Video Games & Real World Problems

In today's class, we talked about how video games can have a tremendous influence on the lives of gamers and on society as well. Within the article “Wii Shall Overcome,” Dave Gilson discusses Jane McGonigal and why she believes that playing video games can be used in order to solve real world problems. McGonigal stresses the idea that video games can give people “ a sense of accomplishment, meaning, and productivity, gamers are creating a new breed of 'super-empowered hopeful individuals,' poised to transition from saving virtual worlds to saving the real one” (Gilson). Even though McGonigal supports her theory with many valid points, it is hard to believe that playing video games can solve real problems that the world faces today, such as climate change, health problems, violence, and war.

Even though I am skeptical to believe that video games can solve all of the real world's problems, I do believe that video games can indeed have a positive influence on those who play them. There are different kinds of video games that can each affect gamers in various ways. Multi-player video games can encourage cooperation and build teamwork skills among players. Educational video games can encourage and make learning fun. Video games can also prove to enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills.

McGonigal believes that these skills, that can be acquired through playing video games, are important in solving problems. I would agree that these types of skills are crucial in problem solving. However, instead of promoting people to spend thousands and even millions of hours gaming, I think that we should encourage people to actually strive to solve these problems in reality versus in the fantasy world of video games.