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Life Gaming

Consumers turn to video games to simulate real-life experiences

Implications - Thanks to the popularity of the farming game Farmville, consumers are once again embracing life-mimicking games, from new versions of The Sims to entrepreneur role-playing games. However, today’s online gamers also get social networking capability—not only can they simulate life experiences, they can also share them with their friends. Like augmented reality and reality TV, life-simulating games let a person go outside of their comfort zone and “live” in a way that may be drastically different to reality.
Trend Themes
1. Life-simulating Games - The rise of life-simulating games has created virtual realities that allow people to take risks and play out scenarios beyond their comfort zones.
2. Social Networking Capability - Social networking capability in video gaming has allowed users to share experiences and add another layer of interconnectivity to their digital lives.
3. Game-based Training - Companies are increasingly using game-based training, recruiting, and entrepreneurship simulation, like 'My Marriott Hotel,' to train and engage employees and job candidates.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality Industry - Companies in the hospitality industry can use game-based recruitment and training to attract new employees and retain existing ones by providing a fun and interactive way to learn about the industry.
2. Video Game Industry - The video game industry can continue to explore the potential of life-simulating games and social networking capability as users seek ever more immersive and interactive experiences.
3. Job Training and Recruitment - The use of game-based training and recruitment can be adopted by a wide range of industries to provide a fun and interactive way to teach and attract new talent.
3.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
8 Featured, 62 Examples:
527,252 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jul 10 — Jun 11
Trending:
Mild
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Entrepreneur Flash Games
Entrepreneur Flash Games
Corporation Inc. is a Safe Way to Build a Business
Why risk starting a business yourself when you can take the safe way and play Corporation Inc. Corporation Inc. is a flash game that lets you build and then micromanage your own business. Corporation… MORE
play_circle_filled Relationship Status Sites
Relationship Status Sites
Tokii Lets You Manage Your Relationship Online
Tokii is a new Canadian website designed to help couples improve their relationship. Tokii helps couples out by letting them check the status of their relationship online. Partners can request things from… MORE
Entrepreneurial Retail Games
Entrepreneurial Retail Games
Own a Boutique with PopSugar's Facebook 'Retail Therapy' Game
Now you can be the owner of your very own fashion store with PopSugar's Retail Therapy game on Facebook. This virtual game lets aspiring fashion entrepreneurs act as the owner of a high-end fashion boutique,… MORE
Game-Based Recruiting
Game-Based Recruiting
My Marriott Hotel is a Farmville-Like Game for the Hospitality Industry
Marriott International is hoping that its new recruiting game My Marriott Hotel will help it fill the 50,000 open positions at the company's locations worldwide. The game takes a Farmville-like approach:… MORE
Pop Star Social Media Games
Pop Star Social Media Games
The GagaVille Zynga Game is Exactly Like FarmVille
Pop culture icon Lady Gaga has paired up with Zynga, the makers of FarmVille, to produce a variation of the game entitled GagaVille. The game will be released on May 17th and feature mythological unicorn… MORE
Simulated Social Media Realities
Simulated Social Media Realities
The Sims Social on Facebook Will Increase User Interactions
The American video game company EA recently announced the launch of 'The Sims Social' that will serve as a Facebook extension of the popular online game. 'The Sims Social' will allow Facebook users to… MORE
play_circle_filled Social City-Planning Games
Social City-Planning Games
Zynga Cityville is a New Vice for Farmville Addicts on Facebook
Are you ready for the next FarmVille? Zynga's latest creation, ingeniously titled CityVille, allows users to build their very own online urban utopias. "It's where Monopoly meets Main Street," said Sean… MORE
Crowdsourced Ranches
Crowdsourced Ranches
The MyFarm Project is a Real-Life Farmville
Farmville fiends now have the chance to live out their wildest dreams in reality with MyFarm. This revolutionary project uses crowdsourced input to run a real-world farm. The MyFarm project is... MORE

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