The seduction secrets of video games

This article kind of hit on some of points from the TED talk about how video games are very powerful motivators. Video games usually reward us for doing simple task which is why we feel a sense of accomplishment every time we get something.  The article talked about this stemming from not only liking rewards but also the fact that it everything we do in the game is recognized.  This is not usually the case in the real world especially at your job.  Autonomy is also and one of the characteristics of games that people are drawn to.  We really like having complete control over our on lives like we do in games.  People like power and to know they are in control.  Games also encourage people to take risks which is a very important part of the learning process.  As you know we usually learn more from mistakes than from triumphs. The game environment encourages taking risk be cause the consequences are minimal.  This is a very powerful and useful tool when thinking about how to use video games in the educational setting.  Just about all games teach us something even if it is about ourselves.  Angry Birds teaches us about angles of elevation and gravity, God or War teaches us about Greek mythology, and Mario teaches us how that we like to jump on turtles that can fly.  If we want to really use this in education that we the games need to have the fun elements of these game while help the players to actually make these connections to what is being learned.