Spurred by the movement around self-tracking, there are apps that can track your steps, runs, and rides, but tracking what you eat still requires continuous input from the user. Food tracking apps and books have been around for a while now, but a start-up based out of Amsterdam, Foodzy is a web based app that lets…
With the daily hacking successes, breaches in security, and unethical behavior by corporations, it has never been more important to read through the “Terms of Service” and “Privacy Policy” before entrusting personal information and potentially sensitive data to companies. Zynga has made the process a little easier on the eyes (and on the scrolling finger)…
This week, our own Gabe Zichermann compiled a few of the most interesting businesses in gamification in “7 Winning Examples of Game Mechanics in Action“. From marketing to exercise to saving the planet, gamification has brought to light an amazing capability for motivating participation and educating users. The six companies and one individual have innovated around the…
There is a long and painful relationship between gamification and blog comments. Ever since my Google Tech Talk, I’ve been using blog commenters as an example of Killer behavior in social app settings. Check out the video below to see what I’m talking about – skip ahead to 23:16 if it doesn’t do it for…
GamesBeat 2011 is VentureBeat’s third annual conference on disruption in the video game market. This year’s event, taking place on July 12-13 in San Francisco, will focus on the intersection of games and mobile, two of the hottest markets in the technology sector which have shown promise for engaging players in interesting and innovative ways. Friends…
If you’re visiting Six Flags parks across the U.S. this summer, download the Ask.com mobile Q&A app and you could save yourself some time waiting to go on rides, courtesy of a special in-app game. The mobile trivia game, called Skip the Line, was launched to offer users real-time, location-based perks. Users can download the…
Throughout Earth Month in April, Recyclebank hosted an online game, the Green Your Home Challenge. Visitors interacted with virtual rooms to learn how to be more environmentally conscious and implement new “green” changes in home and lifestyle. Players were also given rewards, challenges, and leaderboards as well as bonuses for referring new players. Recyclebank teamed up with ROI…
In this week’s recap, Ikea has great flow, social networking platform Gigya announces game mechanics platform, gamification and games for public health, Keas cofounder Adam Bosworth shares his vision for the future, and the Guardian discusses gamification for the public good. Be sure to read the full stories.
This week, Bing Gordon, former EA executive and part of the KPCB sFund team, gave a practical breakdown of gamification and how it can apply to businesses of every type. While presenting at sFund’s Gamification Event, Gordon gave details on how gamification can help “acquire, engage, and retain” users. More than just a tool to increase…
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,…
