Gaming can make a better world?

Here's a little something something I found....

The lady in the frame is Jane McGonigal, a PhD graduate and

game designer who by 2010 developed a theory to source gaming

as a means of saving the real world...

(it's 20 minutes, watch it)

(seriously, there are some fun facts in there... watch it)

She describes how gamers develop these optimistic approaches and desire to solving

problems within virtual spaces, yet not so in reality as they don't feel as good about themselves in the real world as in games. Her theory as I basically understood

it is, to adapt games around real world/fictionally based problems that people may

encounter, so that they generate an understanding on how to solve it. She argues that

the best way to do this is through gaming as players develop four 'talents' within their

online worlds that give them a charge to tackle any issue head on, which are...

Urgent Optimism- the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle combined with the belief of accomplishing the task. There is no negative emotion or avoidance as such.

Social Fabric- Weaving a tight social fabric... We like people in games as we develop

an immediate trust with them and that they will aid us in accomplishing the given task.

So playing games together builds up bonds and social relationships

Blissful Productivity- we know when we are playing a game we are happier than just

relaxing, as we are optimising our time by challenging ourselves in hard and meaningful work.

'Epic' Meaning- Being apart of a great scenario/ a divine quest as such.

With these powers combined, a gamer can be understood as a 'Super-Empowered Hopeful Individual' who can change/help any virtual world... What Jane wants to do is blend this

mentality into gamers minds when up against the real world.

I have to say, that at this point in time I agree with her idea. When I'm immersed within a game such as battlefield 3 ( a modern warfare FPS game) I join with people I don't know

aiding and trusting them to achieve the same goal (victory over the other side) against any problems that arise (baddies and bigger baddies), to them I become a great hero of war (so to say) who will do anything until we succeed. Basically I can be described as a 'perfect' being... So why is it within in the real world when I'm given an issue such as a uni assignment I twiddle my thumbs saying 'uuum' while my brain shrugs and say's 'I can't help you'. Seriously,

if my so called gaming mentality could be applied to any situation what so ever I would of probably invented the Iphone when I was 5. With that I can tell you I do agree with her theory in, yea the world quite well be better IF such and such but I don't see how the idea can be implemented in an effective way. The way I see it, games nurture players much better than real life so people are going to become more accustomed to their virtual spaces in favour of the real world as who would want to leave somewhere they are 'loved' by something (just ask your dog)...

To summarise my thought, her idea comes across to me as a dream the basically in tales, MAKE LEARNING FUN... An idea the world over has been trying to induce on young people possibly since Jesus.

To be honest, I changed my mind on her ideas time and time over and i know my argument is not concrete, so bring it on!

Your thoughts?

Terminology of the day.

'EPIC win'- where the outcome of a challenge is so extraordinarily positive, that you had no idea it was possible unti you achieved it, almost beyond the threshhold of your immagination and when you get there you are shocked at the realisation to what you are capable of.