Forecasting Innovation

Hello everyone. Last week I talked about Jane McGonigal's (who has become quite an inspiration) book. I also told you there were pretty cool games that were mentioned  in the book and which McGonigal helped in the making of. Here's an overview of some of the games. Please look into them, especially if you're already interested. The information that I am using is slightly from the book and also from the videos on McGonigal's website which I will re post. All of these games are called Forecasting games. They help create more or less realistic futures and documents the experiences. McGonigal explains it as the person is not role playing but is "real playing" because it is game where the player is given a situation, and the player not a fictional character must react to the environment.

SuperStruct 

As usual for these kinds of games, it takes place in the future. Players were asked to envision themselves in this future world realistically and then were given scenarios or superthreats. They would then choose one and write about it. The writing would go from stories to blogs and other people could then join in on an idea. Ideas and solutions would build to extraordinary lengths. Many were encouraged to even go on and create there own superthreats and create a community to solve a problem. 

Evoke

This game is one of my personal favorites. The game's story is in the style of a graphic novel. The novel sends you on a mission as if you were a part of an organization, and it becomes up to you to figure out ways on saving the world with certain issues one mission at a time. The game was put into action in many countries but one of the most used places were several parts of Africa. Many students found it to be engaging because many schools wanted a more collaborative and engaging way to learn and solve real world issues. Evoke was originally online, but for those who don't have access to internet let them not despair. The first pack of missions are being made into a real graphic novel.

World Without Oil (created by Ken Ecklund)

Imagine the world when an oil crisis hits. 1800 players did, and then they wrote about it. Not only through the game but with blogs, podcasts, and even some wrote comic book style stories. The game essentially is "a collaborative simulation of a global oil shortage." People, for 32 days, had to adapt to their way of living (Made up story but thinking realistically). The game changed some people's lives literally by making them think about their habits.

Now this is quite a broad, basic scope of the intense, serious detail that when on during these games and in the making of them. In my humble quest of searching for an answer to whether or not video games will help for other causes in the future, I am beginning to see an answer that is taking form.

Mcgonigal, J. (2010, December 25). Wordpress.com. Retrieved from http://janemcgonigal.com/ 

McGonigal, J. M. (2011). Reality is broken: Why game make us better and how they can change the worlds. Grand Haven, Michigan: Brilliance Audio.

Let's keep playing!