Generation X "Box" and Beyond - Part I of 2

If you’ve been reading along, it’s no surprise to you that each generation has unique forces in their lives shaping the way they make decisions and approach the world.

One of the major forces impacting the way Gen Xers and Millennials see business and beyond, is growing up in the time of video games.

The rules surrounding games create a world and reality that departs from the "business as usual" model of what we know today as Corporate America. Although it may seem to Baby Boomers and Traditionalists that "games are games" and business and play should not be confused, the rules of gaming are filtering into the way Xers and Millennials make daily business decisions. 

In "Got Game" published by Harvard Business School Press, we see how being a “Gamer” has influenced Gen Xers and Millennials systematic approach to working and learning.

Drawing on the work in "Got Game" by Beck and Wade the following rules illustrate the lessons games are "teaching" Xers and Millennials about "the world".

Part I

• The Individual's Role
• How The World Works

Part II

• What You Should Do
• How People Relate

Part I - The WAY IT IS in Gamer World

The Individual's Role

·         You’re the star - you are the center of attention of every game.

·         You’re the boss - the world is very responsive to your every choice and wish.

·         You’re the customer and the customer is always right - the experience is design for your satisfaction and entertainment; the opponents are tough, but never too tough.

·         You’re an expert - you have the experience of getting really, really good at something.

·         You’re a tough guy - you can't be hurt - no matter how many crashes and spills you take.

How The World Works

·         There’s always an answer - you might be frustrated for a while, but keep trying - it's there.

·         Everything is possible - you do amazing things and see other players defeat hundreds of bad guys single handedly.

·         The world is a logical, human-friendly place - games are basically fair. Events may be random, but not inexplicable.

·         Trial and error is almost always the best plan - It's the only way to advance in most games.

·         Things are (unrealistically) simple - you can figure a game out, completely. Games are built on models. Even complex models can be figured out.

These rules set-up the player to feel that high-risk and jumping headlong into uncertainty are the ways to win the game. The more you "die trying" or "crash and burn" the faster you develop mastery.

Check back for Part II  on - How People Relate & What You Should Do.