I am reading Jane McGonigal’s book “Reality is Broken, Why Games Make Us Better And How They Can Change The World.” Actually as of this moment, I have made it to the Introduction.
In the Introduction Edward Castronova has this to say:
“Anyone who sees a hurricane coming should warn others. I see a hurricane coming.
“Over the next generation or two, even larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While we are playing, things we used to do on the outside, in “reality,” won’t be happening anymore, or won’t be happening in the same way. You can’t pull millions of person-hours out of a society without creating an atmospheric-level event.
“If it happens in a generation, I think the twenty-first century will see a social cataclysm larger than that caused by cars, radios, and TV, combined. . . . The exodus of these people from the real world, from our normal daily life, will create a change in social climate that makes global warming look like a tempest in a teacup”
Very stimulating material.
Given the mad dash to assemble resources for the upcoming Prosperity Path game release, Prosperity Path was rumbling around the space between my ears while I read the above passages.
I have played Neverwinter Nights, Guild Wars, and World of War Craft (and many other games as well). I have experienced how these games can consume time that might otherwise be used in “real life”. Please don’t think I’m complaining or making an accusation. I am definitely not saying this is good, nor am I saying this is bad. Just an observation that these games had the specific effect of redirecting my attention into the game and things of the game. To the extent that I would find myself walking around doing “real” things such as grocery shopping while thinking about what was, is, or will be happening in the game. Again, I am not taking a stand on is this good or bad. Just observing that it happens.
With the Prosperity Path Orbs, the attention is directed back into “real life”. The time spent in the game is being used as a tool to enhance one’s experience of life. For example, if someone wishes to have more love in their life, to experience love more, then running the Love orb might be the prescription. The Love game is not used as a substitute. It is used as a tool. Which means that while one is running it, there is the ever present notion that “I am doing this to modify my life experience.” Which further means that after one finishes playing the game the attention is sharply focused on “real life” as one looks for evidence of “it worked.”
So instead of looking for substitute love in the Love orb, one uses the Love orb as a tool to stimulate the finding of love in one’s life — in all aspects of one’s life. I can imagine a situation where someone could run the Love orb in order to help them find love in WoW. <lol> That would not be a bad thing. That would simply be how it is for that person.
I guess you could say that I was happy to have the idea pop into my head that the Prosperity Path orbs were actually helping to enhance “reality” rather than take away from it.
Before closing, I should confess that to my way of thinking it is all reality (or none of it is reality). Some days I’m not sure which.