Gaming Can Make a Better World & Why We Play

In the film we watched in class, "Gaming Can Make a Better World" and the reading "Why we Play" both talk about the motives behind why we play games and more specifically video games. Although they are two different authors and perspectives the motives are generally the same for the reasons on why we play. One way both stories compare are when they talk about goals, challenges, an rewards. In the reading why we play the author explains that we play these video games because while we are playing we are being motivated to reach a certain goal or reward. This concept also compares to the video we watched when Jane McGonial talks about an "epic win". She defines an epic win as an extraordinary outcome that the player had no idea could happen.The two of these motives relate because the video gamers are trying to reach a goal or reward when playing which motivates them to play longer. Another motive that are covered in booth stories are social contact and social fabric. In the reading,  social contact is described as a motive we are drawn to because it allows us to put ourselves in a world where we are able to play with anyone and everyone and even communicate with them as well. McGonial talks about the social fabric which is generally the same motive which is explaining how we like people more or better after playing a game with them because we develop some sort of trust. Trust and the fun we have with online friends are the reason behind the motivation of playing these games. Finally, a motive that also compares among the reading and video are fantasy and game world. Why do we play describes the fantasy world as a place where we are able to be any type of person we want to be and portray any image we want people to see. The fantasy world allows people to use their imagination to be someone we have always wanted to be and never were able to in the real world. This type of motivation is talked about in McGonigal's video but is described as the "game world". Game world is the best versions of ourselves. This is the same as fantasy, in which they are both who we are in the game world. Were motivated to create these characters and continue playing because it allows us to be in our dream world and control and dictate what does happen and how it does.