Gamification is the term used to describe adding game elements to everyday task. For instance, if you outfitted a pen with a special device that measured how much ink you used, it would keep track of that information and give you a reading on your “penmanship level.” Ok, that was a horrible example (that’s why I stick to blogs), but there are people with actually good ideas on how to take normal processes and include game elements to increase productivity or have more fun. People like Toy Studio Director Christian Arca.
Christian will be speaking at Chicago TechWeek 2011 on a panel called “Gamify My Project – Creating a Better Exerpience Through Fun and Games.” TechWeek is a four-day conference that gets people interested in technology innovation to share, collaborate and discover new ideas. If you are going to the conference and want to see some Gamificaion ideas, be sure to check out his panel (exact details are on this schedule page).
If you still aren’t quite sure where Gamification is being implemented, check out the following social networks that make use of it.
SCVNGR – A location based social network that gives you points for checking-in places and doing challenges that can unlock specials.
GetGlue – Another check-in social network where you can collect badges that you can request to get actual stickers for.
Most people should be familiar with Gameification because it is something we all did as kids. Not only was the game Tag fun to play, it taught us a lot about being honest (admitting you were tagged). Same goes for the game Dodge Ball, hurling rubber balls at people was a function that taught people to work together in teams. The rules of the games weren’t explicit in saying “You Will Learn a Lesson,” it was something that happened naturally and something that good Gamification should do. Hopefully with less rubber balls being tossed in the air.
