Gamification

This file describes the different concepts and player types envolved in gamification application

Concepts

Gamification concepts can be divided into two areas: visible elements and ones that can only be judged by using the application

Visible concepts

  • Rewards: Collectables like badges, points

  • Feedback: Information, whether taken actions were correct or not

  • Regular interaction: The user gets encouraged to play regularly

  • Storytelling: The user can identify with what the game wants to tell

  • Visible Progress / Success: The user can see his progress at the game (e.g. via progress bars)

  • Competition: Players can compete against others (e.g. via leaderboards / highscores)

  • Variety: The tasks are different and not repetitive

Witnessable concepts

  • Transparent information: Information provided is understandable

  • Freedom: The user can choose what he wants to do next

  • Clear goals and rules: It’s clear what needs to be done and how it can be done

  • Challenge: The tasks are neither to hard nor to easy

  • Deeper meaning: The user benefits from what they have learned in real life

  • Social interaction: Players can interact with others

Player types

There are four different player types:

Achiever

The achiever cares most about points, status and wants to progress as fast as possible.
It’s important to provide some kind of prices, badges and / or collectables for those players.

Explorer

An explorer wants to discover new areas and secret easter eggs. Completing the main goal of a game is not in the focus.
The game should include hidden items or details in the overworld as well as in some minigames to be found.

Socializer

A socializers most important aspect are other players to interact and work together with. Helping each other and completing tasks together are valued parts of the game.
A realization would be team based games.

Killer

A killer wants to be the best of the best, so competition stands above everything else. For those players, it is important to beat other players (or think they do).
You could satisfy killers by including (fake) multiplayer games.