Dr. Jane McGonigal, a trailblazer in video game development and a TED speaker, dives into the powerful intersection of gaming and mental health. She shares her experiences creating 'SuperBetter' to aid recovery from anxiety and discusses how games like Tetris can help with trauma. The conversation also explores the social dynamics of gaming and its ability to foster community, alongside critiques of addictive titles like Fortnite. Jane emphasizes the ethical implications of gamification while celebrating how games can motivate and promote well-being.
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Childhood Board Games
Jane McGonigal and her twin sister played board games growing up, often ending in fights.
New research suggests that traditional board games can negatively impact relationships by lowering oxytocin levels.
insights INSIGHT
Monopoly's Origins
Monopoly was originally designed to teach the downsides of capitalism.
It aimed to make players feel bad about accumulating wealth and power.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Gaming Experiences
Jane McGonigal's dad brought home a knockoff Atari, fostering positive early gaming memories.
She started creating computer games in fifth grade, including one called "You Be the Judge."
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SuperBetter is an innovative approach to living gamefully, based on Jane McGonigal's personal experience of turning her recovery from a severe concussion into a resilience-building game. The book draws on scientific research to show how games can enhance psychological strengths such as attention control, relationship building, and self-motivation, leading to post-traumatic growth and improved well-being.
Reality Is Broken
Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
Jane McGonigal
In 'Reality Is Broken,' Jane McGonigal argues that games provide rewards, challenges, and epic victories that are often lacking in the real world. She suggests that gamers are expert problem solvers and collaborators and introduces cutting-edge games that are already addressing social problems like depression and obesity, as well as global issues like poverty and climate change. The book proposes that by understanding and designing games, we can improve our daily lives, work, philanthropy, and relationships outside of gaming.
Video games! Tabletop games! IRL role-play gaming! The ... lottery? Dr. Jane McGonigal is a video game developer, TED speaker, bestselling author and total badass with a deep knowledge of how games -- and especially video games -- can motivate, soothe and connect us. We talk about everything from Monopoly to dance offs, Fortnite, vintage Atari, VR, the challenge of Dark Souls, the sweetness of League of Legends, how Tetris can get you through rough times and the health issue that caused Dr. McGonigal to create her huge hit, SuperBetter. Also: why everyone who loves games and everyone who hates games should hear this.
Ologies with Alie Ward 
