Games are an immensely popular form of entertainment. The game industry itself is a $43.3 billion industry and is, perhaps, the most important mass medium of the early twenty-first century. In this thought-provoking delivery, game designer Ashlyn Sparrow talks games, society, and cultural impact, and invites us all to think critically about how our society has been designed, who it’s been designed for, and who it’s been designed by. When her parents bought her a PlayStation and Final Fantasy VIII on her eleventh birthday, the opening cutscene changed Ashlyn Sparrow’s life forever. From that point on, she’s been drawing fantasy characters and maps, designing small games, and tinkering around with computers.

Today, as the Assistant Director of The University of Chicago's Weston Game Lab, she works closely with researchers and faculty to lead the development of serious games, interactive learning experiences, and digital media art with and for youth. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx