I came across this book and website when I was reading the news the other day, and I have to admit I’m really intrigued. In it, the author who is a video game designer, talks about how gaming is good for you. In moderation, of course!
McGonigal persuasively argues that those who continue to dismiss games will be at a major disadvantage in the coming years. Gamers, on the other hand, will be able to leverage the collaborative and motivational power of games in their own lives, communities, and businesses. 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. — SOURCE: realityisbroken.org
Already Jane McGonigal’s book has been covered by BoingBoing, The Onion and several other places — including TV shows like The Colbert Report. I’m excited to see a book about the benefits of gaming not only getting this much press, but also from a female game designer! Go Jane GO!
I love to play and design games. Believe me, I wish I had the mad programming skills to be a video game designer; I’m more old school. I do, however, enjoy playing them. Just finished Dragon Age and am making my way through Final Fantasy XIII for another round before the sequels come out. I also have a Nintendo DS and many board, card and role-playing games with a social feel to them. This is one of the reasons why I love the hobby games industry. It’s not just about designing games or writing for publishers, it’s also about making quality connections with people and having fun. I have many good friends here and several people I’ve written for are also people I’ve rolled dice with.
I’m thrilled to see this book come out and will be picking it up when it’s available for my e-reader. Here’s a couple of links to reviews already out there:
- Reality Is Broken: An expert makes the case for videogames
- Reality Is Broken at the AV Club
- McGonigal’s Reality is Broken: using games to improve the world
If you come across other books like this, please let me know in the comments below or via Twitter or Facebook. Thanks!