This book by Jane McGonigal intrigues me –> Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. I haven’t read the book yet, but something about it piqued my interest (thanks @GardnerCampbell for mentioning the book!). It wasn’t the sensationalist title or the rather large claim expressed in the end of the subtitle. It was this idea of games making us “better.” “How so? (maybe you should read the book!” I hear you saying!) While I enjoy games more than many (and i’m sure less than others), I’m still suspicious of the idea that games make us better or are life-changing, the way some might suggest. I get the escapism and enjoyment provided by games (and many other activities like reading or hobbies). I get the “using your brain” to think through problem solving aspects of games (maybe the “using your brain” is enough to make us better?). But is there more to this?
Speaking of this book, I’d never seen before on amazon a video by the author talking about her/his book. nice touch! This creates a much more direct sense of connection and potentially more meaningful context (?) than reader reviews, etc.
In the video McGonigal says that “games are doing a better job of provoking some of the most important and powerful, positive emotions that we can feel….” She suggests that games are “helping us build up our social relationships with people that we care about in real life.” I’m sceptical of the latter claim, but maybe that’s why I should read the book? She goes on to say that there are four aspects of gaming that help us “tap into the best version of ourselves”:
1. ability to have satisfying work
2. opportunity to feel like we’re learning/improving
3. time spent with people we like
4. sense of community
I can see 1 and 2, but 3 and 4 seem like a reach to me. What kind of games are doing this? the video games that are attractive to me have never been because of any multiplayer capability. Is that why I don’t get 3 and 4? There have been times where I’ve discussed a particular game (Tomb Raider series and Deus Ex) with friends who have or were playing them, but it feels like a stretch that this really created community or was the lynchpin to spending time with people I like?
I guess I’ll have to break down and read this to see what all the fuss is. As I type this, i’m downloading the first chapter to my kindle!
and here’s an interesting thought from what i just downloaded:
that all of the various kinds of gaming and gamers (from involved online multiplayer types to Wii-ers and handheld gamers, AngryBirders and Sudokers — these gamers are
“nearly eliminating mental downtime from their lives.”
what are the consequences of that move? what in the long run does it mean to eliminate mental downtime from our lives? i think many gamers consider their gaming their “mental downtime.” what would you say?