Grab Your Wii, Save the World

While lounging around on a lazy Sunday, flipping through my July issue of Elle Magazine, I came across an article that grabbed my attention. I am talking "I see new fall boots and chunky sweaters in my path" kind of attention, "Hunger Game trailer & Cast" kind of attention, and in this day in age, that's pretty legit attention. So when Jane McGonigal's profile was suddenly in my reading path (yes, I like to read magazines from front to back, no detail is spared on me) I sat up and really started reading. Note: Usually Fashion magazines are meant for perusing the latest looks, ripping out items to covet, and overall aesthetically please me - EXCEPT for Vanity Fair which I will argue always has great news stories that are truly informative (Plus, Little Gold Men Blog, what's not to love?). Anyways, I digress, let's talk about Jane's ridiculously amusing slash rather persuasive theory - "Gaming Can Make a Better World"

I kid you not - this woman is arguing that video games will ultimately teach gamers and therefore society how to overcome disastrous scenarios such as Hunger, Poverty, & Lack of Resources (check out her latest gaming feat 'World Without Oil'). Yes, the video games you watch your little brother playing endlessly engaged in some kind of epic war battle or all important football game, those are the games she is referring to. Video Games. Xbox, Wii, Playstation. These machines that have sucked the life out of boyfriends for hours and pimply teenagers in basements, they are going to save us all from our self destructive path in REAL life.

So what did I do mid article? Well I of course ran to my iPad, lightly touched my TED app, and immersed myself in her 15 minute speech about why this theory works. Why playing video games turns gamers into highly motivated, self confident, trusting individuals who make strategic decisions in confined environments. The more I listened, well, the more I believed.

But check it out yourself. Meanwhile, it's time for me to buy that Wii since it will eventually teach me the skills to survival in a world with dying resources. Jane McGonigal - I am a believer.