SuperBetter, released in March 2012, is an online, "social game designed to help one build their personal resilience". It was created by Jane McGonigal, developed by SuperBetter Labs, and shaped with the guidance of various doctors, psychologists, scientists, and medical researchers.
Now when you hear about a game named “SuperBetter” you wonder, how is this game going to really make me feel? Well, the purpose of this game is to really make you feel super better, building up your physical, emotional, mental, and social strengths. All in all, this game builds resilience.
Jane McGonigal is notorious for contributing to the building of games that can “change the world”, and SuperBetter is now another notch to add to her gaming belt. Two other games that McGonigal took part in creating were “Evoke”, which helped the World Bank Institute fund startups in Africa, and “World Without Oil”, which helped people plan for an oil crisis.
As you can see, there is a trend with McGonigal, all of her games have a purpose, and SuperBetter is geared towards change. It creates an engaging gaming experience with scientific data that is proven to encourage happiness and personal growth.
One person that McGonigal can vouch for when stating that SuperBetter really works is herself. This game was originally designed as a way to help her recover from a severe concussion that left her suicidal, and bedridden. In the game, McGonigal set her goal, and invited her twin sister, husband, and other loved ones to play with her to act as forms of encouragement, and “fight off the bad guys”. At the end of this multiplayer game, McGonigal was able to get through this tough time in her life, and feel more resilient than ever.
In the video below, McGonigal participates in a TEDTalk explaining “The Game That Can Give You 10 Extra Years of Life”:
In the video below, Jane McGonigal sits down with Sumi Das of SmartPlanet to talk about Super Better:
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERBETTER INCLUDING HOW TO PLAY CLICK HERE