April 1st: Google launched a worldwide game based on Pokemon
1) Usually, I do not play a lot of social games because I quickly feel bored about a game. The only one I keep playing is Candy Crush. I also began to use Duolingo but I stopped. We can definitely design Duolingo in order to make it more engaging. In fact, Duolingo is a game that allows the user to learn a new language step by step, that is why it has more an educational purpose that we could make even more important. As for Candy Crush, I do not think it is possible to design it in a non-game contexts for it is a game that aims to provide entertainment. When I play a game, my motivations are not completely different from the ones cited in McGonical's talk that is to say to "tackle tough challenges for more creativity, more determination, more optimism and we are more likely to reach out others for help". Actually I play a game to tackle challenges but also to have entertainment.
2) For April 1st, Google launched a game on its Google Maps App on iPhone and Android. The game refers to the game Pokemon. Actually, the users can find more than 150 Pokemons all around the world. When I first learnt aout this game, I was very curious, so I downloaded the app and started playing. Even if it happened today, we already know that this ramification was a success. By looking on the social media, we can see many positives comments, or articles shared about the topic. Plus, I have seen many people playing this game today and enjoying it. Some of my friends who tried were completely addicted. Here is the link of the video presenting the game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k This game, which will end on April 2 at 2 PDT, aims to first make the users download the app, and then look for the best player and offer him a job starting on September 2014. The Google Maps Game actually refers to several types of resilience that McGonigal identified in her talk such as Mental Resilience, Emotional Resilience and Social Resilience. This game allows the users to review their geography by looking for Pokemons all around the world. Besides, it allows the users to share their experiences with their friends, that is the reason why it also refers to Social Resilience. As for the Emotional Resilience, many users or "gamers" have known Pokemon for years and this game reminds them of their childhood or their hobbies after a day at work.
3) As we could have seen in the Google Map example, in order to be successful, a game needs to be entertaining and needs to provide good content. It needs to refer to the Social and the Mental Resilience in the meantime. This way, the students can learn from the game, while sharing with their classmates. I do not think that the Physical Resilience is needed in this game, but I do believe that the Emotional Resilience should also be included. In order to be involved in the game, the students need to find something that will entails an emotional reaction, such as a souvenir or something else.
