Book Review

Reality is Broken Book Review

        People have been playing games for thousands of years. However, 21^st century is probably the era that people can have the wonderful experiences that digital games brought to us. Unlike traditional games such as chess, poker, etc., digital game changes many people’s life styles and our societies. In the book “Reality is Broken: Why games makes us better and how they can change the world” Jane McGonigal argues about how games makes our world different and what it can do to us. This book gives us a unique perspective to look at the culture of games and gamers.

        “What exactly is a game?” This is the first question Jane asked about in her book and probably one of the most important questions we should think about. I believe that most of people must play some sort of game in their life just like me. However, the question like “what is a game?” or “why is game interesting?” rarely occurs to me. In her book Jane addressed the defining traits of a game which are: goal, rules, feedback system, and voluntary participation. She also defines playing game as “voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.” Indeed, when game designers are creating a game they set up the tasks and rules for players to overcome before they achieve the goal. Most players seemed to solving these tasks willingly even though sometimes the process is painful. For example, players can experience hundreds even thousands of failure in the video game “Dark soul” before they even finished the first chapter. Yet, the game is still very popular and known for its difficulties.

        It makes me wonder why people enjoy failure and willing to overcome those “unnecessary obstacles” while playing games since people normally hates obstacles and failures in real lives. I believe the reason is the “feedback system” Jane mentioned about in her book. The wonderful part of gaming is that it gives players instance feedback such as levels, points, scores, etc. Game visualizes our achievement and allows players to see their progress instantly. Unlike science research, scientists have to wait for years even decades before the feedback comes. That’s why people don’t see science research as “playing games” even though they also “voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.” The other fact that people won’t feel frustrating about failure in game is because we can redo it. Unlike real lives, the failure in game won’t do any actual harm to players except wasting of time and efforts and we can keep trying until we succeed. In chapter 4 Jane suggested that sometimes the “hope of success” is more exciting than actual success because if we mastered a game it will makes it boring.

However, failure is not the point why people enjoy playing games. We always like the feelings of success. In “Reality is broken” Jane indicated that the moment when players achieve a task the positive feedback gives them strong emotion impact. Furthermore, the achievement in game sometimes gives players the motivation to do something in real life. For example, the study shows that players of musical games are increasingly driven to paly real instrument. Thus, the achievement in game allows players feel something great about themselves which gives them passions and motivations.

Since game gives people motivation, by combining or turning our daily tasks into a game makes people tend to do it more willingly. For example, Jane mentioned a game called “chore wars” which she and her husband played together. No one likes to do chores. However, when playing this game payers earn experience point for household chores. By making our daily tasks into a game makes it become more interesting and gives people the motivation to do it. Moreover, it also gives us a chance to really think about the problems we might have in real life and actually do something about it. Jane suggests that the game “world without oil” changes many players’ life styles. Even teaches uses games to help children learn better. By playing this kind of games inspired people to think and solve the problems we have in reality and might help us to make a better world.

        On the other hand, sometimes the achievement we get in games is not just belongs to ourselves. Game provides a system which allows players the share their success to the community. Jane suggests that games brought strong social connectivity. With the development of internet players are able to play games with their friends or even strangers across the world. The system connects the gamers and creates a communities allows us the share our enjoyment. For example, Facebook games allow us to invite our friends to play together. Sometimes people also invite strangers and make new friend in games. It also provides people a chance to compare their achievement. Jane suggests that by beating others in games make players feel better. Thus, it became a competition between players, or maybe even the countries. Nowadays, many popular games such as “League of Legends” and “StarCraft” have many competitions and even hold world championships every year which select the best teams from the world. The Olympic or World Cup is not the only event the world can enjoy together anymore. Somehow games allow players all over the world to share the pleasure together and probably even brought stronger connections than before.

Game not only provide us a chance to gain achievement, but also allows players to be part of something great. Jane McGonigal indicates the idea of “epic scale” in her book. Game designers create epic plots, heroic stories, amazing soundtracks, etc., for gamers to enjoy. In the world of game ordinary people get a chance to be a hero and become an important part in the story. Unlike epic movies, such as “Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter”, which we can only be audiences; video games like “World of Warcraft” gives as a chance to play the important role in that fantasy world. It makes gamers to interact with the characters in the story and even able to influence how the story goes. Therefore, game provides us a wonderful experience which we couldn’t have in our ordinary lives. Game gives people a chance to forget all the problems we have in reality and be someone better than ourselves.

        It has been 10 years since “World of Warcraft” released. Until nowadays it is probably still the most popular game in the world. It has more than 10 million players worldwide and forms one of the biggest communications every year.  Many people even met their lovers in the world of this game. The company Blizzard holds an activity called Blizzcon which attract thousands of people every year. Not only online games like WoW, but also many other video games attract thousands of people and influence our life significantly. Each year thousands of gamer attend the trade fair like “E3” and “Tokyo Game Show”. In 21^st century, people spend more time and efforts in games than ever. To many people, game became part of their lives and helps them to interact with world. Game cultures not only provide entertainment but also one of the biggest community and economy system in the world. Indeed, nowadays many people are addicted to games, but it also provides a way for people to release and enjoy their life. Just like Jane McGonigal suggested it also provide many positive feedback and might help us solve many problems in reality. In the end, game might be one way for people to make a better world.