I have this idea of integrating work and games together. I’ve told some people about it. 1/10 said it’s interesting. Another 1/10 told me to go for whatever i believe in. 2/10 said i’m crazy and 6/10 just said that it’s impossible.
They actually made me believe that it’s impossible until i found this article in Entrepreneur.com. Apparently, there’s someone in the US who is researching on the same thing.
So my dear readers, do you think this is a good idea? I know it’s not going to be easy especially to some people who are anti-games.
Here’s the link.
Alvin Lim - The Thinker 
27 comments
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August 13, 2007 at 4:57 pm
cirnelle
First impression when I read this post: Alvin has gone bonkers.
Reading that article attached: I am beginning to see a rationale to it. But I think it’s going to require AI (artificial intelligence), and that ‘game’ or whatever you may want to end up calling it (perhaps strategy illustration sounds more canggih and hence can be more acceptable) should not be limited by the parameters of the programmer’s possible outcome universe. Did I just say what I just said? Wah… impressed with my video-game-terminology.
Anyway, the reason I brought up AI is, my youngest brother was/is (I dunno) working on an AI game based learning software which he believes should make learning more fun and hence more effective for kids. So, the same principles should apply to work…. yes, now, I agree with your idea.
August 13, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Alvin
Haha Cirnelle, i’m sleepy but not to that extent. 😛 not until i reach home that is.
there are few ways you can do i think. it’s not impossible. more n more ppl are moving towards gaming. the introduction of WII really created a new range of gamers (even my mum can play now). so i think it is time that games take an important role in our life – entertainment and recently education…..maybe in the near future, in work as well?
AI is not easy. 😛 it costs a lot to do something on AI.
Anyway, games here dont really mean those video games. anything which has some ‘FUN’ element can be considered as games. Friendster and Facebook can be considered as a form of games actually. 😉 I’ll jz have to think of the possibilities.
but i blif….if i can make an enterprise application FUN where the employees wont be so bored working with it…..and to make the employees/users feel excited going back to work everyday – then it’ll b very cool 😛
August 13, 2007 at 7:46 pm
cirnelle
Strategy games like “Zoo Tycoon” or “Starcraft” springs to mind. Its addictive and one can see the results of one’s actions. Now, how do we make writing a piece of letter to the tax authorities program like an invasion of aliens into enemy lines? Heh!
August 13, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Alvin
Cirnelle, those games reli test u on strategy and planning. 😀 and yeah, u can actually see one’s personality by the way he plays his games. 😀
ever notice how interesting is it when a hacker is trying to hack into the government’s security system? it is like a game….the defender fending off the assaults from the unknown attackers. we always see this in movie. imagine if u can have this kind of ‘fun’ or ‘excitement’ (maybe not as EXCITING to suit those who cannot handle excitement) in office.
ah well, it’s a big big dream of mine actually. ahaha
August 13, 2007 at 11:08 pm
TH Lim
Continuing from your hacker example, I suppose one can say any job is a game in itself as long as you love your job. Fund managers have to manipulate the situation to their advantage to “defend” their profitable position and “attack” those counters that is beneficial to their clients and organizations. As a programmer, the ability to make better simpler and more powerful software than their peers in a way is a game too because they conquered their “opponents”. Sadly, many just “too lazy” or dare not venture outside of the norm to find a job that intrigues them. As a result, the work they do is boring and needs games to motivate them.
Speaking of entertainment while working, let’s us begin with this game written entirely in M$ Excel, http://www1.plala.or.jp/chikada/vba/pac/pacelle.zip or you could google for other variation using the search criterion “excel pacman”.
August 14, 2007 at 1:45 am
narziss
it is definitely interesting…
but what I am more interested in knowing (I know, it might seem like an eccentric question), is that did you ask exactly 10 people? 😉
August 14, 2007 at 7:58 am
jamy
It is not a new concept as Second life is getting so popular.
http://secondlife.com/
You read New York time writing on it a lot.
Wikipedia on Second life :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life
In America, ever thing is “Can Do” , where as in Malaysia, it is translate as “Boleh Tahan”. 🙂
Jamy
August 14, 2007 at 10:13 am
Alvin
TH:
True, whether your job can become as entertaining to u as video game, it all depends on your mindset. very true indeed. what i mean in the post, however, is that most people our age grew up with video games. gaming has become part of our life, whether we admit it or not. and rather than asking someone to switch their mindset (which might not even work for some people), maybe it’s easier to offer this kind of “service” or “application” to them? it all depends on how u think i believe. 🙂
p/s….i’ve known ppl who luv their job very much, yet, they still find video games more interesting.
narziss:
i don exactly go n find 10 people n ask right? its like you don find 100 people to get a 100% thingy. 🙂 so it might be i’ve asked 7, or 12 or 15? this is not a blog on statistics 😛
August 14, 2007 at 12:15 pm
TH Lim
My comment was not meant to tell them to switch their mindset using games or whatever of the similar nature. I am saying the job by itself can be entertaining too if they choose the right job.
You are right, people who like their job still find video games very entertaining. It is like I love playing Farcry even I find Warcraft very entertaining. It is different form of entertainment. 🙂
August 14, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Angie Tan
New way to work/collaborate with one another?
With each new generation, we are changing the way we work/play.
During our parents generation, they probably had a lot of face-to-face communication , with little remote communication via letters or faxes.
My generation made use of the internet to communicate via VOIP, instant messaging, e-mail, tele-conference, video conference.
The next generation is a gaming one. Seems like any kid born today is probably born with a console in his hands. Heck, you see the baby toys in the market these days? They look like mommy’s or daddy’s laptop or pda.
I’m not surprised that applications such as Second Life has taken off. In fact, during the recent Java One in San Fran, one new application was to use Second Life as a collaboration tool.
We’re communicating virtually now. So, I wouldn’t say that games will motivate people to work, perhaps it will but it is just another communication tool.
I can’t imagine looking at my boss (a dwarf in a tight pant-suit, carrying a large axe, for example) talking to me about my project timeline in the future.
Work is work. How we get it done in the future will be rather interesting. 😉
August 14, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Alvin
TH,
Whether a job is interesting or not, it’s rather subjective. There’s no ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ job actually. You can work as A, and not being happy with it…..but then u work as B you are still not happy…but u decided to switch ur mindset n make yourself be content with B. Things like that. Your ‘right’ job will only b as entertaining as you want it to be.
Angie,
Yeap, with the technology evolution we have now….the boundary is limitless… it’s very interesting to see how much we can change (the way we work, play and collaborate) in the next 10 or 20 years.
We will never know…maybe games can indeed motivate people to work. If you enjoy your work, of coz u’ll work more, right? 😀 Collaboration is of course in the “master plan”.
I donno, but to me, it’ll be quite cool if my boss talks to me about my project in a dwarf in a tight pant suit, with a big axe. 😀
ok..maybe that’s jz me
August 14, 2007 at 3:39 pm
TH Lim
Determining if it is an exciting or ‘right’ job is NOT subjective. It is only subjective from a 3rd person point of view. You KNOW if you like what you are working. If you does not like what you doing, you can, as you suggested, shape your mindset according to the job. Otherwise, keep looking for a job you find exciting. Of course, there are economical constraints tied to your actions. And because of these constraints you are forced to work something against your liking. I would still say this is not subjective because you know you don’t like the job even it is a dream job for the other person.
August 14, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Alvin
TH,
Again, i mst say our opinions differ quite a lot. People do change. Whatever is “right” now does not mean it will be the same for you in 10 or 20 years time. A lot of time, we thought A is the right job, we went in and realized it’s not….maybe due to certain situations/conditions like the company policy, etc. In the end, you need to change your mindset and b satisfied with A.
True, u know what u like NOW but how long will that last? i like to play video games NOW, but does this mean i shld join the gaming industry which seems to be the “right” place? maybe 5 years later, i will change my mind again. different people different situation. maybe for you, it’s the same all the while but not for everyone out there. that’s why i said it’s “subjective”.
everything in this world can be subjective, depending on how you look at it.
i might b wrong but that’s my opinion anyway.
August 14, 2007 at 11:22 pm
TH Lim
“Right” job is not tied to a company. Let’s not make mistake about that. You landed on a “right” job but working in a badly managed company (bad HR policy, for example) and not realizing it until it is too late, probably 6 months down the road. You can quit the company, join another company and continue with your “right” job.
Let say, 20 years ago, I found the “right” job. I knew it is the right job for me then and I have been doing that for the past 20 years. This year on the 21st year, I decided I should do something else. Does it mean the job I had is the “wrong” job? No. It just that I decided to do something else and it does not mean I have been doing something I dislike 20 years ago.
I have spoke my mind and you have presented your views. I believe this is where I’m checking out.
August 14, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Alvin
TH, point taken. Maybe our own definition of “right” is not the same. Hahah, that’s why have this debate. 😀 Anyway, no absolute right or wrong in this world. Each has its own valid point 😉
Thanks for sharing.
August 14, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Alvin
Jamy: forgot bout ur comment. Haha. Yeap, i’ve tried on Second Life before. quite cool actually…but i stopped like 1 month into it coz…i don wan to get hooked, so i better withdraw before i kena. haha. 2nd…i was penniless! din wan to change my $$$ for linden dollar =_=
but well, it’s a cool concept. i had that idea some years back but din do it….and now, someone has made my ‘dream’ come true…and becoming very successful with it. 😀
yea, guess in Malaysia, our mentality is quite different. to me, anything is possible. it jz depends on how u sell or present it.
August 15, 2007 at 9:42 am
jamy
alvin,
I think Second life is excellent if you have an existing company. It is very unconventional advertising.
Jamy
August 15, 2007 at 10:48 am
Alvin
Jamy,
it’s a place to test our your ideas (be it advertising or some other things). that’s why it is called Second Life? hahaha. it’s juz like another life 😛
August 15, 2007 at 11:11 am
Angie Tan
Second Life is a cool app. If you’ve been subscribing to IBM Developerworks for work purposes, you’ll find that a lot of the webcasts are now taking place in Second Life.
In fact, some of the IBM product launches are in Second Life too. 😉
August 15, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Alvin
Angie: maybe our team shld use Second Life too! hahaha. Ask Calvin to do branding in Second Life 😛
August 15, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Sunflower
So coincidental, I just posted about Second Life. Heheh. I think some employees might not be able to handle the gaming and might get so engrossed in it that they end up not doing work… just like nowadays some surf so much that the companies are starting to block websites at work and monitor web usage. How like that??
August 15, 2007 at 7:59 pm
jamy
Second life has made a lot of big bizman a whole lot of exposure !
August 15, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Alvin
Sunflower,
Good point you’ve raised up. Hahaha. but i think ur question is more like having video games inside the company…but it’s not work related. it’s jz like u surf a lot and not doing work because these 2 are not related. What i mean here is to combine both together. Meaning, if someone is too engrossed in the ‘games’, then he/she is actually working more! Er…get what i mean? how am i going to do tat? that’s totally another question. hehe
Jamy,
Yeap, collaboration and a place for them to test out their ideas. That’s the attractive part of Second Life. I donno why, i jz canot stand the “lag” in the game…that’s why i gave up. hahaha (besides the point that i hv no linden dollar to spend)
August 16, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Sunflower
Oooo I get it I get it! Wah I also want lah like that XD
August 17, 2007 at 10:02 am
nkilkenny
Alvin, I really suggest that you take a look at Karl Kapp’s blog or even read his book. He does a lot of work around the whole idea of integrating the gaming concept into work as well as translating how gamers see the world to the baby boomers and vice versa.
http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/
His book is “Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for Learning”
Keep up the excellent work blogging.
August 17, 2007 at 10:52 am
Alvin
Sunflower,
Interesting leh? 😛 I also think so. Will try to research more. I think it can be done!
nkilkenny,
Thanks for visiting my blog again. Hahah. I’ve checked out the blog you mentioned…mm, pretty interesting i must say. It’s good to know that there are some ppl out there who share the same idea as i do. Thanks a lot for the link. Appreciate it.
November 11, 2008 at 9:54 am
Beata
Keep up the good work.