Roadmap to the gamepocalypse

Editor's Notes

1. I gave this talk at DICE about how advances in sensing technology will make our entire lives an interconnected series of games. The most common reaction to this was, “Oh my God! It’s 1984!” But technically, it’s Brave New World.
2. We talk about “viral spread” of our games like that’s always a good thing. And it can be! We spread ideas we like for a small number of reasons. But, don’t forget, there are some viruses we don’t want! And once we get them, we take pains not to get them again! Social Networks are already turning into a kind of immune system, and people are building up natural immunodefensive reactions against bad viruses – which means, if you want to spread your game virally, it better be the GOOD kind of virus.
3. We talk about “viral spread” of our games like that’s always a good thing. And it can be! We spread ideas we like for a small number of reasons. But, don’t forget, there are some viruses we don’t want! And once we get them, we take pains not to get them again! Social Networks are already turning into a kind of immune system, and people are building up natural immunodefensive reactions against bad viruses – which means, if you want to spread your game virally, it better be the GOOD kind of virus.
4. We can’t drink, we can’t make out, all we can do is talk, point at media, and play games.
5. Did you rebel when TV commercial time grew from 13% to 36%? Did you rebel when logos showed up the corner of the TV, burning their brand into your brain every second that you watched? Did you rebel when Google started scanning every email you sent, to distract you with targeted ads?
6. Did you rebel when Shea Stadium turned into Citibank Stadium? If you did, it didn’t do any good! What makes you think this won’t happen with games?
7. We’re going to have some hard decisions to make.
8. And it won’t stop. The 21st century will be a constant battleground for our attention. Corporations will create games customized to fit each activity of our day, all day, every day.