Gamification: Overcoming the fear of fun
As started to dive into the product gamification poll it’s been odd to discover that so many people entering the water are starting out by telling people how terrified they should be.
The message seems to be that the addition of game dynamics to existing products is not only scary, but that there are intrinsically “right” and “wrong” ways to increase user experience and enjoyment. So even if you get the results you were looking for, you may have done it in an incorrect or unethical way.
But to be honest, I’m not sure what good the hand-wringing is supposed to be doing. Yes, designers can create addictive experiences to effectively to part the user from their money, but the truth is that good game dynamics are supposed capture attention and direct experience. People are also concerned that the quality isn’t going to be good enough, and while richer content is great, it can’t make the experience better, or get the results you’re looking for, if it isn’t elegantly integrated.
I think that focus on the negative aspects of “bolt on gaming” and fears that gamification may dilute fundamental experiences isn’t as as important as recognizing that the true worth of adding game-like experiences should be to better expose those users to the underlying value of the interactions. To put it more simply: Good gamification should make interactive experiences richer and more focused for the user.
I’ll start following up with some specifics over the next few weeks, and if you have any comments, feel free to dive in. The water is fine.
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