Reality is Broken
Lessons for game building
Extrinsic rewards decrease intrinsic motivation (12.26)
Positive-psychology shows intrinsic rewards fall into four main categories
Satisfying work - being immersed in clearly defined, demanding activities that allow us to see direct impact of our efforts
Experience (or hope) of being successful - we want to feel powerful in our lives, show off what we're good at, be optimistic of our chances for success and feel like we're improving over time
Social connection - share experiences and build bonds by accomplishing together things that matter
Meaning - be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Naches - Yiddish word for vicarious pride or bursting with pride we feel when someone we've taught or mentored succeeds
Fiero - Italian word that has come to mean the emotional high we feel after triumphing over adversity
Fixes for Reality
Unnecessary Obstacles
Compared with games, reality is too easy. Games challenge us with voluntary obstacles and help us put our personal strengths to better use
Emotional Activation
Compared with games, reality is depressing. Games focus our energy, with relentless optimism, on something we're good at and enjoy
More Satisfying Work
Compared with games, reality is unproductive. Games give us clearer missions and more satisfying, hands-on work
Better Hope of Success
Compared with games, reality is hopeless. Games eliminate our fear of failure and improve our chances for success
Stronger Social Connectivity
Compared with games, reality is disconnected. Games build stronger social bonds and lead to more active social networks. The more time we spend interacting within our social networks, the more likely we are to generate a subset of positive emotions known as "prosocial emotions"
Epic Scale
Compared with games, reality is trivial. Games make us a part of something bigger and give epic meaning to our actions
Wholehearted Participation
Compared with games, reality is hard to get into. Games motivate us to participate more fully in whatever we're doing
Meaningful Rewards When We Need Them Most
Compared with games, reality is pointless and unrewarding. Games help us feel more rewarded for making our best efforts
More Fun with Strangers
Compared with games, reality is lonely and isolating. Games help us band together and create powerful communities from scratch
Happiness Hacks
Compared with games, reality is hard to swallow. Games make it easier to take good advice and try out happier habits
A Sustainable Engagement Economy
Compared with games, reality is unsustainable. The gratifications we get from playing games are an infinitely renewable resource
More Epic Wins
Compared with games, reality is unambitious. Games help us define awe-inspiring goals and tackle seemingly impossible social missions together
Ten Thousand Hours Collaborating
Compared with games, reality is disorganized and divided. Games help us make a more concerted effort - and over time, they give us collaboration superpowers
Massive Multiplayer Foresight
Reality is stuck in the present. Games help us imagine and invent the future together
Important skills for solving large problems
Take a long view - look at scales far larger than we normally perceive
Ecosystem thinking - look at the problem as a complex web of interconnected and interdependent parts. Learn to perceive and anticipate how changes odd one aspect impact others.
Pilot experiments - design and run many small experiments to determine the best possible solutions.