Wow.
I just stumbled across the video embedded below on Kevin Fox’s Fox @ Fury blog, which if technology is of any interest, is well worth a visit and a thorough browsing.
I don’t consider myself a serious “gamer” (not by any stretch), and I don’t know what prompted me to watch this presentation – but watch it I did – and I felt compelled to share! I think you’ll find it fascinating, thought provoking, and well worth the 20minutes or so it takes to watch from end-to-end. Don’t be surprised if you find the speaker, game developer Jesse Schell, on a TED talk at some point in future.
As a marketer, I pay attention to what’s going on on Facebook. Or so I thought. As it turns out, I’ve had a massive blind spot: Facebook Games. I tend to view them as an annoyance, and ignore them. But according to Schell, there are more Farmville players than there are twitter users(!). And Facebook games are turning the gaming industry’s collective head. It certainly has Schell’s attention. He calls the phenomenon “Big, strange and terrifying… or at least unexpected”.
Other notably unexpected (and insightful) game stories discussed are Club Penguin, Wii and Wii Fit, Guitar Hero, Webkinz, X-Box “Achievements”, and Mafia Wars. What do they have in common? Psychological tricks… gamers are getting gamed; kids and adults alike. I don’t want to steal any of Schell’s thunder on the subject. Watch and learn.
Once you get past the probable anger about how these games have been designed to manipulate us – to part us from our hard-earned money – I think you’ll be fascinated by the other common thread. Every single one of these games is breaking through to reality in some interesting way. Everything is suddenly about reality, just like “Reality TV” and “Organic Food” – “Avatar” – all in reaction to being cut off from nature and self-sufficiency, according to Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want
So where is it all heading? Watch the video and level-up. I’m certain you’ll agree the ending was worth every minute. Either way, I would love to hear your thoughts!
