Kahnoodle wants couples to be players
Don’t hate the player; hate the game, right? Well if you’re in a relationship, the only game you’re playing is figuring out how to keep your partner happy…maybe there’s a better way to play that game.
Billed as “the couples app that makes it fun and easy to keep your relationship awesome,” Kahnoodle seeks to turn the relationship dynamic into am exchange of gamified interactions.
Kahnoodling couples (you know, the busy types who often spend more time with their tech than with each other) can use this app as a playful way to remind themselves to be a couple. Each member of the pairing ranks their “love signs,” such as affectionate touch, verbal praise, etc. Then the couples make a game of filling up each other’s “love tanks.”
Every time a player demonstrates one of their partner’s love signs, they earn kudos. These points add up and can be redeemed for “koupons” and other rewards. The app also offers private chat, reminders, and earned
Of course, there may be a downside to gamifying your relationship. After all, the last thing you want to introduce into some relationships is more competition! An app can’t take the place of good old-fashioned communication, commitment, and hard work. But used responsibly, the app can be a fun way to bring a new level of attention and excitement to an otherwise stagnant relationship discounts to various merchants (Best Buy, American Apparel, and Amazon, to name a few). All of these are dedicated to “enriching your relationship.”
The free app can translate into the following languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Traditional Chinese and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Since it does feature “Frequent/Intense Sexual Content or Nudity,” Kahnoodle is definitely not for the kiddies. But if you’re over 17 and looking for a way to get your stale relationship back on track, you may be a Kahnoodler ready to happen.
I do not think that making the relationship a game itself would be a good idea. Maslow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs) researched and described intrinsic motivations and needs in detail and the social need for love and relationships is one of our strongest need after food, water, shelter and security needs (safe place to work, freedom from fear).
However, I think this app could act as a way of supporting your relationship in a game-like way through providing ideas for activities (more variety in the relationship) and act as a simple reminder to that inner intrinsic motivation. Looks like win-win: Pairs get more ideas and coupons for that, businesses (having these as a target group) increase sales. Other apps like Couple (http://couple.me/) showed that there is some demand for 1-1 relationship sharing and messaging combined. This might be another addition to that.
I think with “the couples app that makes it fun and easy to keep your relationship awesome” the direction they take with marketing is very good.
I’m a little uncomfortable with this. If my boyfriend buys me flowers, does the dishes, or kisses me as we pass in the hallway. I don’t want it to be because he just wants to earn points in the game!
I hear what Beth said, but having been with my wife in a polyamorous relationship for 52 years, and a few other partners for some decades, I have to say there were times when we had to pause, take a deep breath, and evaluate how we were acknowledging each other, getting what we wanted, and making space in our lives for what really mattered to us. This game may be one of many tools to do that sort of process.
I agree with Daniel that apps like this can be great reminders. Hopefully, not as weird as the ones in this video 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziHCvpikLh8