A Conversation with Jesse Schell
In the aftermath of his controversial DICE presentation, Jesse Schell explores his past as a gamemaker, his bets on the future, and the magical quality of gaming.
Last year, Jesse Schell sparked a controversy by asking a simple question: can you make people brush their teeth by turning it into a game?
In his presentation at DICE 2010, Schell explored the idea that games and game-like mechanics can motivate behavior, citing examples like Weight Watchers and airline frequent flier programs that motivate engagement with points and rewards. Schell suggested that talented game designers could leverage this system to change people’s behaviors, encouraging them to study harder, live healthier, and buy more. He imagined a world where everyday items like toothbrushes and soda cans are equipped with sensors to track our activities and help us earn points.
Skeptics complained that Schell’s ideas would transform daily life into a never-ending series of behavioral conditioning exercises, more suitable for lab rats than humans. Supporters saw low-cost strategies to address challenges in business, schools, and public health. Meanwhile, many gamers saw a bleak future where the games they loved would be reduced to carrots and sticks. One critic called it “the most disturbing presentation of the year.”
