Play a Video Game: Video games are not often thought of as scholarly, however, games based on Shakespeare are reaching the academic world. David Small from Massachusetts Institute of Technology has created a Nintendo game called Virtual Shakespeare.6 The game is a guided tour of Shakespeare's work. His purpose in creating the game is to aid the reader and/or audience's understanding of Shakespeare's plays from a different perspective. An audio/video technology perspective is indeed interesting and, of course, entertaining! The game gives the player unconventional visual imagery of Shakespearean plays, which will undoubtedly improve their knowledge of his work and be fun at the same time. Video games are not only entertaining: they are an alternative media that can be an effective learning tool.

As for Julius Caesar, Shakespeare created his play around historical information he read. This famous story has not ceased to be popular in contemporary culture. A video game for the PC called Praetorians allows the player to relive the Roman legacy. Gamespy.com promotes the game with a great review. They recruit players by alluding to Shakespeare's famous play and the historical circumstances of Caesarean Rome:

"Friends, Romans, Gamers! Lend me your ears. Join the campaigns of Caesar, battle the barbarian hordes to the north and the fanatical Egyptians to the south. All for the glory of Rome!"7  The game, which was set for debut in February 2003, is available for about $35.00 according to Gamespy.com

Katie Pierson piersok@wilkes.edu