IMHO

Okay since i believe this will be the last post for this semester, I will give my two cents on the matter.

Gaming for language learning
This is definitely an area that can be exploited to great results. However, it must be said that the students themselves must be interested and motivated enough to learn. If not, it becomes just another mindless game. I have to admit, I myself used to play Sims for a good 6-7 years and it has never occurred to me to use this as a language learning tool.

Can we replace traditional classrooms with virtual ones?
I highly doubt that will happen. It could happen, however, in extreme circumstances such as a place where the language learner has absolutely no other source of acquiring the language. However, I doubt that things such as prosody, intonation and perhaps even grammar can be acquired adequately. As such, games and virtual reality can only act as a supplement for traditional teaching as best. It needs to act on a basic knowledge of the language and serve as a tool for practice and enhancement instead of a total replacement of traditional methods.

What are the most important factors in a game for language learning?
I believe if a game specially catered to language learners were to be made, it shouldn't present tasks that are too daunting for the language learner. I liked the idea of using visuals and feedback from characters (such as in The Sims) to provide external feedback and corroboration for the game instructions. It might also be good to include voicing to provide speech samples of the target language so as to give the language learner a sound production to strive for.

However, it must be said that as in all forms of learning, the most important factor and largest motivating force is possibly the interest and will to learn. Even in playing games, hard work is needed in order to succeed in one's aim. (: