Any time I consider a new project, I ask myself, is this pushing the state of gaming toward Nobel Prizes? If it's not, then it's not doing anything important enough to spend my time.

Jane McGonigal

Categorized in : Enough Important Pushing

Game designers are obsessed with emotion. How do we create the emotions that we want gamers to feel, and how can we really make it this intense, emotional experience?

emotions feel game experience

Surveys of thousands of gamers have shown that they're more likely to play real music if they play a music videogame. So it's an interesting relationship where the games aren't replacing something we do in real life, they're serving as a springboard to a goal we might have in real life, like learning to play an instrument.

learning music relationship life

Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.

worth win trying believe

When my life is stressful, my favorite game is called 'Pop It,' where you pop balloons and prizes fall out. It's a five-minute game that focuses my mind and gives me extra attention when I'm stressed.

my-life me you life

In the future, I think it's pretty plausible that collective intelligence tools and skills will be important in order to be a part of global dialog, global business, and global creativity. People who know how to negotiate collective intelligence networks are going to be in a good position to contribute to global society.

good future business people

I don't want a gamer to feel like they have to commit their whole... by Jane McGonigal

I don't want a gamer to feel like they have to commit their whole life to changing the world.

feel want life world

The Gamifaction Movement is trying to help companies engage their audience and community by using game mechanics and wrapping them around shopping or achievements, so you get achievements for coming to a store or purchasing things, like rewarding activities.

game you shopping community

Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for meaning and the kinds of things that ease that suffering in life, and finding them in large-scale social interaction, like theater and games.

looking feeling suffering life

When we're in game worlds, I believe that many of us become the best version of ourselves: the most likely to help at a moment's notice. The most likely to stick with a problem as long as it takes. To get up after failure and try again.

best game moment failure

I'm always thinking about whatever game I'm working on. My brain works subconsciously on design pretty much every hour I'm awake.

game design brain thinking

Evidence shows that having even weak social connections in a stressful situation is really good for your health and your ability to handle that situation.

your good situation health