May 31, 2026
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October 2013

gsx global sales event cisco

Innovative Disruption at Cisco’s Global Sales Experience (GSX)

Ivan Kuo12 mins

How can a huge company Cisco manage to engage with all their employees around the world?

GSX is Cisco’s annual sales conference, a globally distributed hybrid event experience that has been lauded for turning traditional event models on their head and pioneering new audience engagement formats. Learn how Cisco adapted social television engagement models to drive the most employee aware event in history from their GSummit SF 2013 talk

You can expect to learn:

  • Insight into the wildly successful GSX achievement program, over 200K awarded during GSX FY13.
  • Overview on the audience listening model applied during GSX FY13, including real time Trending Topics and audience sentiment broadcast injections.
  • Understanding of the transmedia tactics leveraged during GSX FY13, resulting in tens of thousands of supplementary video and downloadable content views.

Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos from GSummit SF 2013 as they’re released. You can also download a copy of this presentation by downloading it here.

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kenya

Global Challenge: RFP on Using Gamification to Counter Violent Extremism in Kenya

Ivan Kuo13 mins

We recently received an interesting email that requested our helping in finding possible gamification applications for countering violent extremism (CVE) under the Kenya Transition Initiative, a program dedicated to stabilizing Kenya’s political unrest and violence.

The RFP comes directly from the US Agency for International Development and seeks to empower youths before they are pulled into a culture of extremism.

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Newsgames: Changing the Face of Investigative Journalism in Brazil

Heong Weng Mak37 mins

“Print is out, digital is in.” These few words encapsulates the great shift occurring within the realm of mass media. With the explosive growth of digital content available on the internet, printed media is slowly falling into disfavor by reading audience. In turn, it is forcing mainstream news outlets into rethinking their modus operandi for story telling. One possible solution that has been steadily gaining credibility is the the application of newsgames, video games designed to adhere to journalistic standards.

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bigdoor gavin hewitt

Why Real Rewards Matter: BigDoor’s Approach to Loyalty

Ivan Kuo12 mins

Despite the overwhelming focus on badges in the gamification community, badge-only solutions have minimal impact on long term customerengagement. Big brands have discovered that the secret to driving customer loyalty is allowing customers to redeem points for tangible and intangible rewards.  Discover both why redeemable rewards work to build loyalty and engagement, as well as how to successfully integrate a rewards system into a gamified loyalty program. Using examples from the NFL, Yamaha Corporation and Adobe, find out what customers are looking for, and how rewards fit into the gamification puzzle in this talk by BigDoor’s VP of Sales, Gavin Hewitt.

Expect to learn:

  • Why are rewards important in a consumer facing gamified loyalty solution?
  • How are big brands embracing rewards and sweepstakes in their own loyalty programs?
  • What are some best practices for implementing a rewards program for your brand?`

Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos from GSummit SF 2013 as they’re released. You can also download a copy of this presentation by downloading it here.

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Genentech is Saving San Francisco Through Maximum Parsimony

Margo Kleman110 mins

One wet and rainy day on the streets of San Francisco, a local cheese manufacturer was en route to making one of its many routine deliveries when a series of misfortunate events transpired. In the midst of the downpour, the delivery truck hit a slick spot in which the driver failed to maintain control and crashed into a light pole. Luckily, nobody was harmed and the truck only suffered minor damage but when the driver went to check on his load, he noticed that all of the cheese had disappeared! Lo and behold, the accident jarred the back doors open and released the cheese into the San Francisco city’s sewer system.

Although it was a shame to lose such quality product, the driver thought it was a minor price to pay for what could have led to even more detrimental consequences. However, the driver assumed wrong because as the muenster cheese entered into the sewer system, it mutated and began spreading rapidly. The local cheese manufacturer knew it had a potential disaster on hand and the only way to avert a citywide take over by this mutant cheese is to enlist the help of its citizens to track its origin and defeat it through a Genentech antidote — one that can only be created by playing Genentech’s special iPad game to save the city.

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yu-kai chou gamification revolution

Yu-Kai Chou on Octalysis and Gamification Design Principles

Ivan Kuo11 mins

The Gamification Revolution is the only live gamification webcast featuring Gabe Zichermann and fellow gamification experts every week. Be sure to catch our next episode on Thursday, October 17 at 1PM ET/1800 GMT, where we will feature GSummit Global speaker and Nissan’s Creative Director of GT Academy, Karl Dunn

Remember you can participate in the show if you sign-in and RSVP! Signing in will allow you to receive show reminders, ask questions, and even join Gabe and our guest for a live question.

In last week’s show we had prominent gamification community figure, Yu-Kai Chou to join us on our show. They spoke about Yu-Kai’s Octalysis gamification framework, long-term effects of motivation with white hat vs black hat gamification, and a discussion into why “serious games suck”.

Watch the full interview below:



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Time to Overhaul Your Loyalty Program? 7 Steps to Long-Term Success

Sallie Burnett18 mins

It might be. A loyalty program is not something that you do once, flip a switch and set it on autopilot. If you’re not regularly reviewing and refining your customer loyalty program then you may be long overdue for a loyalty program audit.

A loyalty audit is a non-biased look at your company’s loyalty program to ensure that the program is working. Saks Fifth Avenue Refreshes SaksFirst, Overstock.com, Marriott Rewards and others have updated their loyalty programs in 2013.

Here are seven factors you can evaluate to ensure that your program continues to grow and be successful over the long-term.

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half the sky

Half the Sky: Lessons from Games for Change on Social Good Games

Ivan Kuo02 mins

How much impact can a social good game possibly have? According to Games for Change president, Asi Burak, the results may surprise you.

Half the Sky is a movement based on the award winning and bestselling book that is poised to take the world of social movements by storm. Working with the authors and international celebrities, the Games for Change organization, led by Asi Burak and Michelle Byrd, has built a coalition aimed at using gamification to empower women and girls. From his years of experience in the field, Asi will share how to build broad support for large-scale gamified projects, and what every organization needs to know as it embarks on this transformative path.

Watch Asi’s full GSummit SF 2013 talk below and learn what it takes to make a game with social impact.

Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos from GSummit SF 2013 as they’re released. You can also download a copy of this presentation by downloading it here.

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calm

Calm: A Meditation App That Does Feedback Right

Gabe Zichermann35 mins

One of the most elemental concepts in good gamification design is what I call the three Fs: Feedback, Friends and Fun. They come in many forms, but together they form the foundational structure of how we create engagement. I’ve written and spoken about the three Fs at length, but I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about and designing effective feedback systems.  I also love to meditate.

At the intersection of both of these interests is the excellent and visually gorgeous app, Calm. It’s a guided meditation app for iOS that’s received a number of accolades for its simple design and great programming. The premise of guided meditations it that an instructor’s voice (and soothing music) help you relax, focus and create productive, healing brain states.

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The Power and Pitfalls of Status in Social Networks: Scruff’s Blue Dot

Ivan Kuo12 mins

We all know motivating with SAPS and status can go a long way but what happens when it works against you?

Scruff is a fast-growing global brand in mobile dating, and the world’s second largest mobile social network distinguished by a tight-knit community, vocal users and strong brand image. With this powerful cohesion and motivated users, the introduction of status items can have unintended consequences – both positive and constructively challenging. Founding Partner and Chief Product Officer Jason Marchant shares the lessons of Scruff’s Blue Dot – an arbitrary status program that pushed the community’s buttons – and how you can leverage those insights for your community-oriented site, service or app.

Want more GSummit videos? Be sure to also subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos from GSummit SF 2013 as they’re released. You can also download a copy of this presentation by downloading it here.

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jesse redniss - suits recruits

Case Study: How Suits Recruits Increased Its User Base by Tenfold

Ivan Kuo01 mins

Would you believe in the participatory power of TV if we told you NBC/Universal raised their Suits Recruits game’s user base from 40,000 to 400,000 in just 3 years?

NBC/Universal was an early gamification pioneer, using the techniques to drive unprecedented engagement with fans across a wide range of properties and brands. Now, after several years of implementing these techniques, the company’s USA Network continues to set the standard for major media brands. In this GSummit SF 2013 talk, NBC/Universal SVP Jesse Redniss shares the insights, challenges and keys to success for their blockbuster fan engagement programs.

Want more GSummit videos? Be sure to also subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest videos from GSummit SF 2013 as they’re released. You can also download a copy of this presentation by downloading it here.

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interval training for productivity

Consider the Interval-Training Design to Boost Productivity

Gal Rimon46 mins

The fitness and weight-loss world is being revolutionized by the popular concept of interval training – the concept is as simple as it is effective: alternating bursts of intense activity with intervals of lighter activity instead of steady-state pacing throughout the exercise.

Take walking for example. If you’re in good shape, you might incorporate short bursts of jogging into your regular brisk walks. If you’re less fit, you might alternate leisurely walking with periods of faster walking. Gradually increasing the intensity of your workouts as you physically and mentally adapt to your routine.

Interval training improves your aerobic capacity, strength and endurance; even more importantly, it keeps boredom at bay and makes working out achievable so that you stay motivated to keep your routine up.

Couldn’t we also apply this model to our gamification design for a similar effect on workplace productivity?

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5 More Key Insights from the Enterprise Gamification Forum (Part 2)

Heong Weng Mak16 mins

Previously, we have discussed 5 key lessons drawn from the Enterprise Gamification Forum that would help organizations successfully deploy gamification. This time, we will look at another 5 key insights that organizations should take heed during the post implementation phase of the system.

  • Review and Reiterate
  • Search and Engage
  • Teaching Complex Topics with Gamification
  • Gamification is a Two-Way Ecosystem
  • Badges are not a band-aid
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michael wu

The Psychology Behind Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation with Michael Wu

Ivan Kuo32 mins

The Gamification Revolution is the only live gamification webcast featuring Gabe Zichermann and fellow gamification experts every week. Be sure to catch our next episode tomorrow on Wednesday, October 9 at 1PM ET/1800 GMT, where we will feature  prominent gamification community figure, Yu-Kai Chou.

Remember you can participate in the show if you sign-in and RSVP! Signing in will allow you to receive show reminders, ask questions, and even join Gabe and our guest for a live question.

Last week, Lithium’s Chief Scientist Michael Wu came on the show to discuss the psychology behind engagement and motivation. During the show he mentions the following on the morality of motivating others intrinsically:

“Engaging with people through their intrinsic motivations isn’t good or bad…it’s just the way it is”

What does he mean? Watch the full episode below to get a thorough explanation of the meaning behind intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, how motivation changes over time, and a glimpse into Lithium’s IT security practices:



Download this episode (right click and save)

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