The lights are on
It's Valentine's Day and I had to work 3 hours late tonight. Not a good combination. Suffice it to say I'm going with one of my shorter topics this evening.
Gamification. I'm sure I have heard of the word before but honestly until I wrote the blog about D.I.C.E. a few days ago, the word never really caused me to stop and pause. When I published that blog, one of the event presentations was titled "Gamification vs. Gameplay" which did cause me to think about it for a moment, but then some other bright and shiny object distracted me and I forgot about it. But over the next few days, I've heard the word from various non-related sources no less than 4 times. Maybe even more. The more I heard it, the more I thought about it...and the more I thought about it, the less I understood it. I think it's one of those words where you think you know what it means, but when you think about it, then you're not so certain.
So, I did what I usually do when I don't know something, which is rather often. I went to Google and looked it up. And of course one of the top links was to Wikipedia. I went there and discovered it's somewhat of a current topic. Well, it at least has an entry. Did you know that "gamification" hosted its own event back in January 2011? I had no idea.
Just as an interesting side note, I searched on gamification at Game Informer and not one hit came back. The Games, News, Reviews, Previews, Users, Blogs, Discussions and Groups...all zeros. Nothing found. (Well, if you search now, there might be a 1 under blog because without a doubt I'm going to use that as a keyword for this blog). It's also interesting to note that the Urban Dictionary has no listing for it.
But Wikipedia defines it as,
Gamification is the use of game play mechanics for non-game applications particularly consumer-oriented web and mobile sites, in order to encourage people to adopt the applications. It also strives to encourage users to engage in desired behaviors in connection with the applications. Gamification works by making technology more engaging, and by encouraging desired behaviors, taking advantage of humans' psychological predisposition to engage in gaming. The technique can encourage people to perform chores that they ordinarily consider boring, such as completing surveys, shopping, or reading web sites. It's also known as funware.
That's kind of wordy. Let me summarize. Gamification is taking something not fun, like some element of work or school, making it like a video game, and then it becomes fun.
I don't want to use or quote one of the examples that I witnessed a few days ago, but the author of this particular piece suggested using Assassin's Creed or a modified form of it as a way to teach history. I'll leave it at that, but you can see where this is going.
Another example that I included in an unrelated blog a long time ago was Microsoft and their implementation of gamification through our newest weakness and addiction...achievements. In that blog, I mentioned how Microsoft was incorporating achievements in the Office Suite to assist with teaching users how to perform the various features.
There are a ton of different websites, but I thought I'd just mention a few interesting ones. As I mentioned previously, there was a big expo back in January 2011. The Gamification Summit was held Jan 20-21, 2011. That wasn't all that long ago and apparently it was a sold out event. Even though the event is over, it's interesting reading through some of the topics, like this one:
Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
More than 174 million Americans are gamers, and the average young person in the United States will spend ten thousand hours gaming by the age of 21. According to world-renowned game designer Jane McGonigal, the reason for this mass exodus to virtual worlds is that videogames are increasingly fulfilling genuine human needs. In this groundbreaking exploration of the power and future of gaming, McGonigal reveals how we can use the lessons of game design to fix what is wrong with the real world, boost global happiness and create engagement that transcends commerce.
If you read most of the agenda items and the keynote speakers, you'll notice this is much more of a business oriented event taking advantage of video games as a business solution rather than a bunch of gamers putting their collective heads together to come up with a way games can make the real world better.
That being said though, I think as gamers it's important for us to realize and be aware that while there are certainly advantages to gamification, it can also be used by the business world to lure us in while trying to rid us of our money. Think about it. Video games appeal to us, naturally, so if we see some business solution or product that "feels" like a video game, we might be more inclined to go that route. If it works well and isn't cost prohibitive, then no worries; but if it lures us in just because it's like a video game and it isn't the best solution, then we just got suckered in.
Another popular site devoted to gamification is Gamify. Their mantra is, "The verb 'to Gamify' means to apply game mechanics in everyday applications and situations to boost engagement, fun and good behaviors. Gamify is on an EPIC quest to gamify the world, making it a more fun and rewarding place to live in."
As a self-proclaimed hard core gamer, I chuckled when I look at most of this. There is a part of me that thinks this is just some crazy fad that is going to pass...but there's also a part of me that sees the value in a system like this if it can motivate and encourage people and make them enjoy their job or school more. And while I don't think Gamify can influence the gamification of our kind of games, you know...real games...I do think this is something to keep an eye on and certainly don't think it's the last time I heard the word this year.
How many of you have heard of the word gamification; do you think this is a passing trend or does this concept have real merit? Can games like Assassin's Creed really teach us history? Can games like Need for Speed teach us to drive? Can games like Star Craft teach us resource management and tactics?
All so very interesting. I think I'll go play some video games and make myself smarter now.
I learned how to be devilishly handsome from...O wait i've always been devilishly handsome.
Shame Driving theory Training dosn't come on the...Wait a secound...does it say 3 and up on that box?
Lol I love this blog!
I know how to shoot from Modern Warfare 2
I know how to survive a zombie apocalypse from Resident evil 5
and the list goes on
I know how to be a cybernetic super-soldier created to fight an evil cult of aliens that sometimes unleash zombifying parasites from the inner chambers of ancient ring-worlds orbiting distant planets.
I put that in my resume.
I have heard of this before, but not ever in any real depth...
I think that this concept, if properly used, really can teach people something. Of course, I don't think it can teach people practical skills, like say, driving or cooking; I think that games of that nature may be able to convey theory of each operation, but not the actual experience.
Think about it, you play a cooking game on the Wii, and you are dicing carrots... sure, you know the principals of the act, but you don't know how that knife feels in your hand, you don't feel the resistance of the carrot as your knife hits it. The same goes for driving (no real sensation, even in drivers ed simulators), and firing a weapon (no physical recoil, no weight of the gun, no fatigue from movement or absorbing recoil impact).
I do think that video games can teach us other things though. Sure, the story in Assassins Creed is largely made up (with some factual basis), but think of the possibility of adding real events from the period! How many of us have memorized the histories and lineages of our favorite franchises? Add real world history to that, and instantly see results! Think of a lot of the WWII era shooters. Sure, it was a lot of "one guy wins the war" stuff, but there was a ton of REAL history in there! How many of us, after playing Medal of Honor, knew more about D-Day, or the Battle of Midway!
We have the tools to make this happen RIGHT NOW! All it would really take is creative licensing, and a studio willing to not eff the concept up!
This is just an attempt to cash in on how popular games are today. As much as I love video games, I don't want them to be a part of my real world activities. People who think the two should be mixed have lost sight of what games are supposed to be all about.
never heard of this. though i think it might have some application. consider that doctors use games to help with hand-eye coordination, and the military or law enforcement has used them to improve analytical and reaction skills.
and i have a personal anecdote, which is i think they've helped me with target practice. i've played shooters for about 30 years, but about 10 years ago i tried shooting a gun for the first time at my dad's. he said i was a better shot than he ever was despite years in at least one if not two branches of the armed services.
so again, yeah i think it does have applications. i do doubt however that it will be a real movement with widespread consequences. still, interesting blog, saint.