Do you ever find yourself motivated to do something right, or exceptional to impress others? Do you gain satisfaction from ‘winning’ over the acknowledgements of peers, family or friends? When most people think of games, they probably do not recognize these everyday feelings of motivation, accomplishment or fear as one. Whether one is conscious of these actions or not, these feelings and activities contain aspects of play.
When someone thinks of play, games like Call of Duty, Monopoly, or Football, may come to mind. However, play is present in everyday activities one participates in, allowing for the creation of their own game. Not only does one have the ability to create their own play in a given situation, but there are certain games that can benefit the player outside of the game and in the real world, enhancing their motivational skills, or teaching them something. Games such as depressionquest, and superbetter display the potential games have to teach and raise awareness about a neglected topic, or attempt to overall better someone’s life. The world of gaming is changing, and with it bringing beneficial changes in lives in a variety of ways.
