Reality Is Broken
[Sorry for earlier empty message … The Agitator’s reality was indeed broken!]
Reality is broken. Turn it into a game.
Now here’s a REALLY BIG, world-changing idea: Create a secret Headquarters to foster the work of folks who are designing games that make us happier, smarter, stronger, healthier, more collaborative, more creative, better connected to our friends and family, and have a real and positive impact on gamers’ lives and the world around them.
The idea is the brainchild of Jane McGonigal, a game designer and evangelist for tapping into what is truly an awesome human resource—the millions of online gamers and the 3 billion hours a week – that’s right 3 BILLION –they spend on games.
So far Jane and her fellow founders of GAMEFUL have raised $33,945 from 339 backers and are set to launch the “Secret HQ” in October.
You can check out this fascinating idea and the plan for translating it into reality by clicking here.
In case you’re not familiar with Kickstarter.com, the cutting edge online funding resource, that is hosting the appeal for GAMEFUL, spend some extra time reviewing Kickstarter.com’s other offerings as well. Fascinating stuff.
So, if you’ve got an idea for a reality-changing, world-changing game GAMEFUL may be the place to go.
And, if you and your organization are already gamefully engaged, please share your experience with The Agitator.
Roger
Behavioral Science Q & A
Thanks so much for raising this. Yes, capturing donor information can be helpful for stewardship like newsletters, thank-you letters, impact updates. But how you ask matters. Forcing full data capture introduces friction that can significantly depress conversion, many donors may simply abandon the process. Beyond the friction itself, required fields also shift the emotional experience […]
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Unlike holidays that everyone already knows, Giving Tuesday is a created event. Many donors recognize the name but not the exact timing, so referencing it becomes a helpful cue. It serves as a reminder and taps into social norm activation (“everyone’s giving today”), which boosts response. However, we still want it paired with the mission, […]
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When a subject line leads with the match (“Your gift matched!”), it risks triggering market-norm thinking: the sense that giving is a financial transaction rather than an act rooted in values, identity, and care. This shift reduces intrinsic motivation and, over time, can weaken donor satisfaction and long-term engagement. It also makes the email indistinguishable […]
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There’s no evidence that QR codes suppress mid-value giving; all available research suggests they either help or have no negative effect. In fact, behavioral and usability research consistently shows the opposite: reducing friction at any point in the donation process increases completion rates and total response. And that has nothing to do with capacity and […]
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What you’re experiencing is very common. Resistance often isn’t about capability, but about motivation quality. If board members feel pushed into fundraising, that triggers controlled motivation (low quality motivation) i.e. obligation, guilt, or fear of judgment, which often results in avoidance. Instead, we need to create conditions for volitional motivation (high quality motivation) by satisfying […]
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That’s a really thoughtful question, and you’re not the first to raise it. Many of our clients have been cautious about placing the ask at the very end. To address their concern, we’ve tested both approaches, and the results are clear: when the ask comes last, even if that means it appears on the second […]
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