Author of Reality Is Broken, Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, Jane McGonigal, gave an excellent presentation at ALA's opening session. Here are some interesting tidbits from her talk:

-We play a lot of games. 

-Games are engaging.

- Work and school is not engaging for a large number of people.

- The longer we stay in school the less engaged we become as we go from elementary to high school.

- Ten positive emotions- creativity, contentment awe & wonder, excitement, curiosity, pride, surprise, love, relief, joy

-No matter what is going on the gamer feels these positive emotions

-Engagement in life equals positive emotions which translate to an upward spiral of other positive things 

-Gamers spend 80% of time failing

-"The opposite of play isn't work, it's depression" Brian Sutton-Smith 

-Game play encourages optimism, Competence, Physiological energy

-Game play is the opposite of depression neurologically

-Scans show game play is opposite of neurological depression. 

-Every game gives a goal clearly

-Gaming develops Resilience as gamers are less likely to quit after failure

-There is no such thing as an educational or non educational game. They are ALL educational.

-Games treat depression better than Meds 

Sciencegames.org, foldit, eyewire, block by block, minecraft, Ora saves the forest, Whale song project whale fm, Valley of heroes created by Jane McGonigal   

-Goals are more possible when fueled by positive emotions