The PlayStation 3 may claim to cure cancer with Folding@Home, but can games really make the world a better place?

At this year's TED Conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design), Jane McGoniga gave a presentation on how "gaming can make a better world." While playing games and saving the world at the same time may seem to be a little far-fetched, companies such as Foursquare and Gowalla have seen success in turning the monotony of everyday life into metagames.

Would you prefer a more immersive alternate reality or a more immersive reality?