In defense of Gamification
11 August 2011
I never liked to get into bar querrele that periodically inflame the world of video games with the only result of diverting energy from specific targets, and often self-hammer the our industry. The history is really made of twists and turns, after console vs. PC war, the era of mobile games called “little games”, social games vs. high budget games, now it seems the turn of the “game designer” vs. Gamification.But proceed with order. This titanic struggle pitting the gamification advocates, discipline still in its infancy, which aims to create engagement and problem solving using mechanics, dynamic, user interface patterns and in general game thinking in non gaming contexts. The opponent seems to be incarnated in the game designer, professional in charge to decide, primarily, how videogame will be.
LEVEL 1) IS GAMIFICATION A MARKETING INVENTION?
… Gamification is marketing bullshit, invented by consultants …
So ruled “sir” Ian Bogost (who knows this guy among the readers?) , associate professor of Literature, Communication and Culture at Giorgia Institute as well as founder of Persuasive Games LLC Game Studio, in his recent blog post.
Shit, Bullshit!! It ‘a falsehood without ifs and buts. We are in a huge game, you should give to our champion three lives to save the princess!
Life 1) Year 2002, Britain’s Nick Pelling invented the term by giving it its current meaning while limiting its target. Nick has been envolved in more than 30 games as a programmer since the days of the Commodore64. As he confirmed to me in an interview:
With the term i meant “Apply” game-like accelerated user interface design “to make electronic transactions more enjoyable and faster.”
Ian, try again and be more lucky …
Life 2) Oh no, in 2008 the term was used by Bret Terril, at that time Senior Director of Corporate Development at Zynga, the gaming company with the highest evalutation in the world. He argues that:
“…one of the biggest topics (and one I happen to be thinking a lot about it recently) is the gameification of the web. The basic idea is taking game mechanics and applying to other web properties to increase engagement.”
But the great heroes give their best in difficult times. The final level boss is coming and you just have one life …
Life 3) In February 2010, without mentioning the term, Jesse Schell in the mindblowing talk “Design Outside the Box” throws (deliberately exaggerating) some theoretical basis showing a world where every action we take will be influenced by points and rewards through the deployment of sensors, smart phones, geolocation. Ah, Jesse Schell is the author of the best game design book as well as founder of Schell Games, a study of 150 employees.
IAN YOU LOSE. THE END!
The anti-Pasdaran gamification go beyond counting gamification advocates also among gaming people like Jane McGonigal, author of Broken Reality and alternative reality games designer.
. .. That is why I’m wary of “gamification,” an idea That’s been blowing strong through confabs like South by Southwest and is championed by authors, consultants, and gurus like Jane McGonigal startup, Priebatsch Seth, and Gabe Zichermann …
The story, and not ugly words, demonstrate how marketing and marketing-oriented people do not play any role in how Gamification, both word and concept, is born.
Unfortunately the time for this mission is over, the energy bar will restore in 24 hours and promise to return to the subject addressing the other “issues”…