Humans tend to mimic those whom they are surrounded with, and studies show that game-players tend to develop similar patterns of thoughts and actions when they spend time together and play games. Video games make people feel more connected to those they play with. However, you must not let yourself do this.Īllies surround you at all times – you just have to find them. When people face big challenges, they can easily fall into the trap of starting to feel alone and isolated. They do help you build mental, emotional, physical and social resilience. It is true what people say: that hard times will make you toucher. These two forms of development result from going through hard times. However, not only trauma leads to growth – you can induce it yourself, by overcoming challenges on your own, which is called post ecstatic growth. Instead, it can be used as a catalyst for growth and for a more fulfilling and happier everyday experiences. So, she created this game that is designed to help people whenever they feel overwhelmed with problems.Īnd it has to thank two human phenomena for its success: post-traumatic grown and post estatic growth.Ĭontrary to what you may believe trauma does not always have long-lasting negative consequences on human life. She wanted to get not just better, but SuperBetter, and realized that creating a game was the way to go, since people do not feel stressed when they overcome challenges through a game. The author came up with this idea, while she was recovering from a brain injury. So, why not use games to your advantage, instead of criticizing them? “Superbetter Summary”ĭo you think they are just a way to escape reality and waste time that could be otherwise spent on other, more important things that could actually improve the quality of people’s lives?īecause games are fun, and people love doing fun things. She is an author, a Director of Games Research and Development at the Institute of the Future in Palo Alto, California and a creator of alternate reality games. Jane McGonigal is a researcher on game perception and game development. Games are happening, and we cannot fight them, so why not find out how we can use them to improve our lives? About Jane McGonigal

It is a guideline for people who have undergone trauma and are looking for ways to heal, as well as all others who feel that games are a waste of time. “SuperBetter” is a book about games, and the impact they have, as well as the impact they could have on our lives. 5 min read ⌚ The Power of Living GamefullyĬontrary to what you may believe, this is not that bad.

Super Better by Jane McGonigal