The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Created and Produced by Nintendo
Nintendo EAD. (1998). The legend of zelda: Ocarina of time.  Redmond, WA: Nintendo.
Rereleased 2011

Plot Summary
Link, the series’ trademark hero, is back in the land of Hyrule setting out again to destroy Ganondorf and prevent him from finding the Triforce.  Link must travel through place and time to awaken different sages (like fairies or spirits) who can combine their powers and trap Ganondorf forever.  The ocarina in the title is used to help Link transport to different locations or obtain different items.  As the game progresses, the songs learned become more difficult and detailed. Side-quests are another important aspect of Zelda.  Navi, the fairy, wakes Link up from a nightmare and urges him to go to the Great Deku Tree.  There, he finds out he must go to Hyrule Castle and speak with the princess to stop Ganondorf who seeks to destroy Hyrule.  Link meets Princess Zelda who informs him he must find three Spiritual Stones.  He completes the mission and as he enters the Temple of Time, Ganondorf appears and steals the Triforce.  Link is put to sleep and awakens seven years later.  Again, he must go on a quest to free five sages from Ganondorf’s monsters.  Once he completes this, Link heads off to find Ganondorf and destroy him.  After an epically long battle in which Ganondorf transforms into a boar-like monster and Link defeats him.  Ganondorf cries revenge even as the sages carry him off.  For this entire time, the player takes the role of Link and is the one who must travel to the dungeons, discover how to defeat the dungeon monsters, complete the side-quests and end Ganondorf’s rule by crippling him. 

Critical Evaluation
Ocarina of Time is a single-player videogame for the Nintendo game systems.  The player controls Link, the protagonist, from a third-person perspective.  The game was also one of the first to include three-dimensional space, enhancing play.  The aerial view was mostly controlled by the game, but still provided a grand view of the Hyrule world.  It introduced ‘Z-targeting’ which refers to ‘zeroing in’ on an object before throwing a projectile at it.  The various puzzles and storylines that need to be solved are what make Zelda an amazing game.  There are items to be found, dungeons to unlock, dungeon masters to battle, objects to find, and quests to complete.  The side-quests range from being absolutely necessary to downright silly and a waste of time.  The detailed gameplay, side-quests, music, and context-sensitive control system combined to make Ocarina of Time one of the most acclaimed videogames ever.  Dungeon monsters become increasingly more difficult to defeat, often requiring certain weapons, skills, or kill-points in order to defeat them.  Unless a cheat book is purchased, these are discovered by trial and error.  Players will also find their skills growing as they practice sword fighting, shooting arrows, and engaging in battle with various creatures. 

Reader’s Annotation
Playing as Link, complete dungeon quests battling foes to prevent Ganondorf from destroying all of Hyrule.

About the Author
"Nintendo Entertainment System: Introduced in 1985, the NES was an instant hit. Over the course of the next two years, it almost single-handedly revitalized the video game industry. Selling over 60 million units, people brought games like Mario and Zelda into their homes for the first time on the NES.
Game Boy:  The screen was four-colors-of-gray but the device defined portable gaming and was enormous fun. Game Boy, which came out in 1989, was closely associated with the classic game Tetris when it debuted. Game Boy is the most successful video game system ever released. Since its introduction in 1989, Game Boy has sold well over 150 million systems worldwide. Originally bundled with the game, Tetris, this little handheld became an instant phenomenon.
Nintendo 64: The N64 set new standards in realistic 3D gaming when it came out in 1996. Super Mario 64 was the system's showcase game and thrilled millions with its amazing graphics and gameplay.
Nintendo 3DS: On March 27, 2011 in the United States, Nintendo launches the Nintendo 3DS system, which allows users to view 3D content without the use of special glasses."

Genre
Videogame/Fighting

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Booktalking
N/A

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: N/A
IL: 6th grade and up

Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include animated blood and fantasy fight scenes.

In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for videogame inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a videogame is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire videogame was played, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have played the game and either enjoyed or disliked the videogame and why.

Why Included
Nintendo's Zelda series is one of most popular and highest rated videogame series not only for Nintendo, but for all videogame consoles.  One year Santa got mixed up at my house and I was given a Super Nintendo with one of the earlier games.  My father, predictably, was hooked and the next several years found him buying each new Zelda game.  Ocarina of Time is his second favorite of the series, but is more popular than A Link to the Past.

Others in the Series
There are 14 other Legend of Zelda games for various Nintendo game consoles.

References
Nintendo. Games. (2011) Story. Retrieved from http://www.zelda.com/ocarina3d/#/home
Nintendo. Games. (2013) Company history.  Retrieved from http://www.nintendo.com/corp/history.jsp

Madden NFL 13 Created and Produced by EA Sports
EA Tiburon. (1988). Madden nfl 13. Redwood City, CA:EA Sports.

Plot Summary
Madden NFL is the most popular football videogame series available.  The game allows you to pick a current team, and play a regular NFL season in hopes of winning the Super Bowl.  Another option allows you to handpick your own team from a variety of players.  You play multiple sessions and are able to draft, trade, and cut players from your team.  During the season you must also work out new contracts for players to convince them to stay with the team.  Minicamps allow your players to hone skills and improve and understand game play.  Playing minicamps can also provide you with special cards used as power ups, or special advantages, that can be used for the regular season mode against other teams.  There is also an online feature where you may play against friends, or anyone else around the world who is playing online at the same time.  Those with headsets are also able to communicate to those they are playing with online. 

Critical Evaluation
John Madden, a retired sportscaster and the name behind the title, is no longer involved in the game, but continues to lend his name.  Others now provide the voice commentary Madden NFL is known for.  This aspect of the game provides play-by-play commentary as if the players were watching a live game.  Rabid football fans have a slight advantage, as they already know specific player strengths and weaknesses, helpful when choosing to handpick teams instead of using existing franchises.  However, stats are listed for each football player and savvy videogamers will know to choose a variety of strengths and weaknesses in order to have a full lineup of abilities.  The game updates each year with new football players, stats, and teams.  Minicamps are designed to work as training camps where players can train their teams and hone individual skills.  Improvements from these camps are slight; it would be unrealistic for a football player to suddenly improve substantially, when the actual player has not.  The headset option allows for a great deal of interaction with other players and provides a fuller playing experience.  Headsets make the game more closely resemble actual games where coaches are determining plays and may be heard yelling out when a play goes correctly, or fails miserably.  However, the headset also opens up potential dangers as players can play against anyone else online, even those they do not know.  In the end, Madden NFL is a game about football for those who love football, or just want a good competition-style videogame.

Reader’s Annotation
The latest Madden NFL version, it includes the most recent football team lineups.

About the Author
Madden NFL, formerly known as John Madden Football, was released by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1988.  EA founder Trip Hawkins first thought of the idea in 1984, when he approached Madden, a well-known sports broadcaster, with the idea.  Since 1990, a new version is released each year with new players and new teams.  In 2010, EA announced it had sole over 85 million Madden NLF games, as many as two million a week, and more than $3 billion in sales.  Each new game requires a team of 30 developers and 100 game testers.  John Madden provided the voice commentary until Madden NFL 09.  Madden NFL is the NFL’s second-largest source of revenue from licensing. 

EA Tiburon is an Electronic Arts video game development studio in Florida.  It was founded in 1994, and acquired by EA in 1998.  EA Tiburon currently develops all the Madden NFL games as well as other NFL videogames and other sports related games.  The game is currently played on XBOX 360 or Playstation 3.

Genre
Videogame/Sports

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Booktalking
N/A

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: N/A
IL: 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues
I do not foresee any possible challenges.  However, I would likely not include in a school library

Why Included
Sport games are very popular, and with a new version out each year, Madden NFL continues to lead the videogame sports.

Others in the Series
John Madden Football 1988, I, II
Madden NFL 1990-2012
Madden NFL 25

References
Electronic Arts. (2013).  Madden NFL.  Retrieved from http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl
Madden NFL (2013, May 8). Retrieved May 9, 2013 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL

Apples to Apples manufactured by Mattel
Kirby, M. (1999). Apples to apples. El Segundo, CA: Mattel

Plot Summary
Best played in a group, one player is chosen as the judge and the others as players.  There are two types of cards; green cards have adjectives and red cards have nouns.  Players begin with seven red cards each.  The judge pulls a green card and all players choose of their red cards and throw them down on the table.  The judge then evaluates all the red cards and chooses which card best fits the green card description.  The decision is subjective and in the eyes of the judge.  The judge may choose a card that is ironic, contrary, or fits perfectly with the description.  Whoever placed the winning red card collects the green card.  The first player to collect a previously agreed-upon number of green cards wins.  After the round, all players grab another red card to have seven at a time.  Additionally, the judge may be the same person the entire game, or may pass on to each player in the group so everyone may play.  There are several variations players may include in their game.  Players might place red cards first, and the green card second for Apple Potpourri.  Apples Eye View encourages the judge to pick a red card in the eyes of someone else, such as a particular animal, parent, or public figure.  Depending on the number of plays, Apple Turnovers switches green and red cards, but is best played with fewer players.

Critical Evaluation
This game is appropriate for teenagers and for those older or slightly younger.   Game play can last 20 minutes or for however long you want to go.  It all depends on the players and how many rounds they want to play.   The number of cards allows for many to play at a time, helpful for large groups of teenagers without having to split the players up into teams, taking turns, or playing separate games.   The larger the group the more fun the game usually is.  The cards feature a variety of adjectives and nouns, including famous places and people.  Game play is fairly flexible, and if players do not know a political figure, they could simply vote to choose another card.  The subjective nature of the game allows for friendly competition as players try to convince the judge to choose a particular card, or players vote for their favorite card to sway the judge.  There are an endless amount of possibilities and each player brings their own sense of humor and way of thinking to the game.  It also provides an opportunity to think outside the box and imagine ways that words and cards fit together in unusual or unique ways.  The game variations also give a different way to play if players want to switch it up after a while.  No cards are inappropriate, just more advanced than the junior editions, which makes it an entertaining game for teens.  The group play and individual card associations ensure that each round is amusing and enjoyable.

Reader’s Annotation
A fun word and card game that all can play at parties or sleepovers without having to wait turns.

About the Author
Out of the Box Publishing purchased the rights to Apples to Apples in 1999 from creator Matthew Kirby and revised the game.   The game rights were later sold to Mattel.  The company was created in 1998 and has won the Mensa Select and Toy of the Year awards.  The company creates games that are learned quickly and played in less than an hour, are colorful, encourage player interaction, and fun to play. 

Mattel was created in 1945 and incorporated in 1948 in Hawthorne, California.  They are perhaps best known for the Barbie doll, created in 1959.  In 1960, Mattel becomes a publicly owned company, and enters the educational preschool market five years later.  Then in 1968, How Wheels die-cast cars are released.  The 1970s see the company beginning to create electronic games.  In 1986, Mattel joins an agreement with Bandai, Japan’s largest toy company.  Fisher-Price, Cabbage Patch, Tickle Me Elmo, Nickelodeon, Tyco Toys, American Girl are all companies and products that either merged or were produced by Mattel in the 1990s.  Mattel begins 2000 with entering into a licensing agreement with Harry Potter TM.  Mattel is a global company with a huge interest in toys and games for all ages. 

Genre
Board Game

Curriculum Ties
English Language Arts- adjectives and nouns, connotation and denotation

Booktalking
N/A

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: N/A
IL: 12 and up

Challenge Issues
I do not foresee any challenges.

Why Included
Though a great game for adults or the family, Apples to Apples is also wonderful at teen parties or get-togethers because there can be a high number of players.  Mattel recommends 4-10 players, but having more would still be acceptable, or playing in teams would also be fun.  There are junior editions, but teenagers would likely find the original game more age-appropriate and entertaining.  It is a fun, easy game that all could participate in.  As the game is judged subjectively, there are friendly competitions as players try to convince the judge of which card is the best.

Others in the Series/Editions
Apples to Apples Junior
Crab Apples to Apples
Apples to Apples Dice Game
Apples to Apples to Go Game

References
Mattel, Inc. (2013). History.  Retrieved from http://corporate.mattel.com/about-us/history/default.aspx
Out of the Box Publishing. (2012). About us.  Retrieved from http://www.otb-games.com/about-us-2/about-out-of-the-box/