Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Games for Social Impact and Psychology in Austin Convention Center

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Friday 11th March 2011

• Social Games: Manipulating Your Brain Chemistry, For Good

  by Adam Penenberg, Brenda Gershkovitch, Jason Brown, Margaret Wallace and Michael Fergusson

  Generally speaking, there's an assumption that casual games are a waste of time. What can playing a "meaningless" Facebook game for a few minutes really accomplish, anyways? Do I really need to "rescue" another "sheep"? Another point of view is that they're a little bit sinister, manipulating you into emptying your wallet, or giving up personal information. But perhaps both positions are missing the point. This new genre we call "Casual Social Games" represents a fascinating opportunity to better understand our own behavior, and to direct it, intentionally, for our own benefit, and for the greater good of society.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  • Casual Games
  • Games
  • Games for Social Impact
  • Psychology

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Friday 11th March

  In Ballroom B, Austin Convention Center