Mcgonigal has written the best take yet on the deep joys of playand how to use that force for good. Jane mcgonigal lays out clear overviews of what is wrong with mundane reality. According to palo altobased researcher jane mcgonigal, reality is not nearly as compelling as the games we play, and her statistics internationally, we spend three billion hours a week gaming support her claims. Alternate reality game designer jane mcgonigal by anastasia. Reality is broken is the most powerful justification yet for computer games as part of our central literacies parallel to literature or movies in the way they connect our motivations and energies within the challenges of understanding and intervening in our social worlds pat kane independent. Jane mcgonigal is one of my favorite thinkers, and its a delight to have her philosophy neatly distilled to a single book, her justpublished debut reality is broken. It lays out ways for getting massive numbers of humans to voluntarily cooperate in solving the really big problems facing humanity. For most readers it would be a better book if it were abridged. In reality is broken, jane mcgonigal argues for taking a close look at what video games provide and figuring out how to make reality as rewarding as the virtual world. With 174 million gamers in the united states alone, we now live in a world where every generation will be a gamer generation. Reality is broken is her first book, published in 2011, which reached new york times bestseller status.
Buy a cheap copy of reality is broken book by jane mcgonigal. A book thats both philosophically rich and completely practical. Why doesnt the real world work more like an online game. Practical advice for gamers by jane mcgonigal reality is broken explains the science behind why games are good for uswhy they make us happier, more creative, more. Reality is broken anyone who sees a hurricane coming should warn others.
The kind of books that uphold the status quo and make us comfortable. Why games make us better and how they can change the world by jane mcgonigal 2011, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Reality is broken, jane mcgonigal 9781594202858 youtube. Jane mcgonigal s groundbreaking work reality is broken challenged the negativeeffectsoriented rhetoric of game criticism by reconciling the contradictory relationship among games, individual wellbeing, and social change from a game designers perspective. According to worldrenowned game designer jane mcgonigal the answer is simple. Despite her expertise, mcgonigals book is never overly technical, and as with a good computer game, anyone, regardless of gaming experience, is likely to get. In this groundbreaking book, visionary game designer jane mcgonigai challenges conventional thinking and shows that games far from being simply escapist. Why games make us better and how they can change the world by jane mcgonigal my rating.
From her groundbreaking doctoral work on puppetmastery 2, 3 through her pivotal reality is broken 2011 4, her work has been exciting, deep, and thoroughly researched. Reality is broken is the most powerful justification yet for computer games as one of our central literacies parallel to literature or movies in the way they connect our motivations and energies. With her new book, the wellknown game designer delves into the question of why life makes people unhappy and how. Jane mcgonigal born october 21, 1977 is an american game designer and author who advocates the use of mobile and digital technology to channel positive attitudes and collaboration in a real world context. More than 174 million americans are gamers, and the average young person in the united states will spend ten thousand hours gaming by the age of twentyone. Iftf hosted janes book launch on january 20, with renowned game. Superbetter and the state of play the new york times. That being said, its almost painfully clear that jane mcgonigal has never written anything for a wide audience before.
Mcgonigal started creating alternate reality games args, which may be based online but take place mainly in the real world. Dec 27, 2011 reality is broken is a compelling exploration of why playing games makes us feel so good, and why, far from being a distraction from reality, technologyled games are increasingly providing solutions to our daily dissatisfactions. According to worldrenowned game designer jane mcgonigal, the reason for this mass exodus to virtual worlds is that videogames are increasingly fulfilling genuine human needs. In reality is broken, she reveals how these new alternate reality games are already improving the quality of our daily lives, fighting social problems. A commentary on jane mcgonigals new book, reality is broken. Despite her expertise, mcgonigals book is never overly technical, and as with a good computer game, anyone, regardless of gaming experience, is likely to get sucked in. Why games make us better and how they can change the world, game designer jane mcgonigal writes that reality just cant compete with a welldesigned videogame. Practical advice for gamers by jane mcgonigal reality is broken explains the science behind why games are good for uswhy they make us happier, more. Reality is broken why games make us better and how they can. She is no more concerned with an honest approach to social change than a sleazy salesman who hopes you will buy his ford lariat. Here are a few secrets that arent in the book to help you or the gamer in. In this groundbreaking book, she shows how we can leverage the power of games to fix what is wrong with the real worldfrom social problems like depression and. Jane mcgonigal is the director of game research and development at the institute for the future. Jane mcgonigal visionary game designer jane mcgonigal shows how we can harness the power of computer games to solve realworld problems and boost global happiness, since her research suggests that gamers are expert.
Written for gamers and nongamers alike, reality is broken shows us that the future will belong to those who can understand, design, and play games. Mcgonigal has since refined her thesis through presentations delivered at venues ranging from south by southwest to ted. On january 20, 2011, mcgonigals first book, reality is broken. Reality is broken summary by jane mcgonigal explains how games work, why people find them appealing, how they influence our realities, and how people can use them to. Reality is broken is the most eyeopening book i read this year. I have to admit that at first glance, the title struck me as frivolous. In this groundbreaking book, she shows how we can leverage the power. Any impulse among cultural snobs to deny the significance of videogames as either entertainment or business should have vanished last november, with the release of activisions call of duty. The solution is to try to apply the elements that make videogames so engaging to realworld challenges. In this book, mcgonigal looks not only at massively multiplayer online gaming and alternate reality games but also at games more widely. Sep 15, 2016 reality is broken summary september 15, 2016 april 11, 2019 niklas goeke self improvement 1sentencesummary. Reality is broken flips the image of the lonely gamer on its head, explaining how games create real value, can be used to make us happier and even help us solve global problems. In 2010, iftfs jane mcgonigal released her first book reality is broken. Jane mcgonigal thinks reality is broken, and she wants to.
Ive been following mcgonigals career with admiration for many years now. But why, jane mcgonigal asks, should games be used for escapist entertainment alone. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Kelly mcgonigal born october 21, 1977 is a health psychologist and lecturer at stanford university who is known for her work in the field of science help which focuses on translating insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support health and wellbeing. Why games make us better and how they can change the world by jane mcgonigal and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Written for gamers and nongamers alike, reality is broken shows that the future will belong to those who can understand, design, and play games. Daily telegraph an intriguing and thoughtprovoking book new statesman. Jane mcgonigal, phd is a worldrenowned designer of alternate reality games or, games that are designed to improve real lives and solve real problems. A commentary on jane mcgonigal s new book, reality is broken january 17, 2011 michael andersen 8 comments in 2008, jane mcgonigal delivered a rant at the game developers conference entitled reality is broken that galvanized developers into tackling reallife problems. It has been strange to read a book which claims that reality is listless, uninspiring and broken compared to computer games as the arab revolutions swarm across our screens. Why games make us better and how they can change the world posted on november 25, 2012 by david r.
Jane mcgonigal born october 21, 1977 is an american game designer and author who advocates the use of mobile and digital technology to channel positive attitudes and collaboration in a. Jane mcgonigal s reality is broken explains the science behind why games are good for uswhy they make us happier, more creative, more resilient, and better able to lead others in world. Why games make us better and how they can change the world contrary to the popular misconception that playing games is an alternative to working, mcgonigal, a game designer and. For background, i should note that ive been playing computer games. Id also bet that few of them have put as much thought into the hows and whys of gaming over the past decade as game designer jane mcgonigal, author of the recentlyreleased book reality is broken. In 2008, jane mcgonigal delivered a rant at the game developers conference entitled reality is broken that galvanized developers into tackling reallife problems. Why games make us better and how they can change the world the real world just doesnt offer up as easily the carefully designed pleasures, the thrilling challenges, and the powerful social bonding afforded by virtual environments. As the game designer jane mcgonigal argued in her 2011 pseudoscientific manifesto, reality is broken, the most mundane task can be made. Reality is broken is a compelling exploration of why playing games makes us feel so good, and why, far from being a distraction from reality, technologyled games are increasingly providing solutions to our daily dissatisfactions. Why games make us better and how they can change the world, was published.
Mcgonigal has written the best take yet on the deep joys of play and how to use that force for good. Author jane mcgonigal explains why reality is broken q. Philadelphia as part of their introduction to the university of pennsylvania, incoming students will participate in the penn reading project this fall with the book reality is broken. Despite her expertise, mcgonigal s book is never overly technical, and as with a good computer game, anyone. As jane mcgonigal was growing up, she had fun playing early video games. The lariat will only get you ten miles to the gallon, but the salesman assures you that the experience is epic and will leave you with a feeling of fiero unlike the pontiac model. The followup, detailing the seven steps she used to turn her own life into a game when dealing with a serious medical condition, came out in 2015 and was named like the app.
And now, mcgonigal has published her first book, a bigpicture tome called reality is broken, which takes the research she had been talking about and. But some games are better for us than others, and there is too much of a good thing. Penn students to read jane mcgonigals reality is broken as. Why games make us better and how they can change the world kindle edition by mcgonigal, jane. With aweinspiring expertise, clarity of thought, and engrossing writing style, jane mcgonigal cleanly exploded every misconception ive ever had about games and gaming. Why games make us better and how they can change the world by jane mcgonigal. Do you like the challenge and adventure of video games. Reality is broken is excellent, but the amount of detail provided is excessive for making and demonstrating the authors points. A revolutionary approach to getting stronger, happier, braver and more resilient. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Reality is broken, by jane mcgonigal the independent.
A visionary game designer reveals how we can harness the power of games to boost global happiness. Dec 26, 2012 the real world just doesnt offer up as easily the carefully designed pleasures, the thrilling challenges, and the powerful social bonding afforded by virtual environments. Why games make us better and how they can change the world. Mcgonigal is the leading practicioner in the use of games to motivate people to solve real problems with their lives and with the world. Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. Speaking engagements will also incorporate game elements, as mcgonigal plans on using groundcrew, one of the games heavily featured in the reality is broken book, to spice up her presentations. The kind of books that pacify our delicate sensibilities and maintain our perception of reality. Jane mcgonigal thinks reality is broken, and she wants to fix.
Why games make us better and how they can change the world by mcgonigal, jane isbn. Purchase reality is broken by jane mcgonigal on paperback online and enjoy having your favourite sociology books delivered to you in south africa. Her work has been featured in the economist, wired, and the new york times. Reality is broken pdf summary jane mcgonigal 12min blog.
Using current research from the positive psychology movement, mcgonigal argues that games contribute powerfully to human happiness and motivation, a sense of meaning, and the development of community. Jane mcgonigals reality is broken makes it clear that humanity is starting to face a related question. Why games make us better and how they can change the world is a selfhelp book for humanity. Reality is broken is the worst kind of populist nonfiction because it is trying so hard to be universally relevant. In the bestdesigned games, our human experience is optimized. Practical advice for gamers by jane mcgonigal reality is broken explains the science behind why games are good for uswhy they make us happier, more creative, more resilient, and better able to lead others in worldchanging efforts.
The average young person will spend 10,000 hours gaming by the age of twentyone. There are books that steady us, that calm and soothe us, that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Jimmy wales, founder of wikipedia wonder why we love games. Why games make us better and how they can change the world 400th ed. Also by jane mcgonigal see all books by jane mcgonigal. Iftf director of game research and design, jane mcgonigal, has released her first book reality is broken. Woolley june 25, 2016 at my suggestion, my book group has been reading jane mcgonigal s reality is broken. In particular the second half of the book seems to be a discussion of every game project the author had ever been involved with. An american games guru makes a persuasive case for investing in the virtual world if we want to improve the real one, writes tom chatfield. We have important work to do, were surrounded by potential collaborators, and we learn quickly and in a lowrisk environment. While we are playing, things we used to do on the outside, in reality, wont be happen. Mcgonigal marshals convincing evidence in smart and snappy prose, delivered in an oldfashioned book for technopeasants such as me. As an adult, she saw games as an outlet for problem solving and teambuilding.
925 849 69 538 51 733 99 1353 678 1148 633 666 1221 334 750 540 1209 1402 363 706 784 132 1032 1236 409 1475 159 1438 868 1051 1068 605 970 817 59 1236 204 130 368 252 631 562 1183 22 683