Reddit Reddit reviews Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

We found 22 Reddit comments about Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
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22 Reddit comments about Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World:

u/MrSamsonite · 35 pointsr/AskReddit

As Jane McGonigal points out in this awesome book about saving the world with video games, the cumulative man-hours its taken to create Wikipedia is about three days of World of Warcraft man-hours. In other words, if WoWers set out to make a Wikipedia-type project, they would accomplish it in three days.

u/Aisha11 · 26 pointsr/justneckbeardthings

As an aside, this:

> This will almost guarantee low self esteem because we esteem ourselves for doing esteemable things--accomplishing things, meeting challenges and overcoming them, taking on difficult tasks and succeeding, having a job and paying your way through the world. At the point that you are lazy and don't like yourself very much it becomes really easy to isolate and end up picking up hobbies which tend to isolate you further (video games, obscure and obnoxious media like anime--the seizure-y Japanese cartoons). It becomes natural then to connect with online communities of similarly isolated folks: hence, neckbeard.

Is quite a traditionalist viewpoint which greatly underestimates the potential of the individual. Video games are constantly written off as wastes of time because they do not produce any quantifiable, real world products. But they do have their benefits in developing a person. I can almost guarantee that the games this guy is playing is something like World Of Warcraft/DoTA/miscellaneous fantasy role playing game. These games offer pretty much exactly these things: accomplishing things (levelling, questing), meeting challenges and overcoming them (combat), taking on difficult tasks and succeeding (raids), having a job (role play) and paying your way through the world (economy). Do not underestimate how hard those types of games are, and how skilled the best players are. The AVERAGE young person of today will play 10,000 hours of video games before they are 21. According to Malcolm Gladwell, that makes the average young adult an expert in video games. Imagine how much a person obsessed with games has played. Don't be mistaken in thinking that time would be spent in a state of constant overstimulation, either. There is a lot of hard, repetitive, frustrating, tedious graft involved. But it is pursued because there is a set goal for every action in these games. Every wild boar slain is verifiable as a step towards a greater goal. This is really hard to find in reality, where goals are often ambiguous or non-existent, and your personal progress is not easily judged.

I used to play a hell of a lot of video games in my teens. I wasn't exactly a layabout, I did work (at a mind-numbing job) 8 to 5 on weekdays. All of my spare time was sunk into games though. Honestly, I didn't play them for the sheer enjoyment of the gameplay. I played them because they provided a very obvious framework for personal improvement (albeit virtual) in which I was ALWAYS progressing. I was also one of those students that seemed to have great potential but little motivation. The motivation was lacking because there wasn't I never had that goal-setting and progression framework. I suspect this may be true for many young video game obsessives these days.

I discovered this after making a concerted effort towards getting into shape (I was under 130lbs at 6'1, underweight). I loved how direct the feedback is from working out. Every rep of the dumbbell burns the muscle you want it to. Every finished workout leaves your muscles pumped, and achey the next day. Every week the scales tip in your favour if you worked hard, or against you if you didn't really work (or eat right). This is EXACTLY how many hardcore games work, except they flash the feedback in your face every few minutes of play. With pretty graphic design. And with a congratulatory musical motif. And a badge. And a new piece of armour or weapon skin.

Translating the kind of affirmation framework that games offer into the real world is SO fucking valuable, especially for enlivening obsessive gamers. For me I became so involved with personal development in the real world that games kinda fell by the wayside. I still really enjoy playing. I just don't nearly as much because I also have other pursuits to be getting on with. This book is a fantastic read on the growing obsession with games, and how gamers can translate their in-game experiences into real world value.

u/be_bo_i_am_robot · 16 pointsr/INTP

I don't game anymore myself, save occasionally and rarely.

Of course there's nothing wrong with entertainment and diversions, and certainly nothing wrong with games, of themselves.

But people who get sucked into video games, and spend a good portion of their life and effort in it, are wasting their lives away, in my opinion. And I think it's unfortunate, and all too common.

People who game obsessively do so because they find their real lives unsatisfactory. So, they look for distractions. This is a similar impulse to people who lose themselves excessively in sports, fantasy stories, and so on.

Video games are literally designed to keep one engaged and returning. Just enough challenge to keep things interesting. Too easy, or too difficult, and most people simply walk away. But that sweet spot between easy and difficult, eustress, keeps pressing that dopamine button in the brain. And one gets hooked.

Compared to games, real life is far "too difficult." But here's the thing: the rewards for applied effort in real
life are much greater as well.

I like to think of myself struggling to "level up" in real life. Building a better career, better physical health, better social networks, more wealth, better family life, more knowledge, and so on. Sometimes I do well, and sometimes I struggle and I fall behind; but when I get it right, when I apply myself with the right habits, right disciplines, and correct methods consistently and regularly, the rewards are real, and way, way better than in games.

If I'm a hero in a game, that heroism is over the instant the game ends. But if I become a badass in real life, that's a completely different thing altogether!

Not to say that there's no room at all for games in life, or that we should get rid of them entirely. We should, like anything pleasurable (food, alcohol, etc.) learn to keep our use at a moderate level, lest we become addicted and let it run our lives.

I'm not against video games per say. But I feel it's all-too-easy to get sucked in, and fritter away one's life in them.

I'd rather spend 10,000 hours mastering the guitar, than mastering Guitar Hero.

However, we can learn a thing or two from games. Check out the book Reality is Broken by Jane McGonigal. I don't agree with all her premises, she's far more supportive of gaming than I am, but it's an interesting and well-thought-out read.

u/jarkyttaa · 11 pointsr/truegaming

Besides the obvious standards, there's quite a bit out there. Reality is Broken is quickly becoming my go-to book for introducing people to talking about video games. If you're less focused specifically on video games, then Hamlet on the Holodeck is basically required reading for any discussions about interactive narrative and Pervasive Games: Theory and Design gives a great introduction to pervasive games, which are definitely different from video games, but there's a fair amount of overlap in good design principles there.

u/nfojones · 11 pointsr/politics

Well put. Values that seem intrinsic to unmitigated consumerism which, as you describe, appear to take root at the earliest stages of success/wealth.

Desire for power and money have always been there but we've exponentially multiplied the variety of things to want and have power over and compare ourselves to (your mark of distinction).

I never finished the book Reality is Broken but it begins by detailing the value of using common gaming techniques (points/rewards/achievements) to turn life into a game in places where it can be helpful; like house chores. Maybe she eventually covered this further in the book but it made me realize how much of life already plays out like a game whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Social media is the poor man's wealth with all the personal validation extracted from likes, retweets and upvotes.

Its no surprise that in a world with billions of people we'd see people competing viciously over money and power. Once having tasted the rewards, humans apparently have a bottomless appetite for competition and personal aggrandizement.

u/sipid · 10 pointsr/truegaming

Excerpt from "Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World" by Jane McGonigal.

The book can be found on Amazon.com here: Reality is Broken

Ms. McGonigal's TED Talk can be found here: Gaming can make a better world


> ".... But beyond a certain playing threshold - for most gamers, it seems to be somewhere around twenty hours a week - they start to wonder if they're missing out on real life.

> Technology journalist Clive Thompson has a name for this phenomenon: gamer regret. And he'll be the first to admit that he suffers from it as much as any other gamer. Thompson recalls checking his personal statistics one day - many games keep track of how many hours you've spent playing - and was shocked to see that he had clocked in thirty-six hours playing a single game in one week - as he described it, "a missing-time experience so vast one would normally require a UFO abduction to achieve it." He found himself vacillating between pride in what he's accomplished in the virtual game environment and wondering if all that hard work had really been worth it.

> As Thompson writes: "The dirty secret of gamers is that we werestle with this dilemma all the time. We're often gripped by ... a sudden, horrifying sense of emptiness when we muse on all the other things we could have done with our game time." He admits: "The elation I feel when I finish a game is always slightly tinged with a worrisome sense of hollowness. Wouldn't I have been better off doing something that was difficult and challenging and productive?"

> This internal conflict plays out in discussion forums all over the Web. The twin questions "How much time do you spend playing games?" and "How much time is too much?" are ubiquitous in the gaming community . . .

> ... What's needed is for games to go beyond flow and fiero, which make us happy in the moment, to provide a more lasting kind of emotional reward. We need games that make us happier even when we're not playing. Only then will we find the right balance between playing our favorite games and making the most of our real lives.

> Fortunately, that's exactly what's happening in the computer and video game market today. Games are increasingly teaching us the four secrets of how to make our own happiness - and they're giving us the power to make it anytime, anywhere."


I'm still working my way through the book, but this seemed like a relevant excerpt to this discussion, esp. as to why this type of discussion is common on this subreddit.

Edit As an aside; the way I maintain interest in games is by playing a lot of online multiplayer stuff, mostly Team Fortress 2. As the situation is always changing and evolving it's easier to stay in the flow, and as I'm constantly running into players better them myself (difficult to overcome obstacles) the fiero stays pretty satisfying too.

u/cjt09 · 4 pointsr/truegaming

If you're interested in this subject, I'd recommend checking out Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better, a great book detailing many of the ways that video games can convey benefits to people.

u/TallForAStormtrooper · 4 pointsr/rpg

Another good one is Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change The World by Jane McGonigal. It does focus on video games but it delves into what makes us happy and how games scratch those itches.
https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/0143120611

u/richarizard · 3 pointsr/truegaming

You have quite a bit of research to back you up. James Gee out of Wisconsin is one of the more outspoken advocates of what you just said. Learning takes place through video games, even if it's not the kind found on standardized tests. In fact, the sources are endless. On top of that, don't even be so quick to dismiss edutainment. Some 2004 research suggests that those trivial edutainment games still increase learning. It's probably because even though the content is dry, simply being a video game is enough to increase motivation and self-efficacy. Practically any well-designed video game has potential, with some especially interesting work happening right now with Portal.

u/margalicious · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I draw Good :3 I embraced my inner spirit and really captured my essence.

Enjoy!

Item (used)

Thank you for the contest!

u/bluo100 · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

In short, real life isn't really designed like games are so you don't get as much of the positive feedback sort of stuff in day to day life as you do in games. There are ways to 'gamify' parts of your life though, to make them more enjoyable and such to do. If your interested in this sort of stuff and how you(and the world at large) could incorporate it more, I recommend this book by Jane McGonigal, Reality is Broken.

u/MeatsNZ · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Reality is Broken by Jane McGonnagal

It's non-fiction about the way video games can impact society.

http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Is-Broken-Better-Change/dp/0143120611

u/realityhacker55 · 1 pointr/saraba1st

你説的没錯,這的確是一個扭曲的環境下—個扭曲的表達方式。但一方面,現代社會巳進入遊戲時代,連企業都採gamification (遊戲化)的方式來潛移默化帶領員工節奏。為什麽不進—步用在改變社會上面?

設計遊戲來改變社會創造未來,並不是一個新的概念。不知下面這本經典之作有在國内出版嗎?在多人遊戲中,两岸的玩家可以友善地对談; 在走上街頭搜集宝石的过程中,志同道合者自然集結; 誰知道过関後獲得的武功秘笈裏,竟藏著推倒tg过程的變局十策?傳説中的朱元璋,靠著在月餅裏夾帶訊息,大家约好在同—天起義,全民共振.....總之,我不小看遊戲的潛力。遊戲是先進科技。对tg這种数位極杈,也許只有從黑技術下手來顛覆。

"現實既已破碎,遊戲帶動改變"(暫譯)
https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/0143120611

u/glitteredblack · 1 pointr/googleglass

I completely understand and you are more than welcome :)

How are you enjoying Game Arts program? When I was thinking of starting another degree I looked at MICA. I loved the school and the faculty was amazing, but I ultimately I decided that relocating to Maryland for another Bachelors was not in my best interest. I wish they had a graduate program that focused on Games.

If you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend “Reality is Broken” by Jane McGonigal. It opened my eyes to seeing game possibilities in scenarios I would have never associated with gaming prior to reading the book. If you are short for time, or just do better with visual learning, her TEDtalks are also pretty great as well. Are you looking to branch out onto your own past graduation, or even flirting with the idea? If so, you need to read Reddit co-founder’s Alexis Ohanian’s book “Without Their Permission.” I apologize for the unwarranted random book recommendations they just are really great reads, especially for game developers.

u/teh_eria · 1 pointr/Guildwars2

Reminds me a bit of Reality Is Broken by Jane McGonigal.

u/fififlipper · 1 pointr/gaming

You might check out the book Reality is Broken - I thought it had a lot of useful insight into the 'gamer mindset'.

u/brianj5000 · 1 pointr/suggestmeabook

I recommend Reality is Broken. The author also did a TED talk you an check out and see if it's what you're looking for. I really enjoyed it.

u/gianttabby · 1 pointr/Gaming4Gamers

Check out Ian Bogost's How To Do Things with Video Games and Jane McGonigol's Reality is Broken. Both books revolve around exactually what you ask for.

u/StabbyPants · 1 pointr/sysadmin

> Computer broken. Have important meeting in 3 minutes, pleas fix.

giggle sez: read a damn book

u/happyFelix · 1 pointr/howtonotgiveafuck

Read this book and then slap her face with it.

u/NondeterministSystem · -2 pointsr/pokemongo

I disagree with the premise of Mr. or Ms. Kubina's statement. Having said that, I think there's a point in their comment worth addressing.

Why isn't hunting for or excelling at a job always at least as engaging as hunting for Pokemon? I mean, the rewards are more useful--the resources necessary to, y'know, eat--but chasing cartoon mushroom-infested bugs is far more fun. I don't think the answer to that is simple, but thinking about the question can be very insightful. I'd recommend game designer Jane McGonigal's book Reality Is Broken. If you're in a pinch for time, consider her TED Talk to start.