The other night, I was having a drink with Harold and the awesome Francesco Marconi from Herograph when we got talking about gamification. I was at a total loss for why hearing “gamification” sometimes makes me want to kick people in the shins.
I believe in the tenets of gamification. I believe that rewards and success achievements are huge motivators, and I’m happy that this marketing buzzword means educational games are being taken more seriously. When I watch (and rewatch, since I’m trying to make everyone I know see it) Jane McGonigal’s TED talk about games saving the world, I want to cheer. Games do change our behavior. There’s more to games than slacking off.
Why, then, do I have this nagging worry that gamification only means advergames and unfun branded titles? Is it just my elitist hipster belief that my hobbies are too good for the plebs?
I’ve not been able to clearly articulate why gamification often annoys me, but Wise Guys (the guys behind Twistianapolis 500) recently summed it up:
I’m not the first to say it, and I won’t be the last, but adding points and badges don’t make a game. A game is supposed to be fun, bottom line. If there are points and badges, that’s one way to measure progress, but nobody ever said, “Hey what’s that game with all the badges and points? Let’s play that one!
Via Boss Battle: Gameification on Wise Guys Events
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