Fix 7-8

 Over the past few weeks, I have been reading this book Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World by Jane McGonigal (2011).

I've talked about several types of games over the past few weeks.  One that I have not discussed yet is an ARG.  So what is an ARG?  The name kind of makes me thing of this:

An ARG or Alternate reality games is really not that complicated as Fry from Futurama would make it seem, although the concept would likely baffle him has he has difficulty putting on his pants correctly.  This video is a brief introduction to ARG.  Unlike many games that have directed outcomes, an ARG is a game that is shaped by the players.  Their decisions shape the game and the outcomes.  It's the real world, in digital form.  It can be more like a parallel universe or it came make real life tasks seem more interesting, such as housework.  To read even more about it, check out this PowerPoint Lecture by Jane McGonigal (the author of the book I have been discussing for the past few weeks).  McGonigal writes in her book Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World about Chore Wars, how her husband and her use it to make their real life obligation of cleaning the house into a competitive game.  As much as my husband likes games, I am not sure that this one would work on him.  I can wish though, right?  McGonigal (2011) and her husband work to complete their chores then login to Chore Wars to reap the experience - literally.  You click what chores you accomplished and you get points for it, XP points.

Fix 7 in McGonigal's (2011) book is "Wholehearted Participation: Compared with games, reality is hard to get into.  Games motivate us to participate more fully in whatever we're doing" (McGonigal, 2011 p. 124).

Chores are hard to get into.  I can honestly admit I don't enjoy doing all of our dishes by hand, mostly because it ruins my nails.  I do it because I have to do it.  Most people have a job that they have to do and rarely enjoy.  I like teaching and I like researching (most of the time).  I'm lucky enough to enjoy my job.  If I was still a daycare worker or waitress I might need a lot more motivation to wholeheartedly participate - if it was even possible.  Games are often more fun and one thing that is nice about games - at the end of the day if I don't like the game - I quit.  As much as I would like to, I can't quit many of the tasks that I am not wholeheartedly participating in.  Maybe all I need is a few good ARGs.  Games can motivate people to do what they don't want to do, like these children at the Quest to Learn school, which McGonigal also addresses (p. 128).

Fix 8 in McGonigal (2011) "Meaningful rewards when we need them most: Compared with games, reality is pointless and unrewarding.  Games help us feel more rewarded for making our best effort" (Mcgonigal, 2011 p. 148).  McGonigal discusses her dislike of flying and how many other individuals also feel the same way making "airports and airplanes the perfect target for game-design intervention" (McGonigal, 2011 p. 149).  Video games and scavenger hunts are among some of the distracting rewards for flyers. 

I am continuing with my adventure playing The Settlers Online.  My guild has been getting more active, so the social portion of the game has been increasing for me.  Although I am not just chatting randomly, my guild has been helpful in figuring out how to be a good guild member.  They even have their own website that we can join with a discussion board.  My participation is Wholehearted (Fix 7) because I find the game a welcome distraction from whatever work I am trying to dodge at the moment.  I am rewarded with a distraction and delighted when I actually have enough soldiers or resources to complete the task.  It's nice seeing my map cleared of bandits.  It's nice actually having soldiers live through the event, although I am not above sending wave after wave of my own men.