About this episode
Games! Play! Fun! Addiction? Flim-flam? From the origins of tabletop classics to the future of VR, Dr. Jane McGonigal answers our burning questions. This video game developer, TED speaker and bestselling author is an expert on how playing -- and especially video games -- can motivate, soothe and connect us. Will video games turn your child into a future car thief? How do they make you stronger? How much is too much? What about slot machines? Everyone who loves games (and everyone who hates games) should hear this one. Dr. McGonigal’s website and Bluesky Dr. McGonigal’s book “ Imaginable ” A donation went to AbleGamers Full-length (*not* G-rated) Ludology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, masks, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Zeke Thomas Rodrigues & Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media Made possible by work from Mercedes Maitland , Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Emily White, & Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.