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Leslie Gruis

“Democratizing access to everything is not only good for business . . . it’s good for individuals and it’s good for the world . . . Seen from another [perspective], it’s handing a loaded gun to a novice.”
Adrian Hon, Game Designer

No doubt about it: the internet democratized the media. It unleashed the most powerful mass media tool ever devised. It grants powers of persuasion that would make any despotic ruler weep with joy. And anyone can use it. This power can be used for good. Serious game designers leverage the breadth and depth of the internet to help people master new skills. Network connectivity is one of the greatest equalizers of haves and have-nots in the last century.

This power can be used for evil. The internet creates information echo chambers that resonate with negative emotions. People weave tangled webs of half-truths and lies to win us over to their points of view. They condemn individuals, companies, and products with specious evidence. They assume guilt before innocence and impose punishment before trial.

No one is immune. Such media-powered antibodies affect everyone, including serious game designers. Join Dr. Leslie Gruis as she explores the nature of this challenging internet-era terrain and how serious game designers can navigate it. She’ll identify five best practices to protect yourself from accusations of impropriety and remain on the right side of the law. What can you do? How can you defend yourself?

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