Overview
Jane McGonigal discusses how skills developed through playing online games can be harnessed to solve pressing real-world problems. She advocates for leveraging the motivation, collaboration, and creativity of gamers to drive social change on a global scale.
The Case for More Gaming
- Online gamers currently spend three billion hours a week playing games, but McGonigal argues we need to increase this to 21 billion hours weekly to address global challenges.
- She believes that the dedication and problem-solving abilities demonstrated in games can be redirected toward solving issues like hunger, poverty, climate change, and conflict.
Qualities Developed Through Gaming
- Gamers exhibit “urgent optimism,” a strong motivation to tackle challenges immediately with hope for success.
- Online games foster tight social bonds and collaborative problem-solving among players.
- Gamers experience “blissful productivity,” finding satisfaction in hard, meaningful work.
- Players are drawn to “epic meaning,” becoming engaged in missions with grand, planetary-scale narratives.
Bridging Virtual and Real Worlds
- Many gamers feel more capable and motivated in games than in real life, due to clear goals, immediate feedback, and a sense of purpose.
- Real life often lacks the structure and positive reinforcement found in online games, making game environments more attractive.
Historical and Cultural Context
- McGonigal references Herodotus' account of ancient Lydia using games to endure a famine, suggesting that games can help societies overcome hardship.
- Modern parallels are drawn, with gaming habits potentially preparing humans for major collaborative efforts.
Examples of World-Saving Games
- “World Without Oil” simulates an oil shortage, prompting players to adapt and blog their experiences, leading to real-life behavior changes.
- “Superstruct” tasked thousands with inventing solutions for energy, food, health, and safety in a fictional global extinction scenario.
- An upcoming game with the World Bank Institute will certify participants as Social Innovators, focusing on skills like sustainability and local insight, especially targeting youth in developing countries.
The Future Vision
- The ultimate goal is to design games that empower people to create and realize epic wins in real life.
- McGonigal encourages widespread participation in world-changing games and believes that the collective power of gamers can drive positive change in the next century.
Recommendations / Advice
- Engage young people in games that teach social innovation and problem-solving.
- Spread awareness about the potential for games to foster real-world change.
- Embrace gaming as a platform for learning, collaboration, and tackling global challenges.