Jane McGonigal

Jane McGonigal is a world-renowned author and game designer whose work has had an immense influence on the gaming world. She is best known for her groundbreaking book, Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. In this work, she explores the power of gaming to not only entertain and engage us, but also to effect real-world change.

McGonigal was born in Summit, New Jersey, and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended the Yale School of Drama, where she earned an MFA in Directing in 2003. She soon shifted her focus from theatre to game design, creating projects that ranged from large-scale public games to small-scale interactive ones.

In 2009, McGonigal produced a game called “Evoke," which was commissioned by the World Bank Institute to stimulate problem-solving skills. It was an instant success, leading to a National Science Foundation grant which she used to create SuperBetter, an online game that helped people with traumatic injuries, depression, and other vulnerabilities build resilience.

McGonigal's work has earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious TED Prize, which she won in 2010. She has given five TED Talks, which have earned more than 30 million views on YouTube. Additionally, she is a TED-Ed Innovator and TED Senior Fellow.

McGonigal's book, Reality is Broken, was first published in 2011 and quickly became an international bestseller. In this work, she argues that by incorporating gaming principles into our daily lives, we can transform the world for the better. She believes that gaming technology has the potential to inspire people to work toward social change and accomplish amazing feats. She has written extensively about the potential of gaming to solve real-world problems. Her most recent book, SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully, was published in 2015.

In addition to her writings, McGonigal has served as a professor of game design at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant, providing guidance to corporations and government agencies about how to use gaming for social engagement and collaboration.

The work of Jane McGonigal is an incredible testament to the power of games to make a positive difference in our world. By leading with innovative ideas for incorporating technology into our everyday lives, she has shown that gaming can have a profound effect on our lives and our society. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining and engaging experience, or you’re seeking to create change in the world around you, McGonigal’s works are sure to provide inspiration.