Comments on: Charity: the video game that’s real http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/ Exploring how to get real change for your dollar. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:18:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Julian Brelsford http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-102100 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:46:41 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-102100 One of the things that people like about video games and other games is the opportunity to take on a challenge in a safe (safe enough, by the player's standards) environment. This is also, to some extent, the reason that people try to defeat cancer, malaria, and malnutrition: They want a challenge, and they want to FEEL like they've accomplished something. My preference would be to have people seek to FEEL like they've accomplished something and ACTUALLY accomplish something at the same time. Video games are kind of like the very worst non-profit organizations in that you can feel like you're accomplishing something without actually accomplishing anything. One of the things that people like about video games and other games is the opportunity to take on a challenge in a safe (safe enough, by the player’s standards) environment.

This is also, to some extent, the reason that people try to defeat cancer, malaria, and malnutrition: They want a challenge, and they want to FEEL like they’ve accomplished something. My preference would be to have people seek to FEEL like they’ve accomplished something and ACTUALLY accomplish something at the same time. Video games are kind of like the very worst non-profit organizations in that you can feel like you’re accomplishing something without actually accomplishing anything.

]]> by: Matt Wutzke http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-49033 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:54:10 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-49033 I used to play games for hours a week. I liked feeling like a hero. Then I realized if I were on my deathbed what would I say? Oh I wish I had played more video games. I don't thinks so. I will play with friends now but I will not play alone anymore. Thanks for a great post I used to play games for hours a week. I liked feeling like a hero. Then I realized if I were on my deathbed what would I say? Oh I wish I had played more video games. I don’t thinks so. I will play with friends now but I will not play alone anymore.
Thanks for a great post

]]> by: dino delellis http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-45997 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:23:50 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-45997 Aaah ,yes,Mega Man so many fond memories when I played for hours killing the bosses and acquiring their abilties , I think I collected most in the Mega Man series and nearly completed all of them. And your right some video games do seem to be apt metaphors in real life. Aaah ,yes,Mega Man so many fond memories when I played for hours killing the bosses and acquiring their abilties , I think I collected most in the Mega Man series and nearly completed all of them.

And your right some video games do seem to be apt metaphors in real life.

]]> by: Rod http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-39006 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:45:18 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-39006 Mega man was the best video game as a kid, I too got extremely pissed when I got killed by "malaria man" lol, thsi is a good way to look at things though, I enjoyed reading this post. God Bless to those who give :) Mega man was the best video game as a kid, I too got extremely pissed when I got killed by “malaria man” lol, thsi is a good way to look at things though, I enjoyed reading this post. God Bless to those who give :)

]]> by: Matt Gagnon http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-37010 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:51:45 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-37010 That is a very strange but interesting way to look at things. Whatever works for you is great. Charity is something that should be a part of everyone's life. That is a very strange but interesting way to look at things. Whatever works for you is great. Charity is something that should be a part of everyone’s life.

]]> by: Dan http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-36690 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:52:39 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-36690 Asteroids ring a bell? Not too many years earlier, it was Pong . . . man I feel jurrasic! Asteroids ring a bell? Not too many years earlier, it was Pong . . . man I feel jurrasic!

]]> by: Mapmod http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-35021 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:53:23 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-35021 When I was young, I also played video games (Counter Strike) with my friends. We killed bed guys together and it was fantastic =) When I was young, I also played video games (Counter Strike) with my friends. We killed bed guys together and it was fantastic =)

]]> by: David J http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-33090 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:07:33 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-33090 Server, what digg post are you talking about? I searched for "DNA game", "DNA untwisting", "DNA", and came up empty handed. Server, what digg post are you talking about? I searched for “DNA game”, “DNA untwisting”, “DNA”, and came up empty handed.

]]> by: server http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-33020 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:48:50 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-33020 The whole point of video games though is to escape reality. Sure the world might be better off if everyone spent the time playing video games instead working for a charity, but that just isn't realistic. People need time to unwind and just shot bad guys occasionally. What is interesting though is the next generation of video games that would allow players to play a fun game, but at the same time use that information from the game to cure a disease solve a problem etc. The DNA untwisting game recently featured on digg comes to mind. The whole point of video games though is to escape reality. Sure the world might be better off if everyone spent the time playing video games instead working for a charity, but that just isn’t realistic. People need time to unwind and just shot bad guys occasionally. What is interesting though is the next generation of video games that would allow players to play a fun game, but at the same time use that information from the game to cure a disease solve a problem etc. The DNA untwisting game recently featured on digg comes to mind.

]]> by: dannygutters http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-12408 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:25:02 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/04/03/charity-the-video-game-thats-real/#comment-12408 You know I never really thought about this before but perhaps playing videogames does instill some ideas of altruism in us? I played a ton of video games (ha I still do) and I get where you'r ecoming from with this, I have some similar feelings. I mean the're basically stories, with conflict and resolution. Stories reinforce the idea that if we work towards good, good will be created eventually. You know I never really thought about this before but perhaps playing videogames does instill some ideas of altruism in us? I played a ton of video games (ha I still do) and I get where you’r ecoming from with this, I have some similar feelings. I mean the’re basically stories, with conflict and resolution. Stories reinforce the idea that if we work towards good, good will be created eventually.

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