Should We Play More?

On Mar 11th, we present : "Should We Play More - Games, Gamification, and the Systems That Shape Us" by Prof. David Nieborg.

What if the apps running our lives are secretly games?

In Should We Play More?, media scholar David Nieborg levels up your understanding of games (video games and others), gamification, and “game thinking” — from where these ideas come from to how they quietly shape our everyday behavior.

Starting with the iconic role-playing game World of Warcraft, Nieborg introduces the history, theory, and business logic behind gamification. From there, he explores how game design principles show up in apps for running, driving, and work — sometimes in ways that motivate and delight, and sometimes in ways that manipulate.

Along the way, you’ll encounter examples of successful games, learn how to distinguish between games and play, and uncover the “dark patterns” embedded in popular platforms that keep us clicking, grinding, and coming back for more.

This talk offers a sharp, accessible introduction to game studies and a critical look at what happens when play becomes a tool for profit.

🎮 About the incredible Professor David Nieborg

David Nieborg (pronounced Nie as in knee, Borg as in cyborg) is a Professor of Media Studies at the University of Toronto. He has held visiting and fellowship appointments at institutions including MIT, the University of Sydney, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Amsterdam, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Before entering academia in Canada, Nieborg spent a decade in the Netherlands working as a newspaper journalist, business consultant, and entrepreneur. His research focuses on the game industry, game journalism, and the political economy of tech platforms. He is the co-author of Platforms and Cultural Production and Mainstreaming and Game Journalism.

Don’t tell anyone — but you can probably beat him at any video game.

📅 Date: March 11, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Downtown Toronto (exact location revelaed in an email closer to the date)
🎤 Speaker: Prof. David Nieborg, PhD

🎟 Seats are limited! Early bird tickets available for a limited time.