334) Global Problem, Local Action

Seth Priebatsch from SCVNGR gave one of the key note speeches at SXSW on the Game Layer, and how the next decade will be the Decade of Games. The finale was a game that involved the thousand listeners in the room. Each person was given a random colored card (yellow, blue or green) when they sat down. In three minutes, each row had to organize themselves into one color by trading their cards with the people immediately around them. If they could accomplish this, SCVNGR would donate $10,000 to charity.

The success of the game (it took less than 180 seconds) illustrated the power of communal gameplay in solving a tricky problem with local action. All the elements of a global problem, such as global warming, were there:

1) lack of communication
2) different trading patterns
3) different “countries” i.e. rows
4) different wealth (some people had more than one card to trade)
5) restricted movement
6) decentralized leadership
7) countdown
8) joint goal

A powerful demonstration. Priesbatch pointed out that the countdown, as well as the joint goal of getting the money to the charity, infused the "game" with epic meaning, making the players "blissfully productive".

(Mini aside - Flying back to NY tonight. SXSW felt like spring break, and the trip makes me want to travel to more places I've never been. Though, I have missed the NY hustle. Up next - moving this weekend!)