Chapter 1 of Jane McGonigal’s Book reality is broken talks about what is a game and why people are so can devote so much time and energy to something, especially in things outside their own lives. She also talks about the four defining traits of games: a goal, rules, a feedback system, and voluntary participation. The lack of any more describing words shows how broad the definition of a “game” is. She talks about how games make us happy because nothing makes us happier than “good hard work,” which when I read at first I was taken aback, but after thinking about it, I realized that it makes sense! Starting to game is never easy, it requires a lot of “work” to become good, or finish a campaign mode; however, I never consider it as work, even though it really is. Games captivate you and keep you entertained, therefore, the work is fun, rather than a lot of the work you do in your everyday lives – like laundry or school work. In chapter 2 McGonigal starts talking about the science of happiness and how positive psychology shows that games stimulate the body and the mind.

Up until I was 13 I had stringent rules when it came to screen time and electronics, so the only “game” I played growing up was competitive tennis. Which really helped me become the person I am today. However my first time actually “gaming” was playing FIFA with a group of friends, we used to have tournaments and forfeits if we lost. Ever since then I have always loved the competitive nature of games, having that feiro for every goal or kill is a feeling I was drawn too. The way McGonigal describes a good game as an “ extremely powerful tool for inspiring participation and motivating hard work” is spot on. McGonigal also goes on to describe the type of work that each game could have. I personally feel that high stakes work is the most compelling out of the six purely because the thrill of success is addictive for me personally. What about everyone else?