I have to admit, the idea of video games changing the world is a difficult idea for me to grasp. Part of it is the fact that I grew up in a home without video games, and the other part is that I have babysat for a little boy where video games consume his life. Something about the anger a little 7 year old could show when he could not beat a level at his game is a bit unnerving. With all that being said though, I have to admit that Jane McGonigal has me thinking. Since class on Tuesday video games have been on my mind. She makes an awesome point when she asks people to look at what a difference it would make if we harnessed the time spent and the skills possessed by gamers.
We discussed in class how video games can help develop problem-solving skills, perseverance, critical thinking and more. Clearly, the people who play these games spend hours honing all the skills mentioned above. What would it look like if we placed gamers into jobs that are high in problem-solving and critical thinking? Maybe this is far-fetched, but I can't help but think of friends I have that are in the military presently. They are able to think on their feet and make split-second decisions. Is this maybe a result of playing video games? If that is the case, then I definitely agree that McGonigal is on to something. But I still want to know what this means for all of us that aren't gamers. Maybe we'll just have to find a different way to change the world.
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