Would life be better if it was a video game? This ode to the ideas of Jane McGonigal lists 5 ways in which games are better than real life. It shows a few examples of applying game theory to help solve real-world problems. I presented this at UX Waterloo's 7-Minute Soapbox event in March 2011.

1. Life isshould be a game Read this book.

2. We’d always have a clear goal Photo by slworking2 via Flickr

3. We’d get better instructions Photo by slworking2 via Flickr

4. Our failures would be less costly Photo by Etolane via Flickr

5. We’d receive clear feedback Photo by The Rocketeer via Flickr

6. We’d feel a sense of progress Photo by Danielle Scott via Flickr

7. Games are better

8. Games can make US better

12. 68% of Americans in the past 2 weeks

13. Wikipedia has taken 100 million mental hours to build That’s only 5 days of World of Warcraft

14. +1 Presenter Power Harness that mental energy:Design games thatchange the world!