--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over the next generation or two, ever…" description: "\"“Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/jane-mcgonigal-6871_next-generation_over-the-next-generation-or-two-ever-lar_955797.png" --- # Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of… ![“Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While we are playing, things we used to do on the outside, in “reality,” won’t be happening anymore, or won’t be happening in the same way. You can’t pull…” quote by Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/jane-mcgonigal-6871_next-generation_over-the-next-generation-or-two-ever-lar_955797.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/jane-mcgonigal-6871_next-generation_over-the-next-generation-or-two-ever-lar_955797.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/jane-mcgonigal-6871_next-generation_over-the-next-generation-or-two-ever-lar_955797.png) > ““Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While we are playing, things we used to do on the outside, in “reality,” won’t be happening anymore, or won’t be happening in the same way. You can’t pull millions of person-hours out of a society without creating an atmospheric-level event.”” [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Massive engagement in virtual worlds will shift real‑world behavior, creating societal disruption. **In simple terms:** Virtual immersion reshapes reality and can cause large‑scale change. Key Takeaway Manage digital engagement responsibly. Themes technology gaming virtual reality societal impact behavioral change Mood thoughtful concerned Type analytical predictive When to use this quote - education - workplace - policy making - community building - healthcare Key Concepts digital culture psychology economics media studies Questions to Reflect On - How will virtual worlds affect future social structures? - What safeguards can balance virtual and real life? A Different Perspective Overreliance on virtual experiences may erode real‑world skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Online Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/online-games/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Virtual reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtual-reality/) ## Related quotes > [“Virtual worlds are places of imagination that encompass practices of play, performance, creativity and ritual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-boellstorff/virtual-worlds-are-places-of-imagination-that-encompass-practices-of/) Tom Boellstorff > [“Since the boom days of World of War-craft and Second Life, there has been a strange, stagnant lull in terms of virtual worlds. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yee/since-the-boom-days-of-world-of-war-craft-and-second-life-there-has/) [Nick Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yee/) > [Virtual worlds are going to be a major disruptive element for mainstream society. The idea is that you might interact with other people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/virtual-worlds-are-going-to-be-a-major-disruptive-element-for/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [“Edward Castronova has argued that virtual worlds are “the modern equivalent to supercolliders for social scientists. . . . Virtual worlds allow for societal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yee/edward-castronova-has-argued-that-virtual-worlds-are-the-modern/) [Nick Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yee/) > [“Web. The first version of VRML allows for the creation of virtual worlds with limited”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/web-the-first-version-of-vrml-allows-for-the-creation-of-virtual/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtual currencies, used to buy digital goods inside online games, have become an integral part of the Internet landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/virtual-currencies-used-to-buy-digital-goods-inside-online-games-have/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Online games for data-mining have a short virtual shelf life. People get bored, especially if the game seems stagnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/online-games-for-data-mining-have-a-short-virtual-shelf-life-people/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [The information age has made Thiel rich, but it has also been a disappointment to him. It hasn't created enough jobs, and it hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/the-information-age-has-made-thiel-rich-but-it-has-also-been-a/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [I know how addictive videogames are - I have friends who can't get up off the couch because they're so hooked. They provide these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-kurylenko/i-know-how-addictive-videogames-are-i-have-friends-who-can-t-get-up/) [Olga Kurylenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-kurylenko/) > [“Commentators frequently blame MMORPGs for an increasing sense of isolation in modern life. But virtual worlds are less a cause of that isolation than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/commentators-frequently-blame-mmorpgs-for-an-increasing-sense-of/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [“Just as in the physical world, people within virtual worlds perform and cycle through different roles and identities. Virtual worlds make such shifts explicit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-boellstorff/just-as-in-the-physical-world-people-within-virtual-worlds-perform/) Tom Boellstorff > [The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind... as if we were God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are-attempting-to-make-us-see/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [I can imagine people actually working in virtual environments where productive, cooperative work is undertaken, and I think we will find people helping others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinton-cerf/i-can-imagine-people-actually-working-in-virtual-environments-where/) [Vinton Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinton-cerf/) > [Putting you into a virtual world really allows you to think differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/putting-you-into-a-virtual-world-really-allows-you-to-think/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [The telephone is virtual reality in that you can meet with someone as if you are together, at least for the auditory sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/the-telephone-is-virtual-reality-in-that-you-can-meet-with-someone-as/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) ## More by Jane McGonigal > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Urgent optimism is the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle, combined with the belief that we have a reasonable hope of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/urgent-optimism-is-the-desire-to-act-immediately-to-tackle-an/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Over time, even the tiniest meaningful actions add up, each one bringing you closer to a life that is truer to your dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/over-time-even-the-tiniest-meaningful-actions-add-up-each-one/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Traditionally, we have needed instructions in order to play a game. But now we’re often invited to learn as we go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/traditionally-we-have-needed-instructions-in-order-to-play-a-game-but/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“No object, no event, no outcome or life circumstance can deliver real happiness to us. We have to make our own happiness—by working hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/no-object-no-event-no-outcome-or-life-circumstance-can-deliver-real/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-always-believe-that-an-epic-win-is-possible-and-that-it-s/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Cory Doctorow is a fast and furious storyteller who gets all the details of alternate reality gaming right, while offering a startling, new vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/cory-doctorow-is-a-fast-and-furious-storyteller-who-gets-all-the/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Gamers who have grown up being intensely engaged by well-designed virtual environments are hungry for better forms of engagement in their real lives. They’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-who-have-grown-up-being-intensely-engaged-by-well-designed/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Games are work. There are economies popping up in games now because people value them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/games-are-work-there-are-economies-popping-up-in-games-now-because/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We are moving towards a new form of collective intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-are-moving-towards-a-new-form-of-collective-intelligence/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I ran through most of college and ran through most of grad school. When I was writing my dissertation for my Ph.D., it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/i-ran-through-most-of-college-and-ran-through-most-of-grad-school/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Every game designer should make one explicitly world-changing game. Lawyers do pro bono work, why can't we?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/every-game-designer-should-make-one-explicitly-world-changing-game/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-energy-with-relentless-optimism/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 97 Jane McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More Next generation quotes > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [“Did you think of anyone else?” Enid had asked the folk of this household. “Did you think of the next generation that’ll have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-vaughn/did-you-think-of-anyone-else-enid-had-asked-the-folk-of-this/) [Carrie Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-vaughn/) > [The Next Generation Space Telescope, which will be located much further away from the Earth than the Hubble Space Telescope presently is, will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-nicollier/the-next-generation-space-telescope-which-will-be-located-much/) [Claude Nicollier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-nicollier/) > [“The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-human-race-to-which-so-many-of-my-readers-belong-has-been-playing/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [And I add my own love to the history of people who have loved beautiful things, and looked out for them, and pulled them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-i-add-my-own-love-to-the-history-of-people-who-have-loved/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [The next generation will remake the world in a way that allows us to live in a more sustainable way, both personally and globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/the-next-generation-will-remake-the-world-in-a-way-that-allows-us-to/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [The most important thing to me is to inspire all these athletes in the next generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-heath/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-to-inspire-all-these-athletes-in/) [Tobin Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-heath/) > [I have enjoyed some of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' but I saw the first 14 or 15 of them and all they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/i-have-enjoyed-some-of-star-trek-the-next-generation-but-i-saw-the/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [“I cried with pride as I looked into the face of a midwife from the next generation of baby catchers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-vincent/i-cried-with-pride-as-i-looked-into-the-face-of-a-midwife-from-the/) Peggy Vincent > [“A woman by nature is supposed to be picky, because a woman decides the quality of our next generation by virtue of whom she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dixon/a-woman-by-nature-is-supposed-to-be-picky-because-a-woman-decides-the/) [Patricia Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dixon/) > [My prayer for ORU is this, that this university may become the fertile womb for the next generation of Holy Spirit evangelists, to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/my-prayer-for-oru-is-this-that-this-university-may-become-the-fertile/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Have interracial relationships so that way when the next generation comes there will be no racism...make mixed babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-interracial-relationships-so-that-way-when-the-next-generation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Entrepreneurship is the cornerstone to African development and the key to local value creation in Africa. I am determined to ensure that Africa's next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/entrepreneurship-is-the-cornerstone-to-african-development-and-the/) Tony Elumelu [Browse all 856 Next generation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While we are playing, things we used to do on the outside, in “reality,” won’t be happening anymore, or won’t be happening in the same way. 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