Erika Andersen, Contributor I cover how people & organizations
work, and how they can work better. We may have to put aside our
image of video gamers as jobless nerds living in their parents’
basements, playing Warcraft till 3 in the morning in robe and
slippers, surrounded by their beloved Star Wars action figures
collection. It now looks as though playing video games can help
you develop key skills and, in fact, support brain function. One
of the most interesting and thoughtful people focusing on the
benefits of gaming is Dr. Jane McGonigal, a game designer and
passionate advocate for, in her words, “games that are designed
to improve real lives and solve real problems.” In fact,
McGonigal is the inventor and cofounder of SuperBetter, a game
that over 100,000 people have used to tackle real-life health
challenges like depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and traumatic
brain injury. McGonigal and others argue that playing video
games can provide the following benefits: - They teach you how
to think critically,