Games are Patient and Know You

What this small group of tinkerers found is that games focus, inspire, and reassure young people i; in ways that school often can't. Then as now, they believed, if you are a young person, games give you a chance to learn at your own pace, take risks, and cultivate deeper understanding. While teachers, parents, and friends may encourage and support you, these natural resources are limited. Computers work on a completely different scale and timetable. They're "infinitely stupid and infinitely patient," according to game designer Michael John.^ Your teacher may be overwhelmed, your friends wish you'd finish your homework, and your mom just wants to go to bed. But as Jiji demonstrates, a well-designed game sits and waits ... and waits. It doesn't care if that wearisome math problem takes you fifteen seconds or four hours. Do it again. Take all day. The game believes in you.