GAMIFICATION >for beginners<

by Zsombor Fekete & Andrea Buzás

What you should really know about gamification...

but only if you clearly know what you want!

>> It works

Set a clear target!> I’d like my 7 year old son to eat all his

lunch on Sunday.

> Hint:- Ask yourself the following question:

WHAT WOULD I LIKE IN REALITY?

If you don’t know what your aim with gamification is, you’d better go and design a video game instead.

1

ReframingI could just jell at him till he eats up all the

meat, but I don’t. Instead, I put all the meat on his favorite plate and ask him whether he could guess how many bites it takes to uncover the car on the bottom.

> Hints:- A game is never obligatory.- The task should be clear and exciting.

(and not more than 3 sentences)- Hide your real aim. Set an appealing

task instead.

2

Ergonomics> I slice up the meat to bites.

I try to make each slice small enough for a good bite to have, and at the same time big enough for uncovering a significant area from the image on the plate.

> Hints:- Eliminate all obstacles on the playfield.- If the game is too difficult, then it gets

frustrating; it if is too simple, it will be boring.

- Progress should be clear and visible.

3

Flow support> „I guess it takes a good 20 bites to

uncover the red car on the bottom. My son reacts: „Oh no! 10 is enough…”

Now we count all the bites, and if necessary, we modify the original bids.

> Hints:- All challenges should lead to the real aim.- To err is human, to try is fun.- Continuous feedback makes the player

confident in reaching his aim.

4

Conversion> After he won, I tell him how good he was.

I reassure him about the great job he did eating up all the meat.

„Did you like it?” – and with this question I try to pave the way for the success of the next Sunday lunch.

> Hints:- Celebrate success.- Reflect on his real achievement

beyond the game.- Consolidate the new skills and

knowledge.

5

That’s all folks!

Keep on gamifying and you’ll see the world around you turning a lot happier.

Gamification in 5 steps:

> Target-setting> Reframing> Ergonomics> Flow support> Conversion

!