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Reality Is Broken

Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Port Moody Public Library.
oldhag
Nov 28, 2011oldhag rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
An unrealistic, and slightly sinister, vision of a future where video gamers are contributing free labor under the guise of playing a game. For example, McGonigal suggests that gamers should help find a cure for cancer by doing crowdsourcing on their playstation 3s in exchange for intrinsic rewards and/or for "micropayments" (maybe) since organizations can't afford to pay anyone to do the time-intensive work. Apparently, McGonigal is unaware that in a capitalist society one has a right to expect to be rewarded, and handsomely, for such an effort. Or maybe she is aware but thinks that exploitation is a great game to play as long as you're not the one being exploited. MCGonigal suggests some distasteful, disrespectful, entertainment games, and no where does she make allowance for people who don't want to play games, people who, in fact, think that reality is both more fun and more serious than any computer game.