Saving the World Through Game Design

I was inspired by Jane McGonigal's New Yorker talk on Saving the World Through Game Design. Like Shufflebrain, Jane is designing and championing games that embrace the real world. I particularly like her thinking about the "economy of engagement":

• satisfying work to do
• the experience of being good at something
• time spent with people we like
• the chance to be part of something bigger

These ideas capture the mechanisms that keep people involved in MMOs -- and in a good work situation as well. It's no wonder so many people are intrigued with the idea of applying an MMO framework to getting work done.

However, MMOs and jobs -- and Jane's ARG games -- are time-intensive experiences. I'm VERY interested in how these ideas apply to lightweight social games that are quick to play and accessible to people with limited free time -- AKA a busy working Mom, like me. Or like the millions of casual game players who can take a few minutes a day to play a fun game.

Any thoughts about this? Do you know of any lightweight casual games that offer a satisfying "economy of engagment" without the overhead and grind of an MMO?

 

Comments

[Lilo]

This is a good concept and hopefully publishers will produce this kind of game that doesn't require much time to be wasted on playing it. But most probably an indie game producer will follow this concept. Since we are talking minimizing the use of time in playing games, here it is http://www.wowgoldpigpen.com/twittercontestform/ giving you a chance to win 500,000 World of Warcraft Gold just by giving name for their Twitter pig! Check it out for more details.

[Experimentierkasten]

A hopeful concept.

[ufc betting]

definitely hopeful... as stated already...
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[Lyle]

Games can save the world! Seriously I think there is some truth to this. Most people enjoy games, there is definitely a case to be made for applying this for the greater good.

[evertonbos]

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