More Fun with Strangers
When I was just getting started in Settlers I was getting a friend request once in a while. I friended everyone that made requests to me, as per Dr. Lambert’s instructions. After I had been playing settlers 3 weeks or so I received a friend request from a person I did not know and accepted it. The next thing I knew there were 100 people in my navigation bar, when there had only been eight. I had been accepted into a guild without realizing it. Right away the interface of the game came to life as though someone else had taken over the game. In a way they did. I was receiving buffs, which I had not experienced real-time before. I thought I had a virus! I received welcoming IMs from the guild, and it was actually quite satisfying once I figured out what had happened. I belonged to a group, where before I was timid and didn’t really understand how to interact with other players.
When I interviewed the person who created our guild for Fix 5-6, he mentioned that he wanted me to interact more with the guild. So I have been. I have made friends with a few of the daily players as I tried to find some common ground and a way to interact with them. They give me help with leveling up once in a while, and they trade with me when I need it. To be honest, most of the time we joke around. I am too poor to trade. They are intelligent people (and I think many are retired teachers), so the conversations are stimulating and entertaining. We have shared some personal information, although I am leery of sharing too much. I did tell them where I live (Michigan) and that it is cold. That in itself can build a bit of a relationship between people as those who also live in the same latitude can identify with the challenges of climate. After the guild founder discovered that I am a student, much of our dialogue relates to my classes and how I am doing. What exams I’m taking, that most of them never want to go back to school. An actual quote from a guild member was “been there, done that, not doing it again”. I feel at home in my guild, just as if I were talking to my f2f friends and neighbors. It is an impressive feat, considering that I have only talked to them for a couple of weeks. Long-lasting alliances exist in the guild, which are apparent as I read posts between other players. As I said earlier, some have actually met f2f because of the game.
Participating in games to build relationships is not a new concept. People have been gaming as teams for millennia. In sports, players do not know much about their team until they practice together and interact. I find that McGonigal’s approach to gaming for the 9the Fix, “Fun With Strangers”, however, is refreshing and dynamic. She takes real world problems into consideration and creates solutions that allow people to share common interests in order to relieve the feeling of isolation. I am particularly impressed with the “Bounce” game. I experience some of the same sharing when I visit my father-in-law who is in the nursing home, and I know first-hand that the older folks there are bored, lonely and love to tell great stories. It seems like a 20 year difference is just about the right difference in age for older people to teach each other about the past and for younger people really listen to the stories they have in common. Maybe we tune out people that are either our age or close to it, but I have found that kids will listen to older folks rather than their parents, teachers or sibs. I, myself have connected with the older people at the home in the same way as McGonigal mentions in “Bounce” without the benefit of a game that breaks the ice. The older folks have lived a full life and like to share their memories if you give them a chance. They need the interaction too. She is right, they are neglected.
Having fun with strangers sounds like a blast and almost like a flash mob type of thing. I am positive that if I were 18 now, I would try it just to know the experience. I like the idea of the “Comfort of Strangers” game, but I would still be a bit conservative about who I played with. For instance, I would not want to play with complete strangers but would be open to playing with other students from UT. The “Ghost of a Chance” game is right up my alley, as I am artist and a lover of all things creative. It is a wonderful way to interact with what the Smithsonian has to offer and learn more in general.
Happiness Hacks
I have experienced random buffs from friends, which is most welcome and makes me feel like I’m loved. I haven’t received gifts, but I have sent them out. In Fix 10, “Happiness Hacking” I found myself thinking about the movie “Pay It Forward”, where a very sick child wants everyone to perform random acts of kindness. I totally agree with McGonigal that providing ways to be good to each other in a game brings a certain harmony to it. It brings out the best in people and lays a ground-work for positive interaction. Research now shows that being positive and having a positive attitude actually helps with depression, improves physical health and helps to fight cancer. Who knew?
My son arrived home from school today and informed me that his crazy teachers did the Harlem Shake at their school assembly. What a hoot! I wonder if it's on YouTube yet? Well, of course it is!
Just heard from one of my students, Harlem Shake Flash mob at the Mall today @3:00.
1 comment:
You seem like you were way ahead of the game by having almost all of your camps defeated! I still have a lot of bandit camps on my island. I have been struggling to produce enough goods to keep up a pace that allows me to train my troops, but you seem to have it down well! From Fix 1-2, it sounds like you joined a guild early on – I wish I would have done that!
I was also stuck, like you mention in Fix 3-4. Luckily for me, someone in my guild “adopted” me as his wingman. He taught me all about adventures – every few days we go on a new one together, and he teaches me a little more. It has been a great learning experience, but I have to work really hard between adventures to build up my troops. But if it wasn’t for this player, I probably would still be stuck at a lower level and not have much motivation to level up. If you are still stuck, let me know when a good time is for you and we can go on an adventure together!
I love having my extra general! It is definitely needed if you go on adventures!
I agree that the game did not have much direction at the beginning. The goals were outlined, but I wasn’t sure how to achieve them. Luckily I have Google to help me, because I also think the Help wasn’t much help.
I really like the point that your interviewee made – that the game doesn’t force players to level up. I never thought about that before, but it is a good feature of the game. It allows players to move at their own pace, which is something that isn’t true about reality.
Like you, I find it fascinating that gaming helps people who have suffered a TBI. I myself have had 3 head injuries, which are the reason I have to visit the neurologist for frequent check ups. Part of what I have been told is to challenge my brain daily – so I like to think that my playing Settlers does just that (or at least that’s what I keep telling myself when I know I should stop playing and go to bed!). It’s interesting that something so fun can be so healthy for our brains.
Did you try Chore Wars with your family? I’m curious to know if it worked – I was telling someone about it at work last week. I downloaded the Superbetter app and thought it was pretty neat.
That’s awesome that you have built good relationships with your guild members! I see the same members in my guild are online every day, so day after day, we also have gotten to know each other well. It’s fun to see the same people on every day.
The ending of your Fix 9-10 past made me laugh! You’re so funny ☺ Did you participate in the Harlem Shake Flash Mob at the mall???
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