Life is a Game to Kids

The life of a kid can be full of surprises. A simple walk down the street can turn into a huge adventure — complete with danger, drama and objective to achieve. The interesting thing is (as Russell Davies points out) that this mode of thinking for kids is becoming codified in an unusual way. It is using the language and thought structures of computer games.

This link between imaginative play and scenario building and gaming is quite pervasive. It can help explain the way that kids are able to rapidly understand complex scenarios (such as new online or hand held games or even how to program a video recorder) — their logic for understanding the world draws upon the very structures of gaming. This also means that there are lesser distinctions between the virtual and real worlds for the generations for whom there has ALWAYS BEEN an Internet.

And, of course, as these kids grow older they will become highly tech-savvy consumers (if they are not already). It makes me think that marketers will need to consider the effect of these "gaming" modes of thought if they are to successfully engage the consumers of the future. It is a whole new, and more complex, method of storytelling. But oh so exciting too!

S.