POINTSIFICATION

Prof. Kevin Werbach

@kwerb

http://www.hideandseek.net/2010/10/06/cant-play-wont-play/

What were currently terming

gamification is in fact the process
of taking the thing that is least
essential to games and
representing it as the core of the
experience. Points and badges
have no closer a relationship to
games than they do to websites
and fitness apps and loyalty cards.

Gamification is an inadvertent con.

It tricks people into believing that
theres a simple way to imbue their
thing (bank, gym, job, government,
genital health outreach program,
etc.) with the psychological,
emotional and social power of a
great game.

Does it Actually Work?

Real research on effectiveness
is limited
Potential for engagement decay
Crowding out
Gamification is the high fructose
corn syrup of engagement.
-- Kathy Sierra

Implications
Names are powerful
Bad gamification is bad
Behaviorist gamification is subject to the
limits/dangers of rewards

There is more to games than

gamification, and vice versa
Caveat ludor