Way of the future or just the latest fad?

Introduction Who I am James Patten. A postgrad with the Biocomputing and Developmental Systems Research Group in UL What I’m researching Game Design and Evolutionary Algorithms Why I’m here today To talk about Gamification

What is Gamification? Definition: “Gamification is the integration of game mechanics or game dynamics into a website, service, community, campaign, or application in order to drive participation and engagement.”

Game Mechanics Definition “Game mechanics are a construct of rules intended to produce an enjoyable game or gameplay”. 1 “Game mechanics are rule based systems / simulations that facilitate and encourage a user to explore and learn the properties of their possibility space through the use of feedback mechanisms”. 2 “…what the players are able to do in the game-world, how they do it and how that leads to a compelling gameplay experience”. 3 “…primarily refers to the rules but can also refer to the equipment, the venue or anything else, necessary to play the game”. 4

Game Dynamics Definition Dynamics refer to what might be called the “behaviour“ of the game, the actual events and phenomena that occur as the game is played 4

Traditional Game Spaces What spaces come to mind when you think about game mechanics and dynamics? Digital Video Game?

Traditional Game Spaces Non-Digital Games?

Non-Traditional Gamespaces If we accept the “Traditional Gamespaces” that means that anything outside of this could be considered as “non-traditional”? (Recap) “Gamification is the integration of game mechanics or game dynamics into a website, service, community, campaign, or application in order to drive participation and engagement.”

Who’s Talking about Gamification? Jesse Schell Carnegie Mellon University Seth Priebatsch One of the founders of SCVNGR

A Game Layer on Top of the World See Talk at the following link: e_game_layer_on_top_of_the_world.html

Recap of Dynamics Seth mentioned Appointment Dynamic Influence and Status Dynamic Progression Dynamic Communal Discovery Dynamic

Sounds Convincing? Just add game mechanics and we will increase engagement? Sebastian Deterding (UX Designer) delivered an insightful presentation at Playful 2010 conference in London last month (September 24 th ) He seems to be a bit more cautious about Gamification

Deterding’s Main Points Gamification Vendors Confusions: Games are not necessarily fun Rewards are not achievements Feedback is not a game mechanic Novelty is not engagement Competition is not for everyone

Unintended Consequences of Poorly Applied Mechanics Unintended Behaviours Gaming the system Hitting the Target but missing the point Messing with implicit social norms

Conclusion Gamification could be powerful but remember that “90% of everything is crud!” Need the convergence of things to succeed Smart PeopleBad Intentions Non-Smart PeopleGood Intentions Smart PeopleGood Intentions

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