ABSTRACT
Digital media levels the playing field between rich and poor kids, by giving all children powerful tools for learning. Digital media, will not replace literacy but will change the ecology of reading and writing practices. Matthew Effect term is inspired by the Gospel of St Matthew where it says, "The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer". Oral and written language enter into the practices in new and complex ways. Some scholars refer to the new tools within their associated practices as "new literacies". Tabby Lou and Alex were tied to Internet affinity spaces where in one case people designed and shared designs for The Sims and in the other case people wrote and read Sims fan fiction. Games can indeed create good learning, because they often teach in powerful ways. The game and playing is what gives meaning to a game manual or strategy guide.
