me: Jane McGonigal chat
Jonathan: YES!!
me: So what do you think of her so far?
Jonathan: So, happiness is the new capital?
me: Is that sarcasm?
Jonathan: I really think her ideas are innovative
me: Because she’s awesome
Hahah okay good
I really love that she is talking about how happiness is defined
Jonathan: yes, it’s really neat to think that gaming is kind of changing how people use new media like this
me: Yes and I think its fascinating that she is talking about creating a space that enhances reality instead of the other way around
which is usually how its viewed
Jonathan: right…like taking gaming into life
me: and she talks about what games give people that real life doesn’t
Jonathan: it’s also interesting to see that she’s not only focused on happiness per se, but on all human emotion
me: she just admitted that she personally doesn’t get certain things out of real life
but does in games
Jonathan: right, so we are kind of living vicariously through these games? do you think that might be a little harmful?
me: well yes i think there are always risks of losing touch with reality
but i think because gaming is relatively new
that’s a concern
they said the same thing about tv
they’re still saying it about the internet
heck they said it about the beatles and rock music sort of in the same vein
Jonathan: well, she’s mentioning how people are using gaming to create community where they may not otherwise be able to
me: there! she just said she’s not an alarmist and is not critical of kids playing these games for hours and hours and hours
“we are witnessing what amounts to no less than a global mass exodus to virtual worlds…”
Jonathan: so it’s really just the same as finding friends through the internet with common interests
me: yes and then it creates an online economy and basically, just life
on your terms
Jonathan: I think it really allows people with an opportunity to learn how to learn things they can’t find in schools, regular life, etc
me: an MMO player spends an average of 16 hrs per week
she just said
yeah that’s a good point, its filling in the gaps
Jonathan: right
me: Oh that’s awesome how she again said lets take what we love about gaming and bring it into the new world so we’re not escaping all the time
“for many gamers today, in terms of perceived quality of life, virtuality is beating reality”
“i look at it as a moral and ethical obligation to take the lives of people who are missing out on adventures and give them an adventure”
Sent at 2:25 PM on Tuesday
Jonathan: Yay for technology

{ at this point Jon realizes that he needs to plug in his computer because he is almost out of battery life, and he dashes off}

me: cool where did you find an outlet?
can you see the stage?
Jonathan: (I just had to move to an outlet – laptop was dying)
I really like what she’s talking about gaming that actually allows you to help people, like giving people wishes, turning the world into a game
I can barely see the stage [smile] that’s fine though
me: that’s amazing
that game she just talked about
GROUNDCREW
with the gps
and being in places in the world while playing and interaction online with other users
Jonathan: yes, it seems like it’s making things that would be previously impossible into reality
me: and having interaction with people online and they tell you how to help people in the area you’re in
oooh check out these kill slides! [from Jane McGonigal’s powerpoint presentation]
games kill boredom
games kill alienation
games kill anxiety
games kill depression
Jonathan: don’t you think that this may be just hiding the problem instead of actually solving the underlying problem though?
Sent at 2:32 PM on Tuesday
Jonathan: She’s saying they are used as a part of life, and not really as an escape
me: YEAH
Jonathan: so I think it’s justified

[Jon and I sidetrack here as Jane expounds on some definitions]

me: have you been to the screen burn room yet?
Jonathan: no I have not, I’m not sure what that is, can you tell me more?
Sent at 2:34 PM on Tuesday
me: ok apparently we have a room here
somewhere in the conference
where its basically an arcade
of cool developing videogames
cindy said its awesome and we should go
they close at 6
so i might skip a panel to go check it out or leave one early or something
Sent at 2:36 PM on Tuesday
me: sorry its called the screenburn arcade
Jonathan: Ohh right, I really want to make a point of going there
I saw it Sunday
I haven’t been in there though
we’ll go after this!
me: yeah and i want to see the legos too\
and the interactive playpen
and shoot some video in there and take some pics
Jonathan: http://2008.sxsw.com/img/ia/jane_mcgonigal125.jpg
by the way, that Jane is a looker
Sent at 2:39 PM on Tuesday
Jonathan: Adapt, react, re-adapt, apt
me: hahaha yes she’s super cute
i like what she’s saying about failing
the game environment allowing people to fail without fear
and how gamers have developed that SKILL
and it would be useful in the real world
NICE!
i was just arguing that with someone the other day
about how being a gamer you learn to filter out all kinds of distractions and that too, is a skill
i love this chick!
Jonathan: haha that is really interesting to think about, I guess I haven’t really thought of that before
me: its also a bad thing for me sometimes though because i totally filter out things i maybe shouldn’t
i like that she is talking about the community of gaming
all the other panels i’ve been to, they are very adamant about separating communities within genres and worse, genders
Jonathan: Another interesting technique gaming developers are using is open-authorship. It’s a really innovative technique. As they develop this openness, users feel like they play a larger role in creating the gaming experience and being more actively involved in the process. It also helps with a sense of being part of a larger thing
kind of like the whole being greater than the sum of each part, but it;’s more than that
me: yeah its really wholistic
holistic
which is it ha i am listening and typing at the same time this is rad
Jonathan: you are asking the wrong person
haha
me: good thing neither of us taught mc1313
[smile]
hahahaha
Jonathan: WOW are you listening to this neurotransmitter?
me: she has a theory for a game that involves people she hates
so she can destroy them with her brain
that’s awesome
not theory, idea rather
it reminds me of when i played oregon trail in elementary school and named the characters after my friends that I was mad at and then one of them would get dysentery and I’d be like HA serves you right!
Jonathan: this neurotransmitter stuff is very interesting – it hooks up to your brain that can tell if you’re angry
whilst you are playing a game
me: yeah that’s amazing
and all that stuff she was saying about gps gaming too
gps seems to be a recurring theme in her keynote
gps gaming rather
rather*
‘okay here’s her important stuff slides
1. soon enough, most of us will be in the happiness business
Jonathan: heh
I’ll get the next one
me: 2. games designers have a huge head start
oh oops
you got the next two
Jonathan: good job, I couldn’t see the screen anyway
haha
me: ok ill get them
you can do the commentary
3. alternate realities signal the desire, need and opportunity for all of us to redesign reality for higher quality of life
Jonathan: this can really improve our realities, since a lot of times, like we talked about earlier, our lives often have gaps that need to be filled
ask her a quesiton
Q&A
me: her email is jane@avantgame.com for all reading our blog that want to contact her
gosh
my question i want to know is so dumb
i want to stalk her after the speech so i can ask her
Jonathan: haha I think you should ask it
the question just asked is “Does gaming prevent war?”
me: yeah I should
Jonathan: while the military has been creating games to help with their skills and stuff, but she doesn’t think this is the best direction for turning gaming into reality…but it lets people do things they may not actually do
me: that’s interesting that she is talking about where the line is blurred…what kind of realities are we talking about and where is the line ethically and artistically?
Jonathan: She thinks games might actually prevent wars and physical violence
me: i do
i know there are times i wanna smack somebody but i’ll play mortal kombat instead. And then im zennnn. Plus I’ve solved lots of arguments by playing smash brothers against someone. I always win.
Jonathan: Next quesiton “To what extent does gaming/blogging substitute things from your life?”
me: interesting she is talking about how it worries her when gamers replace reality with gaming
some people have opted out of reality
that’s fascinating
Jonathan: right
so far a lot of ARGs are narrative driven and less interactive with actual people
she is addressing this statement now
me: yeah
Jonathan: She’s giving an example of how people just jumped out of a car and did the Soulja boy dance
I’m not sure how she answered that question
Haha

[At this point, the audience convinces Jane to end her keynote with a solja boy dance. We have footage of this hilarious moment…to come}

me: cindy and i are going to try to get the video of the end when she does it on stange
stage
Jonathan: lol
awesome
me: kerri is obsessed with that song
she knows the dance
i hate it
Jonathan: oh i really despise it as well
it is so nasty
!!
me: cindy and i just talked about how cool she is and how we’d like to have an alternate reality game where we’re her
Jonathan: lol
me: hahaha yes it is nasty
Jonathan: i just literally laughed out loud
me: i can’t help but feel all WOMEN POWER!! listening to her
Jonathan: and the girl next to me gave me a “look”
me: hahaha oh goodness
me: see i knew that lost ring thing they showed was what Kristen had for news last week in class
me: ohh i love this question
Jonathan: you would
please tell us what this question is?
me: how do you reconcile the fact that you’re creating a game like the lost ring which is sponsored by a huge corporation-mcdonalds with the fact that you’re in the happiness business as you say.
Jonathan: ohh that is a good one
me: yes and i like that she talks about the purpose of the art and not who pays the bills
Jonathan: right, and if it gets out there to a mass audience, all the better
me: that those partnerships are necessary for artists in today’s ‘ecosystem’ so that they can make and we can be subjected to—-this art.
yeah im all about mcdonald’s paying for my gaming stuff
just subsidize the cost for me a lil puhleeze (woop woop chris Anderson)
[smile]
i like that she’s both an academic and a gamer
Jonathan: The most powerful thing about art is that once you’ve had an experience with it, it changes your perspective and allows you to see life in a different way. It’s like you’re changed forever. I think this is true, especially when you’re able to “go” different places and experience new sports and things through gaming
me: yeah that’s really a great way to experience and i don’t think most people have respect for it, reality is overrated.
Jonathan: While it may not be the same as “real life” you are still learning a lot
me: okay i totally did not understand this last question
so you down for the burn room or screenburn room after this?
Jonathan: yes
me: excellente!!
me: i have 15% left on my laptop.
Jonathan: ain’t nothing to it but to do it!
me: girlfriend needs an outlet soon
Jonathan: ohh, I’m at 37% now
Sent at 3:07 PM on Tuesday
me: what?
what’s happening?
what did that guy just ask?
Jonathan: no idea
me: lolz
Jonathan: I think a lot of this panel can be summed up with what she just said.”The whole world shouldn’t be a game, but gaming provides a type of engagement that is better than disengagement”
me: yes
excellent quote
she’s very thoughtful
Jonathan: too bad she’s married
me: lolz
Jonathan: she’s too cool for me anyway
ohh, I bet you really like this question
me: yes!
haha no she loves you
she’s all about you, i can tell
Jonathan: lol thanks
TWIN sister!?
me: hey shes got a twin!
Jonathan: well, maybe she’s free
me: you’re still in the game my man
Jonathan: nice (in a kevin malone tone)
okay, time for Soulja boy
Sent at 3:13 PM on Tuesday

Jonathan is offline. Messages you send will be delivered when Jonathan comes online.
Dee Kapila and Jon Zmikly