Gamification is a tricky subject to quantify. As a conceptual region within the modern mind-map its just about brand new, yet games and play have probably been around since the dawn of man. Even a simple question at the heart of gamification–how long have people been using play mechanics to make things fun?–is more difficult…
Gamification was a hot topic at this years Games For Change. Former Vice President Al Gore kicked off the 8th Annual Games for Change Festival in NYC with a presentation about global warming that included a little bit of game talk. There is no doubt that he knows what “gamification” is—he said the word 3…
As many of you are getting ready for your deep summer holidays, we’re gearing up over here for the next Gamification Summit – which will be held in New York City on September 15 & 16th. I want to share some of the exciting news about the event and the elements of the program that…
Muggles take notice – JK Rowling has found another way to extend the Harry Potter franchise with an new interactive, gamified site: Pottermore. The mysterious new website promises to be “an online experience where you can explore the stories like never before”. The landing page is so far very sparse, with only an introductory video from…
Today we are announcing the addition of a new keynote for the Gamification Summit New York, to be held on September 15-16, 2011. We are excited to have Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Co-Founder of Gilt Groupe, as keynote speaker, where she will discuss her vision and success in making retail fun again through the innovative and…
Primarily aimed at an international audience, hotel chain Marriott has just released a Facebook game designed to introduce prospective employees to the hospitality industry. MyMarriottHotel allows players to take on the role of a hospitality manager. Currently, the only “mini-game” takes place in the kitchen, where players must cook, buy supplies, and get dishes to the counter,…
With gas prices finally coming down, it’s a great summer for a family road trip. Offering nearly 400 destinations across every state in the union, US National Parks not only provide an economical vacation option, they can also provide a fun and rewarding set of challenges for visitors. Collecting badges existed long before Foursquare came…
For the past five years, dorms across the University of Chicago have taken part in “The Battle of the Bulbs” to compete on who could get the largest decline in energy usage. From a baseline and year-by-year measurements, the school challenged itself to see who could save the most energy and “do it in the dark” for…
This week, Facebook announced that after a nine month pilot program, they will be using Rypple for internal review and communication. Facebook is already seen as one of the more satisfying place to work in the tech industry, and Rypple promises that their new service, Loops, will improve upon Facebook’s proven culture. We previously covered some of…
Gotham Media hosted a panel on gamification at New York Law School. This event was definitely more of a gamification 101 event, but still good for new comers into the space. The panel was moderated by Fast Company contributing writer, Adam Penenberg—a non-enthusiast of the words “gamification,” “gamify,” and “avatar.” On the panel, we had…
Let’s face it: saving money can be difficult, especially if you’re just receiving the first regular paychecks of your life or have gotten your first credit card. The ease of swiping or typing combined with a relatively high credit limit and fuzzy mental math can add up to some hefty financial trouble, or even persistent…
Editor’s note: Buster Benson is founder of Health Month, and previous creator of 43Things, 750Words, and Locavore. He has been working on gamification since before the term was coined, and recently sat down with contributor, Eric Bruenner, to share some ideas on using software to help us achieve mastery and accomplish our goals. Selections are below, and…
This is the full interview between Gamification Co’s Eric Bruenner and Buster Benson, continued from the selections. Eric: I used to be a writer and have been looking for a way to get back into writing. I stumbled upon your site, 750words.com, separately from gamification, but it’s use of gamification principles has gotten me writing…
This week’s recap has a collection of gamification stories form around the web. If you watch one video on gamification, let it be from the Chief Scientist at Salesforce.com, JP Rangaswami. He has an excellent perspective on gamification of the enterprise. Other articles include a clarification of gamification terms, a further look into the pitfalls…
As an attendee of Internet Week New York (IWNY), my eyes, ears and engagement tentacles were all focused on gamification. A few campaigns featured gamified elements, and United Health sponsored an event with some strong elements of gamification. Day 1 at the IWNY HQ proved to include gamification in a subtle way, which means there…
