , , , , , , and everyone else I forgot to tag.)

This Substack has always been a mix of education, gaming, teacher life, and whatever else is on my mind. If you’ve been following me here in the Learning Arcade, thank you. I truly appreciate it. If you’ve ever read something of mine and found it interesting, helpful, or fun, feel free to share it. It helps more than you know.

As we head into a new month, I want to bring some of my older posts back into the spotlight. I’ll be re-stacking one older article every day. Not because I’m out of ideas, but because those pieces still matter, and maybe they’ll reach someone who missed them the first time. If you’re new here, read them. If you’ve been around a while, revisit them. And if you have suggestions for how I can improve, I’m always open to it. Writing is something I want to keep getting better at.

And yes, I do use AI, but only as a tool. I write everything myself first, then use AI the same way we all use Siri, autocorrect, or Grammarly: to clean up grammar, check clarity, and make sure what I’m saying makes sense. This isn’t “write an article for me” AI. It’s editing support. If you’ve wondered about that, now you know. Don’t hate AI. Hate the sloppy use of it. Actually, don’t hate anything. Just scroll away. If you see AI slop, unlike it so the algorithm learns. Easy.

Before I wrap this up, I want to mention something important. I’ve been participating in a fundraising campaign through Extra Life to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. I’ve already donated myself, and if you want to support me, you can help with a miracle donation. Every little bit helps real families and real kids. Here’s the link if you want to join in:

https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantid=549127

I also want to challenge myself to write more consistently. I think 2026 is going to be an interesting year for this Substack, and I’m excited to keep growing and learning through each post.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here. And here’s to whatever comes next.

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I tried it recently, and honestly, it’s ridiculously easy to set up. Within a minute, I had my classroom layout ready. You simply drag and drop to design your room, add your students, and check off a few preferences: who needs to sit in the front, who shouldn’t be near certain classmates, and so on.

Then comes the magic part: click one button, and SeatMate’s AI instantly creates an arrangement that actually makes sense. It feels thoughtful—like it understands the invisible dynamics we teachers navigate daily.

If something isn’t quite right, you can tweak it in seconds by moving seats around or regenerating the layout. And the best part? It’s completely free and privacy-focused. No ads, no data tracking, no hidden catches—just a clean, intuitive tool that respects your time and your students’ information.

As someone who’s spent way too many afternoons moving virtual desks around in PowerPoint or Google Slides, this felt like a lifesaver. It’s the kind of tool that quietly takes one thing off your plate so you can focus on everything else teachers actually have to do.

If you’re a teacher looking for a smarter way to organize your classroom, give SeatMate a try. You can start right away at seatmate.ai.

Why It Belongs in The Learning Arcade

Tools like SeatMate remind me why I started writing this Substack in the first place. Technology doesn’t need to replace the human side of teaching. It should support it. When AI tools like this save us time, they give us something far more valuable in return: the chance to connect with students, plan engaging lessons, and breathe a little easier.

That’s what The Learning Arcade is all about—finding that balance where learning, play, and technology meet to make education a little more human again.

— Prof. Rock

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Artificial Intelligence can already write essays, paint pictures, and even pass college exams. But what about music?
Can something built on algorithms and data actually create songs that sound emotional, or even human?

It’s one of those questions that keeps coming up in the intersection of creativity and technology — so I decided to ask AI directly:

Question: How is music made with AI?

🤖 The AI Answers

AI’s Response:

AI-generated music combines data science, creativity, and sound design to produce melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that resemble human compositions. Here’s how it works behind the scenes:

1. Machine Learning Models

Training on Music Data:
To begin, AI systems are “taught” music by analyzing thousands of songs — everything from classical symphonies to modern pop and film scores. These massive datasets help the AI recognize recurring musical patterns like chord progressions, tempo, key signatures, and emotional tone.

Neural Networks:
Once the AI has learned these patterns, deep learning models such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), transformers, or diffusion models take over. These models predict what note, rhythm, or sound should come next — essentially composing music one beat at a time.

Programs like OpenAI’s MuseNet and Google’s MusicLM can now generate entire multi-instrument compositions, switching effortlessly between genres or even blending them (imagine a jazz melody played in the style of 8-bit game music).

2. Generative Techniques

MIDI-Based Generation:
Many AI tools start by creating MIDI files — digital instructions that tell instruments what notes to play, how long, and how loud. Musicians can then import these files into a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Ableton or Logic Pro to fine-tune or orchestrate the result.

Audio Synthesis:
More advanced systems go a step further by generating raw audio directly. Instead of producing digital notes, they create the actual sound waves of instruments and voices. This approach can yield realistic string sections, guitar tones, or even synthesized singing voices.

Style Transfer:
Borrowing from the same idea used in AI art, “style transfer” lets an AI reimagine a melody in the style of a different artist or genre. You could feed in a simple piano piece and ask the AI to recreate it as if John Williams composed it for a sci-fi movie — or as an 80s synthwave anthem.

3. User Input & Collaboration

AI isn’t just composing in isolation — it’s increasingly becoming a creative partner.

Text-to-Music:
You can now simply type a description like “a calm lo-fi track for studying” or “epic orchestral battle theme,” and the AI will generate a full song matching that vibe.

Interactive Tools:
Some systems let you hum a melody, upload chords, or pick a genre. The AI fills in harmonies, percussion, and structure — essentially becoming your digital bandmate.

Co-Creation:
Professional musicians use AI not to replace their craft, but to spark ideas. For instance, producers might use AI to generate 20 short loops, then choose one to develop into a full track. It’s like having an endlessly creative assistant who never gets tired or runs out of coffee.

4. Popular Tools

• AIVA – Specializes in orchestral music for films, ads, and video games.

• Amper Music – Creates royalty-free background tracks for content creators.

• Soundraw, Boomy, Suno – Offer quick text-to-music generation for personal or commercial use.

• DAW Plugins – Some music software now includes AI-powered assistants that suggest chords, melodies, and rhythm patterns. These help songwriters break through creative blocks or explore new sounds.

5. Limitations & Concerns

Creativity vs. Copying:
While AI can mimic human composition, it doesn’t experience inspiration or emotion. It’s essentially predicting what should sound good based on data — not what feels good.

Ownership & Copyright:
Because AI learns from existing music, questions arise about whether these new works are “original” or derived from copyrighted material. Laws and ethics around this are still evolving.

Quality:
AI-generated tracks can range from surprisingly impressive to mechanical or repetitive. Most still need human refinement to add structure, dynamics, and emotion — the subtle details that give music its soul.

🎵 My Take

This is something that really caught my attention — especially because of its ethical and creative dilemmas.

Lately, I’ve been following a YouTube channel called NESTALGIA, where the creator experiments with AI to produce gaming-inspired music. And honestly? I’m enjoying it. There’s something magical about hearing familiar retro tones reborn through a modern lens of technology.

To me, that’s the right way to use AI — not as a shortcut, but as a tool for discovery. It reminds me that technology can enhance creativity if we guide it with purpose.

But I’m also curious about what you think.
If AI can compose a song that makes you feel something, does it matter whether it came from a human or a machine?

Let’s talk about it in the comments

• Prof. Rock

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On pricing: each game is $39.99 on the eShop, and Nintendo offers a two-pack for $69.99. So, if you plan to play both, the bundle saves you ten bucks.

• Super Mario Galaxy Listing - Deku Deals

• Super Mario Galaxy 1 - Nintendo Store

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Nintendo Store

• Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 Bundle – Nintendo Store

Now, I get the sticker shock. Back on Wii, Galaxy eventually hit the $19.99 “Nintendo Selects” tier. But many of us no longer own a Wii, and lots of players (me included) missed these the first time. Paying $40 for a polished, modernized version you can play on your current system is not wild to me anymore, especially after seeing the upgrades to textures, filtering, and performance that DF documents so clearly. For example, they note “a colossal leap in quality” for certain materials and point out improved LOD and shadow draw distance compared to Wii. They also remind us that the 1080p HUD and pre-rendered cutscenes remain 1080p, which is a fair knock. All direct quotes credit: Digital Foundry.

If you want a comparison point, Metroid Prime Remastered launched at $39.99 too and still sells at that price, and it crossed 1.09 million copies sold in under two months per Nintendo’s financial reporting.

• IGN: Metroid Prime Remastered sells 1 million units

So, is $40 “worth it”?

• If you missed Galaxy and want to play what many consider all-time 3D platforming greats with crisp image quality and modern controls, yes. The bundle at $69.99 is the smart buy.

• If you still have a Wii copy hooked up and you are price-sensitive, maybe not. DF themselves note the original IR pointer still has an immediacy that gyro aims to approximate. That nuance matters if you are nostalgic for the Wii feel.

Bigger picture, pricing is all over the map right now. Mario Kart World is launching at $79.99 on Switch 2. I only jumped in because I grabbed a hardware bundle, which softened the hit.

Bottom line

For newcomers and lapsed players without a Wii, $39.99 for each Galaxy feels defensible given the tangible tech lifts and portability. I went from “no way” to “okay, that makes sense” after seeing the evidence. If you plan on both, the $69.99 bundle is the move.

What do you think? Would you pay $40 each for Galaxy 1 & 2 today, or does nostalgia pricing still feel too steep?

And as always, if you enjoy these reflections, consider supporting my Extra Life fundraiser — helping kids through the power of gaming.

— Prof. Rock

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At first, I thought moving over to BlueSky might feel different. I have more than 400 followers there compared to about 100 on X, and I do get some interaction. But the truth is, it often feels the same. You put your voice out there, and sometimes nothing. No comments, no conversation. Over on X it is even worse, with bots creeping in and fake accounts piling up. After a while, I had to ask myself: What’s the point?

That is when I had a little revelation.

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For the past year, I have technically been on Discord, but I rarely used it. I only joined because of two specific communities. Slowly, I realized something: the quality of my time there was completely different. On Discord, I was not just tossing words into the void. I was actually connecting.

That same feeling is what I have started to experience on , too. Not only do I get to share my own writing, but I also enjoy diving into some really great reads from others. The engagement here has been refreshing. My articles actually get seen, people respond, and conversations start. I am honestly so pleased with the little community we have been building here, especially among educators and gamers. It is proof that when the focus is on connection rather than algorithms, the experience changes completely.

Here is what makes Discord stand out for me:

1. You join communities for a reason

On social media, anyone can follow you. You can mute or block, sure, but you are basically at the mercy of the feed. Discord feels different. When you join a server, it is because you are already interested in the community, whether it is video games, education, or just a shared hobby. That means the conversations usually stay on topic and feel worthwhile.

2. Moderation that actually works

I have seen firsthand how Discord servers are run better than most social media platforms. There are rules, and more importantly, there are moderators who actually enforce them. You can say “I do not like this game,” but you cannot insult or attack people. The result is healthier discussions, less toxicity, and way less drama than what you see in a typical comment section on X.

3. Positive engagement

When I scroll through a Discord server, I would rather see a stream of thoughtful, lighthearted messages than scroll through a feed full of negativity. People on Discord tend to respond when you engage, as long as you are respectful and on topic. It is refreshing to know that mods and community leaders care about keeping the space welcoming.

Now, I have not abandoned social media entirely. I still hop on X, but I have changed how I do it. I only check it from my home computer, not my phone. I give myself 15 minutes, tops. I go through a curated list of people I genuinely want to follow, my “crew,” and then I log off. No more doomscrolling.

It has been about two weeks since I started this shift, and it has been great. Discord has become the place where I spend my online time with people who actually care about the same topics. Substack, too, has been a space where my words find real readers. Both have reminded me that online communities can be positive, intentional, and worth my time.

If you have never tried Discord, I would recommend it. Think of it like the group chats of old, except with communities you choose to join. It can be close knit, positive, and full of people who just want to talk about a shared interest.

And for me, that is worth way more than another hour of scrolling through an algorithm’s idea of what I should like.

Prof. Rock

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If you enjoy my writing and want to support kids in hospitals, I am fundraising with Extra Life. You can learn more or donate here:
https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantid=549127

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The system would be fairly simple. You’d still buy your game on your platform of choice — say, on Nintendo’s eShop. That becomes your “home” license. But if you later wanted to play the same title on PlayStation or Xbox, you wouldn’t need to re-buy it for the full price. Instead, you’d pay a smaller platform access fee, basically the storefront’s cut. This way, the publisher still gets paid for the game itself, and the platform holder still gets their share for hosting it. To keep things fair, the game wouldn’t live in two places at once. Much like checking out a digital movie from your library, you could load it onto one system at a time, deactivating it from the other.

Of course, this wouldn’t apply to everything. Exclusive games would remain exclusive. Nintendo would still hold on to Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros., Sony would still guard Spider-Man, and Microsoft would still keep Halo. Games Anywhere would instead focus on the huge catalog of third-party titles — the games that currently force you to double or even triple dip if you want them on multiple systems.

There are clear benefits to a system like this. It would make digital game libraries far more consumer-friendly, letting players build a collection that isn’t locked to a single machine. It would also help with digital preservation. One of the biggest frustrations for players is losing access to a game when a console generation ends or a storefront shuts down. A universal license would give players confidence that their purchases won’t disappear into digital limbo. At the same time, it wouldn’t cheat platforms or publishers out of revenue. The fee model ensures that everyone involved still gets compensated fairly, while consumers avoid the frustration of buying the same product multiple times.

It’s not hard to imagine how this might look. We’ve already seen glimpses of it in the industry. Microsoft has experimented with cross-buy between Xbox and PC, letting players purchase a game once and enjoy it on both systems. Ubisoft and EA let players link accounts across platforms, though the execution isn’t always perfect. Even Steam has allowed some games to link with Epic or other launchers, recognizing a purchase made elsewhere. These examples show that the concept isn’t impossible — it’s just not fully unified.

Still, there are major obstacles. Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft all rely heavily on keeping their ecosystems separate. If players could freely carry games between platforms, companies would lose some of the “lock-in” that drives console loyalty. On a technical level, there are hurdles too, from integrating achievement and trophy systems to syncing cloud saves across very different infrastructures. And publishers themselves might resist, especially those who prefer to keep players tied to their own ecosystems like EA Play or Ubisoft Connect.

Despite the challenges, the potential is exciting. Games Anywhere wouldn’t erase the identities of the platforms we know today. Mario would still be Nintendo’s mascot, Spider-Man would still swing only on PlayStation, and Halo would remain Xbox’s flagship. But for everything else, players could finally enjoy the kind of flexibility that movie fans have had for years. A universal system for games wouldn’t just be convenient — it would build trust in digital purchases and take a major step toward solving the long-term problem of digital preservation.

It may never happen without strong consumer demand or even regulatory pressure, but the blueprint is there. And if Movies Anywhere can pull it off in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, maybe the gaming industry can take a cue and make Games Anywhere a reality.

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Thank you for reading! If you’ve enjoyed this reflection, I invite you to support my Extra Life fundraising campaign, where I combine my love of gaming with helping kids in need. You can learn more or donate here:
👉 Extra Life Fundraiser Link https://www.extra-life.org/participants/549127

— Prof. Rock

As you probably know (or maybe have read in my other posts), I was a big SimCity fan. I played every version I could get my hands on, and when I heard that Will Wright — the mind behind SimCity — was working on something entirely different, I was hooked before I even touched it.

When The Sims finally came out, it felt like a dream. The idea of living another life — or maybe the life you wish you had — was just fascinating. I created myself, my family, even my girlfriend at the time, and we’d play out these fantasy lives together.

The best part? It wasn’t just about the sandbox of possibilities. The game had this quirky, almost satirical charm. And the music — oh, the music — was pure magic. If you’ve ever sat in Build Mode with that jazzy, upbeat soundtrack looping in the background, you know what I mean. You could throw on that music and be productive without even touching the game. I’ll be embedding a YouTube link below, so if you’ve never heard it, give it a try while you do chores or work. You’ll thank me later.

I stuck with the series for a while, right up until The Sims Online. I even bought it. For a brief moment, it was like stepping into a digital future — the kind of early social VR space that would eventually become common. You could interact with other people in real time, build spaces together, and roleplay whole lives. It was exciting… except for one thing: I had dial-up internet. And The Sims Online had a monthly fee (if memory serves, around $10 a month). Between the lag and the cost, my time there was short-lived.

The shift to console was where I started to lose interest completely. I tried it on PlayStation, but it just didn’t feel right. The Sims had always been a “mouse-and-click” experience for me, and translating that to a controller took away some of the magic.

These days, I see The Sims 4 available for free and think, “Maybe I should dive back in.” But honestly? I don’t have the time. I’m glad the series is still going strong and that people can even play the original games again without digging up old CDs. But for me, The Sims is a beautiful piece of gaming history that I’ll probably leave in the past — with a smile.

And if there’s one thing I’ll never let go of, it’s that soundtrack. Because no music — and I mean no music — boosts productivity quite like The Sims Build Mode theme.

*Images in article taken from The Sims Wikipedia.

UPDATE

I haven’t been posting much over the summer because I wanted to focus on being with my family. I didn’t feel like sitting behind the computer, trying to come up with something to write—especially with so many great posts already out there to read.

But today, in the rush of going back to the day-to-day grind of work, this Sims memory hit me again: I remembered SimCity, The Sims, and above all, the music. Sometimes I play these tracks for my students while they’re working. They don’t know the source, but I’ll hear, “Oh, this catchy little song!” or “I like that!”—and that’s such a light, energizing way to keep the atmosphere going.

I’m going to aim for about one post per week moving forward, so I can really focus on quality and balance it with everything else on my plate. In the meantime, don’t forget you can check out my Grammar Through Video Games series. It's completely available and free to share with any teacher, parent, or friend who wants to practice grammar through gaming.

— Prof Rock

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