Jane McGonigal is a world-renowned game designer. Before joining Ze Frank to discuss her new book, Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, she joined us for our “In The Green Room” Q&A.
Q. Did you get into trouble as a child?
A. Rarely, yes. My biggest getting into trouble [moment] was throwing someone else’s sneakers out the bus window.
Q. What literary character do you identify with?
A. Sisyphus.
Q. What was your favorite video game growing up?
A. Tass Times in Tonetown.
Q. What do you wake up to?
A. My Google phone beeping at me.
Q. What do you find beautiful?
A. My dog playing with other dogs.
Q. Describe yourself in five words or fewer.
A. Urgently optimistic about our future.
Q. What is your greatest extravagance?
A. Fancy boots.
Q. What would your death row meal be?
A. I’m a vegan, but my death row meal would be chicken roll and Swiss cheese on a potato roll, and apple crumb pie. My dad used to get that for us growing up, so it’s very comforting.
Q. What’s your favorite holiday and why?
A. Halloween, because there are games associated with it.
Q. Who would write your biography?
A. Someone who hasn’t been born yet.
Q. If you had a different profession in another life, what would it be?
A. A house manager for the Broadway Theater.
Q. Who would play you in a movie?
A. Rebecca Gayheart, the Noxema girl.
To read about Jane’s conversation, please click here.
*Photo by Aaron Salcido.