User Experience of Reality JANE MCGONIGAL, PhD game director @ the Institute for the Future

Reality is broken.

Reality is broken.

Games work better. Better instructions Better feedback Better emotions Better community

Games work better.

Better instructions

Better feedback

Better emotions

Better community

“ We are witnessing what amounts to no less than a global mass exodus to virtual worlds and other online gaming environments.” – economist Edward Castranova

“ We are witnessing what amounts to no less than a global mass exodus to virtual worlds and other online gaming environments.”

– economist Edward Castranova

It’s a quality of life problem. And quality of life is just another way of saying “ user experience of reality .”

It’s a quality of life problem.

And quality of life is just another way of saying “ user experience of reality .”

So what is the future of reality UX ?

So what is the future of reality UX ?

What humans crave: 1. satisfying work to do 2. the experience of being good at something 3. time spent with people we like 4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

The Quality of Life Index The Happy Planet Index “ Gross National Happiness” Subjective Life Satisfation The Canadian Index of Well-Being World’s Most Livable Cities The Vanderford Riley Well Being Schedule The Authentic Happiness Inventory

The Quality of Life Index

The Happy Planet Index

“ Gross National Happiness”

Subjective Life Satisfation

The Canadian Index of Well-Being

World’s Most Livable Cities

The Vanderford Riley Well Being Schedule

The Authentic Happiness Inventory

Are UX designers in the happiness business? YES YOU ARE!!!

Are UX designers in the happiness business?

YES YOU ARE!!!

A future forecast ( 2013 ): the rise of the h appiness engineers

Quality of life becomes the primary metric for evaluating interactive brands, services, environments, and experiences.* *see TARA HUNT – “Happiness is your new business model”

Quality of life becomes the primary metric for evaluating interactive brands, services, environments, and experiences.*

*see TARA HUNT – “Happiness is your new business model”

Positive psychology is increasingly a principal, explicit influence on interactive design and development.

Positive psychology is increasingly a principal, explicit influence on interactive design and development.

Communities form around different visions of a real life worth living .

Communities form around different visions of a real life worth living .

Good user experience is defined as a measurable increase in real happiness, or well-being – the new capital .

Good user experience is defined as a measurable increase in real happiness, or well-being – the new capital .

By 2013, Reality UX design is the leading-edge of happiness engineering .

By 2013, Reality UX design is the leading-edge of happiness engineering .

Multiplayer games are the ultimate happiness engines .

Multiplayer games

are the

ultimate happiness engines .

What humans crave: 1. satisfying work to do 2. the experience of being good at something 3. time spent with people we like 4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

Alternate Reality Gaming

Happiness = participation in every possible moment. In other words, ENGAGEMENT .

WE WILL HARNESS OUR COGNITIVE SURPLUS . * 100 million mental hours  WIKIPEDIA 5 days of World of Warcraft 4 episodes of American Idol *read CLAY SHIRKY

100 million mental hours  WIKIPEDIA

5 days of World of Warcraft

4 episodes of American Idol

*read CLAY SHIRKY

WE WILL HARNESS OUR COGNITIVE SURPLUS . * 100 million mental hours  WIKIPEDIA 5 days of World of Warcraft OR, 1 season of American Idol votes

100 million mental hours  WIKIPEDIA

5 days of World of Warcraft

OR, 1 season of American Idol votes

We will increasingly operate within an economy of of engagement.

the L O ST ring

the L O ST ring Improved Reality UX for the 2008 Olympics!

So wh at’s important? Reality is broken. Games work better. You, the UX designers , are our best hope for fixing reality -- IF you choose to harness the power of games .

So wh at’s important?

Reality is broken.

Games work better.

You, the UX designers , are our best hope for fixing reality --

IF you choose to harness the power of games .

What humans crave: 1. satisfying work to do 2. the experience of being good at something 3. time spent with people we like 4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

So what’s important?

STEAL THIS SLIDE! Nicole Lazzaro – www.xeodesign.com Edward Castranova – Exodus from Reality Tara Hunt – www.horsepigcow.com BJ Fogg – www.bjfogg.com Gamasutra - www.gamasutra.com Alternate Reality Gaming Network - www.argn.com Jane McGonigal - www.avantgame.com

Nicole Lazzaro – www.xeodesign.com

Edward Castranova – Exodus from Reality

Tara Hunt – www.horsepigcow.com

BJ Fogg – www.bjfogg.com

Gamasutra - www.gamasutra.com

Alternate Reality Gaming Network - www.argn.com

Jane McGonigal - www.avantgame.com

www.SUPERSTRUCTGAME.org Sign up NOW , play Sept 22 – Nov 6 2008