Let’s Play a Game!

For my Infographics class, I had to play a game.  The lesson started with a TED talk by a game designer, Jane McGonigal, which was an eye-opener for me — more than any lesson we’ve had so far.  I had always thought that gamers were anti-social, over-stimulated, a little bit obsessed, and well, weird.  Why play a game when you can go on a hike or read a book or play with your kids?  But, when McGonigal explained how she suffered a traumatic brain injury, lied in bed wanting to die and how a game changed her life, she got my attention.  When she talked about the scientific evidence behind how games help your brain — rather than hurting it with over-stimulating, as I had thought — I was hooked.  I played Logic Games when I was studying for the LSAT a few years ago and I will do anything I can do to keep creating pathways in my brain and helping it to stay sharp.  The emotional and social effects of gaming also intrigued me. And the infographics detailing how many gamers play with their families and/or spouses shattered the image of gamers being anti-social.  I’m not totally convinced that video games are better for you than say, a game of Chess or Scrabble, but I want to learn more.

Then, I watched the videos on the creation of Journey and Monument Valley and I really wanted to hear more of the music and see more of the artwork in Journey.  And I think that Monument Valley could be a game I play with my daughter.

I played SuperBetter, the game by Jane McGonigal and in the game, I saw it more of an interaction with my life coach or CrossFit coach.  I battled bad guys like the Coping Cactus by an act of self care (drinking a glass of water) and the Lazy Exercise Robbers by taking a flight of stairs instead of the elevator and gave myself emotional support (hugging myself and speaking life-giving words over myself).  These activities create habits, which create a lifestyle and in community, gives you the accountability you need to keep going.  I invited some close friends to join the game with me and I look forward to playing it often.

Finally, I researched effects of gaming and found a recent Forbes article that cited a 2015 study at the University of California, Irvine that found gamers who played 3D games had better hippocampal-related memory.  (The hippocampus is the part of the brain that helps spatial memory and the transition from short-term to long-term memory.) [Video Games Are Good For Your Brain, Forbes magazine, Kevin Anderton, May 16, 2017]

Now, all I need is a Play Station so I can play Journey and Monument Valley. I had no idea that gaming could be good for my brain or that the artwork and music in a game would be so beautiful! I can’t wait to play!