Jane McGonigal is an American game designer who specializes in different reality games and pervasive video gaming. McGonigal is the Director of Game Research & Development at the Institution for the Future. She also has taught at San Francisco Art Institution and University of California teaching game design and study. In 2011 McGonigal published a book called: Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World.
With millions to millions of gamers in the United States alone, we live in a world where every generation will be a gamer generation. With the technologies, creativity and abilities game designers are able to make well- designed videogame such as Halo 3, and make it as real life as possible. McGonigal writes in her book in order to make or design a good video game you need to apply elements relating to real-world challenges and experiences. Many people think that videogames are a waste of time, and in McGonigal eyes she argues that these games aren’t a waste of time, but are beneficial in different ways. She states it’s a way for people to escape, bring people together, create happiness, allows us to strategize with ourselves and others, compete, provides trial and error and permits challenges and personal achievements. She wants us as a society to blend reality and fantasy and reframe about those stereotypical stereotypes that video games are addictive, isolating, unproductive and think and believe of them a beneficial to our own life, health, education, organization and managing businesses.
I want gaming to be something that everybody does, because they understand that games can be a real solution to problems and a real source of happiness. I want games to be something everybody learns how to design and develop, because they understand that games are a real platform for change and getting things done. And I want families, schools, companies, industries, cities, countries, and the whole world to come together to play them, because we’re finally making games that tackle real dilemmas and improve real lives.
After reading this book, I still am somewhat skeptical about this topic. I totally understand what McGonigal is trying to point out, but I have to agree and disagree with McGonigal and her issue. I feel that if we applied all of these elements that a video game entails in the real world, our society would be somewhat chaotic. In my eyes some of these elements would not make sense. I feel that people buy video games to escape from the real world, relieve stress and have fun. The only way I can see gaming working in reality is through businesses and personal experiences and lifetime achievements. By this, video games allow individuals and corporations to have achievement, challenges, failures, strategies, skills and dedications. I can see this working, but where I become skeptical is how are you suppose to use video gaming for health issues like treating cancers and other treatments? How is a game supposed to fulfill that? It just seems silly and unethical. How do you feel about this topic?
Herodotus saw games as a surprising, inventive, and effective way to intervene in a social crisis. I, too, see games as potential solutions to our most pressing shared problems. He saw that games could tap into our strongest survival instincts. I see games that once again will confer evolutionary advantage on those who play them.
I found this site called Reality is Broken, and this blog is all about McGonigal book. What I found interesting is there are different comments about this book from different people who have read it. Also you are able to learn more about the book and join the movement for a “Gameful society,” and also the websites gives you a link where you can go see Jane perform live in person and says her upcoming dates and where she will be.
In the future I do see that our society and day-to-day lives will be like a video game. Our technology each day is advancing and social media is becoming a vital aspect of each one of our lives. But do you agree with McGonigal’s thoughts on this concept and believe our reality is broken or think these assumption are crazy?
I think you make a very valid point when you say that you “feel that if we applied all of these elements that a video game entails in the real world, our society would be somewhat chaotic”. I completely agree. I too understand where McGonigal is coming from in the work world and strategizing and working together. But how will video game tactics apply to the rest of our society-like you mentioned health care, and cancer treatments. I also loved the layout and design of this post! 🙂