Reality is Broken Book: A Summary Exploring Gaming's Potential Impact

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[00:00:12] trail with more features. Today we will unlock the book reality is broken, why games make us better

[00:00:19] and how they can change the world. Reality is broken. Gamers are abandoning reality in droves and migrating into the virtual world.

[00:00:29] Countless numbers of people detach themselves from society, and indulge themselves in

[00:00:34] games.

[00:00:35] Some worry that, sooner or later, gamers who escape from the real world and normal life

[00:00:40] will cause a total social disaster.

[00:00:43] Is this true? We are all familiar with a word game, and more than likely, we have played games ourselves.

[00:00:50] Veteran gamers make time for gaming whenever possible. They love to spend the whole weekend

[00:00:56] or even every day, whenever they are free, playing virtual games. For example, determined

[00:01:02] to master the challenges of the game, World of Warcraft players have

[00:01:06] written 250,000 instructional articles on the Wawiki, the second largest online encyclopedia

[00:01:13] worldwide, second only to Wikipedia.

[00:01:16] Another example is Mario Kart.

[00:01:18] Mario Kart fans take their handheld game consoles everywhere they go.

[00:01:23] Many young people would spend a fortune buying gaming

[00:01:26] objects, such as magical swords. Many kids would spend hours and hours playing computer games

[00:01:32] every day, not willing to do anything else, inevitably leading parents to view games as

[00:01:37] seriously harmful. Even if you don't play games often, you may have played them occasionally and

[00:01:42] have experienced addiction, or you may know

[00:01:45] someone really addicted to games.

[00:01:48] The book reality is broken tells us however that games won't bring disaster.

[00:01:53] On the contrary, it tells us that they are the key to the future, and that they can make

[00:01:57] the world a better place.

[00:01:59] How can this be?

[00:02:01] After listening to this bookie, you may understand the principles of games and uncover their

[00:02:06] mysteries.

[00:02:08] This book was written by the American author Jane McGonagall, a famous futurist.

[00:02:13] She is the director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future.

[00:02:18] She worked as the chief game designer for 42 Entertainment, a renowned company that specializes

[00:02:24] in creating and producing

[00:02:25] alternate reality games. She has been viewed as a kind of ambassador of the $60.4 billion

[00:02:31] global game industry, since she spoke at the influential TED Talk Conference in 2010.

[00:02:37] When she at TED Talks that received even more attention than those of Bill Gates.

[00:02:43] In the following, we will talk about the key insights of the book in three parts.

[00:02:48] The first part, what is a game?

[00:02:51] The second part, how games make us better?

[00:02:54] The third part, how games can change the world?

[00:02:58] What is a game?

[00:03:00] What are its differences from and advantages over reality?

[00:03:04] The author believes there are four defining traits of a game.

[00:03:07] A goal, rules, a feedback system, and voluntary participation.

[00:03:12] Let's get to them one by one.

[00:03:15] First, the goal. In reality, we are often inclined to give up halfway,

[00:03:20] because we set our goal either so high that it's beyond our ability to reach,

[00:03:24] so low that it offers little satisfaction, or we don't goal either so high that it's beyond our ability to reach,

[00:03:25] so low that it offers little satisfaction, or we don't even have a goal for ourselves.

[00:03:30] Then why are we so motivated when playing a game?

[00:03:34] That's because in every phase, a game sets a clear goal for the player, and it will adjust

[00:03:39] itself as one plays the game.

[00:03:41] The goal will remain at a certain level, with some difficulty for the player to reach, but not so much that it's beyond one's ability.

[00:03:49] In this way, the goal stays fascinating, manages to grab the player's full attention, and immerse the person into the game.

[00:03:57] Second, the rules. We seldom set rules for ourselves in reality. A game however will set some rules to create

[00:04:05] difficulty, lest the player reach the goal too easily. Not only are the rules able to

[00:04:11] limit the player's actions, but can also stimulate one's desire to challenge oneself,

[00:04:16] leading the player to be more creative in playing the game.

[00:04:20] Third, the feedback system. In reality, we often quit, because we feel like our efforts

[00:04:26] generate no feedback or visible results. The feedback system of a game, however, tells

[00:04:33] the player how far away the goal is in the form of points, levels, scores, progress bars,

[00:04:39] and so on. It allows players to know what they've achieved, what level they are at,

[00:04:44] and how long they would need to reach their they've achieved, what level they are at, and how long

[00:04:45] they would need to reach their goal. Moreover, the feedback system gives them a hint, the

[00:04:50] goal will surely be achieved, you just need to continue playing.

[00:04:55] Finally, voluntary participation. In real life, there are many things that we have to

[00:05:01] do simply in order to survive. In a game, all that players must

[00:05:05] understand and accept are the goal, the rules, and the feedback system. Because they participate

[00:05:11] voluntarily, they can leave whenever they want. Although challenges in a game are deliberately

[00:05:17] designed to be difficult, voluntary participation ensures the player's sense of safety and

[00:05:22] fun. No one likes to be forced to do something, which means that games are intrinsically satisfying.

[00:05:29] They attract you, but they don't force you.

[00:05:32] The philosopher Bernard Suits summed up the four decisive traits that defined gaming as

[00:05:37] such, playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.

[00:05:44] According to McGonagall, this definition explains everything about the motivation, the rewards

[00:05:49] and the fun that games can offer.

[00:05:51] For example, when playing golf, you have a clear goal of hitting your ball into a series

[00:05:56] of tiny holes, with fewer tries than the others.

[00:06:00] If it weren't for playing, you could simply walk to each hole and put the ball in with

[00:06:04] your hand.

[00:06:05] The reason why golf is a game lies and you voluntarily standing far away from the hole,

[00:06:10] and swinging the ball in with a club.

[00:06:13] Golf is worth playing and is enjoyed by many precisely, because all players have agreed

[00:06:18] to make such a task more challenging.

[00:06:20] Obviously, games can motivate people to actively challenge oneself and exert their particular

[00:06:26] strengths.

[00:06:28] This being said, we can also see that games can bring a remarkable experience of flow.

[00:06:34] What is that?

[00:06:35] According to American psychologist Mihal Cheek sent Mihai, who first proposed this concept,

[00:06:41] flow is a specific kind of happiness, the satisfying exhilarating feeling of creative

[00:06:46] accomplishment and heightened functioning.

[00:06:48] Cheap sent me high found that there was a serious lack of flow in our daily life, but

[00:06:53] that it could be easily spotted in games.

[00:06:56] A game motivates its players to play their best, but at the same time presents them with

[00:07:01] the imminent danger of failing.

[00:07:03] If they do fail, players would feel the impulse to challenge themselves and try again.

[00:07:09] People feel highly engaged in activities that call for full potential, and in turn create

[00:07:14] flow.

[00:07:15] When you are in a state of flow, you desire to remain there.

[00:07:20] Take Tetris for example.

[00:07:22] Many have played the game, and they know that it is endless and that they are guaranteed

[00:07:26] to lose.

[00:07:27] Doesn't seem very fun, right?

[00:07:30] But in fact, Tetris is one of the most popular games, and is very addictive.

[00:07:35] Why is that?

[00:07:36] Because it gives players flow.

[00:07:38] Besides seeing row after row of pieces disappearing with a puff, you see your score constantly

[00:07:44] rising on the screen,

[00:07:45] and you experience an ever-increasing challenge. The game strikes a perfect balance between a

[00:07:51] challenging task and a realistic goal. Using this process, a game brings positive emotions,

[00:07:58] which makes people feel happy. In our daily lives, we often feel bored with our work,

[00:08:04] like we aren't reaching our full potential, or we feel like we are not being taken seriously, and as if we are wasting our lives.

[00:08:11] We sometimes can't control the pace of our workflow, and our efforts seem to be in vain, which makes us feel low.

[00:08:18] However, when playing a game, we are actively engaged in it.

[00:08:22] A game activates the nervous system, and other physiological systems relating to happiness.

[00:08:29] It concentrates one's mind with constant stimulus and feedback.

[00:08:33] One feels energetic and excited when fulfilling the task.

[00:08:37] Alright, let's wrap up the first part.

[00:08:40] There are four defining traits of a game, a goal, rules, a feedback system, and voluntary

[00:08:46] participation.

[00:08:48] So playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.

[00:08:53] Additionally playing a game brings with it the remarkable experience of flow.

[00:08:59] Next, let's move on to the second part, and talk about how games make us better. First, games satisfy people's longing for good work.

[00:09:09] In real life, we may have goals in our job, like key performance indicators and so on,

[00:09:15] but no specific action plan.

[00:09:17] And even if goals and an action plan exist, it is difficult to see the results directly

[00:09:22] and immediately. However, in a game, the task is clear, the actions needed to finish the task are specific,

[00:09:31] and the feedback and rewards are timely and vivid.

[00:09:34] A game keeps one constantly interested.

[00:09:37] Statistics show that players of World of Warcraft have spent a collective time of 5.93 million years in the game.

[00:09:45] What does this number imply?

[00:09:47] 5.93 million years ago, our ancestors were still walking on all fours, so if you had

[00:09:53] given them a gamepad, they wouldn't even have Agile Four limbs to play with it.

[00:09:58] So why is a game so attractive?

[00:10:00] Let's see how its tasks are set up.

[00:10:03] For example, imagine a player's task is to bring the blade of

[00:10:06] Drakmar to Yale and even song at the Argent Tournament grounds. The game, when giving the task, will tell

[00:10:13] the player where to go, who to meet, in what way to retrieve the blade, and then where to find Yale

[00:10:19] and even song and give it to him. See, it is very clear what the task is, where to go, and what to do.

[00:10:26] This is what the work we crave in real life looks like.

[00:10:30] Second, game satisfy people by giving them the experience of being successful.

[00:10:36] In addition to clear tasks and actions, World of Warcraft gives players constant positive

[00:10:41] feedback and rewards. Every avatar has a status bar right above its head, which constantly flashes positive

[00:10:48] feedback at players, plus one stamina, plus one intellect, plus one strength.

[00:10:54] The points represent your resources.

[00:10:57] The bigger effort you make, the more resourceful you are, your virtual character can wear better

[00:11:02] armor or use more powerful weapons.

[00:11:05] If you complete a high-level raid, you'll see a change in your virtual world,

[00:11:10] what you see will differ from someone who hasn't finished the raid.

[00:11:14] In real life, we often feel like we are not making any progress in our work,

[00:11:19] which makes us feel depressed. Sometimes, failing means that we also have to face a pay cut or resignation.

[00:11:27] But in a game, it doesn't matter if you lose. A game makes failure fun and directs our attention

[00:11:33] to the goal, so when we try again, we are more likely to win. For example, in Super Monkey Ball,

[00:11:40] a bowling type game, players roll transparent bowling balls with monkeys inside them.

[00:11:45] A bowling-type game, players roll transparent bowling balls with monkeys inside them. The balls roll down twisted bowling lanes floating in outer space.

[00:11:49] If you don't throw a ball well, the monkey will roll right off the edge of the lane,

[00:11:54] screaming, disappearing into the atmosphere.

[00:11:57] Flying monkeys make players laugh, and turn failure into happiness.

[00:12:01] Players realize that the monkey can get some more bananas to eat

[00:12:05] if they succeed, but even if it fails, it will still fly into space in a silly way. This

[00:12:11] hooks them to keep playing.

[00:12:13] In other words, people can always find the satisfaction of success.

[00:12:18] Third, games satisfy people's desire to connect with the world. Compared to games, reality feels distant.

[00:12:26] Games build stronger social bonds, and create more active social networks.

[00:12:31] The more time people spend interacting on social networks, the more likely they are to

[00:12:36] generate positive per social emotions.

[00:12:39] The more people play games together, the more the sense of global community is generated. For example, more than 5 million people play a scrabble like Crossword Game on Facebook.

[00:12:50] Players remain active in the game even if they are offline.

[00:12:54] When it's your turn to move, Facebook will send an alert to your home page,

[00:12:58] your email, or your cell phone. Someone left a review for the game which goes like this,

[00:13:04] everyone in your

[00:13:05] social network, even your mom, knows how to play Scrabble. Another person said,

[00:13:10] I live in Atlanta and my mom's in Texas. We love to have game night across the

[00:13:15] miles. People never feel lonely in a game. It unites people by building a

[00:13:21] community from scratch. Even if the players are total strangers unwilling to interact in the real world, good games can

[00:13:28] focus their attention on the same goal.

[00:13:31] When given the motivation and methods to pursue this goal, players are moved to actively communicate

[00:13:36] with each other.

[00:13:38] Fourth, games make people believe that life is more meaningful.

[00:13:43] Every day life often leaves one feeling bored, anxious, and purposeless.

[00:13:48] Games however, place people in a much more fulfilling setting.

[00:13:52] They must make every effort to accomplish a certain mission, which helps them find more

[00:13:56] meaning in life.

[00:13:58] Take Halo 3 for example.

[00:14:00] The player's goal is to save the human race from aliens.

[00:14:04] They have created a collective milestone.

[00:14:06] They killed 10 billion virtual enemies, about 1.5 times the total population on Earth.

[00:14:13] To achieve this goal, players of Halo 3 spent 565 days in the third and final campaign

[00:14:19] of the fictional Great War, killing an average of 17.5 million enemies per day, 730,000 per hour, and 12,000

[00:14:28] per minute.

[00:14:30] After accomplishing this milestone, the players all went to their forum to celebrate and claim

[00:14:35] their own contributions.

[00:14:37] For example, one player wrote, I just did some math and with my 32,388 kills, I have

[00:14:44] 0.00032% of the 10 billion kills.

[00:14:49] One player even suggested, we did that with just a few million gamers.

[00:14:54] Imagine what we could do with the full force of 6 billion humans.

[00:14:58] You see, although killing enemies in the game doesn't actually create value, and they were

[00:15:03] not saving real lives or the human race, it still made people feel happy, and as if they had done something meaningful,

[00:15:10] because they pursued the goal with millions of others.

[00:15:13] They felt like they had contributed to something great, and together they had made miracles

[00:15:18] happen.

[00:15:19] Meaning in life is something we all want.

[00:15:21] We want to leave a mark on the world, we want to make valuable contributions, we crave respect, we desire to create miracles, we desire to influence

[00:15:31] others. All of these can be achieved in games.

[00:15:34] Alright, let's wrap up the second part, how games can make us better.

[00:15:40] First, game satisfy people's longing for good work. Next, game satisfy people with the experience of being successful.

[00:15:48] Additionally, game satisfy people's desire to connect with the world.

[00:15:53] Lastly, games make people believe that life is more meaningful.

[00:15:57] Mainstream theories of positive psychology believe there are four secrets that make real life better,

[00:16:03] the desire for satisfying work, the desire for the experience of being successful, the desire for social connection,

[00:16:10] and the desire for meaning.

[00:16:12] All of these cravings are fulfilled in games.

[00:16:16] Today we are just sharing limited bookie.

[00:16:18] To unlock more key insights of world-class bestseller, please download our app.

[00:16:24] Just search for B-O-O-KK-EY at Apple Store or Google Play.

[00:16:28] You will get 7 days free trail with more features.