Jane McGonigal on alternate-reality games (ARG)

Jane McGonigal - Image 1Gamasutra went in-depth with the “Queen Bee” of alternate reality games (ARG), Jane McGonigal. Named by MIT as one of the world’s top innovators under age 35, Jane talks about collective intelligence, ARGs and the future of gaming.

Jane has a degree in performance studies. She recently finished her PhD and left her job as a game designer at 42 Entertainment, realizing that research was her true passion. Performance studies is a field that sees performance as both an object of study and as a method of analysis. Jane’s background on this field lead her to “enspirit a place” in her games; to make them understanding and meaningful to the gamers.

The thing about games, Jane says, is that there are different norms everywhere. Gameplay isn’t the right answer in all situations. There’s a limit to gaming and gaming is not a completely inclusive mode of living. This is what the experience of “enspiriting” taught Jane.

Jane also talked of collective intelligence, an intelligence that comes out from a collaboration of many individuals, and seemingly has a mind of its own. In MMOs, Jane thinks that collective intelligence fits into the idea of people playing alone, together with other people. The real social interaction that happens on MMOs isn’t interacting with other players; but inhabiting the space together.

Jane’s new ARG, World Without Oil, starting April 30th, will make the players use any means necessary to drive the story, test the limits, and decide whatever the hell will happen to the game. Sound interesting isn’t it? We’ll see later how the game will turn out, before the world really runs out of oil…

Via Gamasutra

Jane McGonigal - Image 1Gamasutra went in-depth with the “Queen Bee” of alternate reality games (ARG), Jane McGonigal. Named by MIT as one of the world’s top innovators under age 35, Jane talks about collective intelligence, ARGs and the future of gaming.

Jane has a degree in performance studies. She recently finished her PhD and left her job as a game designer at 42 Entertainment, realizing that research was her true passion. Performance studies is a field that sees performance as both an object of study and as a method of analysis. Jane’s background on this field lead her to “enspirit a place” in her games; to make them understanding and meaningful to the gamers.

The thing about games, Jane says, is that there are different norms everywhere. Gameplay isn’t the right answer in all situations. There’s a limit to gaming and gaming is not a completely inclusive mode of living. This is what the experience of “enspiriting” taught Jane.

Jane also talked of collective intelligence, an intelligence that comes out from a collaboration of many individuals, and seemingly has a mind of its own. In MMOs, Jane thinks that collective intelligence fits into the idea of people playing alone, together with other people. The real social interaction that happens on MMOs isn’t interacting with other players; but inhabiting the space together.

Jane’s new ARG, World Without Oil, starting April 30th, will make the players use any means necessary to drive the story, test the limits, and decide whatever the hell will happen to the game. Sound interesting isn’t it? We’ll see later how the game will turn out, before the world really runs out of oil…

Via Gamasutra

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *