Gamification: It’s not all about trophies
There is a lot of talk by those in the know who are getting fed up with people associating gamification with nothing but trophies and badges. Stick a badge on it and it is gamified. Personally I am not sure I am totally with them. For me if it works, use it. However, more often than not achievements and the like are only short term fixes on their own. There needs to be a strategy in place that will are only short term fixes on their own. There needs to be a strategy in place that will keep the users engaged, one that uses the more obvious rewards to enforce the less simple to grasp game mechanics. This article will look at a small selection of game mechanics that can… Continue reading
Super Nanny and the Gamification of a Generation
Whilst I continue my quest to write a bit more about the less obvious dynamics and mechanics of Gamification, a little thought occurred.
In 2004 a lovely lady by the name of Jo Frost appeared on our televisions in a program called Super Nanny. For those who didn’t see it (it is still showing in the US I think), basically Miss Frost would go into a family who had “problem” children and work out how best to bring them back under control. Of course this being the Naughties, smacking is a big no no, so she introduced the world to two concepts. The Reward Chart and the Naughty Step. Whilst these were not new ideas, it was the first time many people had seen them.
The naughty step… Continue reading
The Gamification of Life
Okay, okay, I know this blog is getting a bit Gamification heavy AND I also promised the next post would be a very serious one that went into more detail about non reward like gamification, but it isn’t – yet – so there.
The reason for this blog? Well, it is currently about 3am and I have just changed my daughters nappy whilst trying to feed her. I set myself the challenge to change her, in her Moses basket, whilst feeding her. I basically gamified the process to make it more entertaining to my sleep deprived brain. However, it got me to thinking. Whenever people talk about gamification, it is normally related to some kind of technology based solution. Make it into a video game, add rewards and achievements… Continue reading | 1 Comment
The Jobification of Games – A Parody of Gamification
A Parody of Gamification
I have written at length about Gamification. Some people have even begun to take what I say seriously, which is great. However, time for some fun. What if we flipped the idea on its head. If games worked based on the set of rules many businesses have. How would a jobified game actually play?
A Quest is Born
The day starts with you sitting at your desk. First you boot up your pc and do the morning kitchen dance, as you get your first cup of coffee for the day. After returning to your desk and going through your RSS feeds and non essential emails, it is time for work. Top of your inbox you see an email with a red exclamation mark. Continue reading | 5 Comments
The Importance of being Connected
Networking, Preconceptions and the Truth
When I first started working, I was full of ideals and preconceptions about the professional world. One of those preconceptions was about Networking, as in face to face networking – social networking was still to come. Continue reading | 3 Comments
Redefined by Technology: The words, they are a changing
Below is a very low brow, non expert look at how the technological revolution has changed the definition of words and concepts over the last few years.
Social: When I were a lad, socialising meant going ot the local for a few drinks. Now it means something totally different, with the advent of Social Networking. Continue reading | 2 Comments
Gamification: you got to play to win
A lovely chat with some new friends brought about an interesting thought. Can you really write games or gamify things if you don’t play games?
I have rambled at length about my views on gamification. I have explained what I think the basics of game theory boil down to. A task with some kind of reward or incentive offered for completion. Continue reading
The rise and rise of the web developer
In the Beginning there was HTML
When I first started out in web design, things were different. It was like the wild west – small groups of frontiers men still dipping their toe into the waters of what was possible. It was a fairly well established industry at the time, but it was something that the general public didn’t get all that involved in. Continue reading | 1 Comment
The “It Should Just Work” Generation
I was watching a young person with an iPhone the other day. I witnessed, with some amusement, this persons reaction when the phone crashed. The string of expletives that ensued left me to conclude that he had either a. lost an unsaved document he had been writing for 8 months or b. was about to break the world record on Angry Birds. Continue reading
New Year – What could it Bring
Well, in a few hours it will be 2012. Now, sadly we are not traveling in flying cars though luckily it doesn’t look like the world is going to end. So what is going to happen in 2012?
I think it is pretty certain that a gajillion new social media related jobs will be created. That said, I have to wonder how long that can last. Continue reading
