When Games Invade Real Life

Beyond Facebook, beyond consoles and even computer screens, games are becoming the medium for everyday life, says game designer Jesse Schell. In all areas of life, consumers are attracted to authenticity, and this trend is also being realized in the gaming industry. Games are invading the real world--and the runaway popularity of Farmville and Guitar Hero is just the beginning, says Schell. He discusses the unexpected success of these games and others such as Wii and Club Penguin, noting that all of these games employ psychological tricks and move from the world of fantasy to reality. Schell makes a startling prediction: a future where people can earn “experience points“ from sensors tracking every part of our daily lives. He sees people earning points for walking or taking the bus, for example, which are transmitted to insurance companies for lower rates or the federal government for tax credits. Companies including Ford and Weight Watchers have already started using games and point systems to attract and re