Join the discussions and find groups that interest you!
Look for collaboration opportunities!
WHY WE EXIST
That’s why we’ve created a secret HQ for people who are making games that are making us:
- happier
- smarter
- stronger
- healthier
- more collaborative
- more creative
- better connected to our friends and family
- and better at WHATEVER we love to do when we’re not playing games
Here are some games that are already doing just that: EVOKE, Fold It!, The Epic Win App, Flower, Code of Everand, SuperBetter, The MP Expenses Game, Budgetball, the Pokéwalker, Quest to Learn, Little Big Planet: Gamechangers, World Without Oil, Seek ‘n Spell, Goal Mafia,and Conspiracy for Good.
What all of these projects have in common: they’re dedicated to making some kind of a real positive impact on gamers’ lives and the world around them.
HOW IT WORKS
Gameful is an online “Secret HQ” where you can connect with other people who believe in the power of games to make us better and change the world.
It is a free resource — a place for you to:
- Set up a profile sharing your expertise, skills, abilities, and interests
- Search the network for collaborators and talent
- Spread the word about your new projects
- Meet journalists who want to write about interesting games or research like yours
- Find new and cutting-edge game projects to inspire you
- Join a Gameful book club and discuss big ideas
- Join a Gameful game club and play big ideas!
- Brainstorm and submit conference panels or sessions together
- Plan Gameful meet-ups at conferences and festivals
- Nominate your own work, or work you love, for the annual Gameful Awards (in the categories of Reality-Changing, Life-Changing, and World-Changing)
Go talk to the mayor and try your first mission!
FAQ
Q: Where does the name “gameful” come from?
A: Gameful means to have the spirit, or mindset, of a gamer: someone who is optimistic, curious, motivated, and always up for a tough challenge. It’s like the word “playful” — but gamier. 
Q:What is Gameful?
A: Gameful is an online Secret HQ for gamers and game developers who want to help change the world and make our real lives better. Think of it as a cross between a professional network and a creative brainstorming space. The goal is to make it easy for anyone making or playing world-changing games to find collaborators, mentors, jobs, ideas, and funding. And of course, to discover fun new games to play.
Q: Is it really a “secret” HQ?
A: Well, think of all the people out there who have no idea that this kind of world-changing work is happening all around them. We’re secret like that — hiding in plain sight, saving the world, one game at a time.
Q: Who can join?
A: Anyone who is awesome enough to want to make or play games specifically designed to a have a positive impact on the real world, or on our real lives: game designers and developers, game writers and artists, programmers and producers, project managers and marketing experts, reporters and critics, students and researchers, players and playtesters.
Even if you’ve never made a game before, you’re welcome to join Gameful — you’ll surely find people who would love your help with their games… or who would be interested in helping you make YOUR idea a reality!
Q: Are there any rules?
A: Yes! We play by the Gameful Code of Honor while you’re here: Always leave a positive impact, and play with the monsters you like. That’s the rule.
Q: What kind of games count as ‘gameful’?
As long as the project has a stated goal of making our real lives, or the real world, better — and not just to entertain us — then ANY kind of game counts: computer games, videogames, mobile games and alternate reality games; commercial games and indie games; serious games and art games; board games and iPad games; crowdsourcing and innovation games; street games and new sports; education games and activist games; health games and productivity games; and just about any other kind of game you might think of!
WHO WE ARE
Creators/Developers
Jane McGonigal
Nathan Verrill
Matthew Jensen
Kiyash Monsef
Keith Turner
Gameful Fairies
Sshhh… it’s a secret! They will reveal themselves one a at time…
The Awesome Board
Full list of Awesome Board members to come!
The Awesome Circle
Full list of the Awesome Circle to come!
Founding Members
Full list of Founding Members to come!
CONTACT US
If you’re interested in sponsoring a Gameful Award, joining the Awesome Circle or Awesome Board, or want to schedule an interview with a Gameful creator, please contact us at gameful@avantgame.com
