Gamification by Design : Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps

by Zichermann, Gabe; Cunningham, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9781449397678
• ISBN10: 1449397670
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-08-19
• Publisher: Oreilly & Associates Inc

Summary

What do Foursquare, Nike, and Groupon have in common? These websites and many others use game mechanics and game design to deliver a sticky, viral, and satisfying experience to their customers. This book provides the design strategy and tactics you need to integrate gamification into any kind of consumer-facing website, new or existing, with design patterns, meaningful code samples, and in-depth chapters on major gamification APIs. With hundreds of technical and process options to choose from, implementing game mechanics can be complicated. Gamification by Design clarifies the possibilities and offers a series of steps for developers, producers, and product managers who want their websites to deliver powerful consumer engagement and enjoy viral growth.

Author Biography

Gabe Zichermann is the foremost expert on the subject of gamification. He chairs the Gamification Summit and Workshops at http://GSummit.com. Christopher Cunningham is an entrepreneur and veteran technologist who helped found rmbr, an early gamification solution.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. xiii
Foundations	p. 1
The Fun Quotient	p. 2
The Evolution of Loyalty	p. 5
Status at the Wheel	p. 9
The House Always Wins	p. 13
Player Motivation	p. 15
Powerful Human Motivators	p. 15
Why People Play	p. 20
PlayerTypes	p. 21
Social Games	p. 24
Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation	p. 26
Progression to Mastery	p. 29
Motivational Moment: Be the Sherpa	p. 33
Game Mechanics: Designing for Engagement (Part I)	p. 35
MDA Framework	p. 35
Game Mechanics	p. 36
Points	p. 36
Levels	p. 45
Leaderboards	p. 50
Game Mechanics: Designing for Engagement (Part II)	p. 55
Badges	p. 55
Onboarding	p. 59
Challenges and Quests	p. 64
Social Engagement Loops	p. 67
Customization	p. 70
Gaming the System	p. 72
Agile and Gamification Design	p. 73
Empty Bar Problem: Foursquare	p. 74
Dashboards	p. 75
Game Mechanics and Dynamics in Greater Depth	p. 77
Feedback and Reinforcement	p. 77
Game Mechanics in Depth	p. 81
Putting It Together	p. 94
Gamification Case Studies	p. 95
Nike Plus: Making Fitness Fun	p. 96
Gamify Questionsùor Answers	p. 98
Health Month	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 109
Tutorial: Coding Basic Game Mechanics	p. 111
Planning a Gamification Makeover	p. 112
A System for Tracking Scores and Levels	p. 116
Badges	p. 125
Displaying Player Scores and Levels on the Site	p. 128
The Trophy Case	p. 135
Summary	p. 139
Tutorial: Using an Instant Gamification Platform	p. 141
Game On	p. 141
Critical Elements of an Online Rewards Experience	p. 142
Planning a Rewards Project	p. 142
Developing a Rewards Program	p. 156
Analytics	p. 165
The Game's Just Beginning	p. 168
Index	p. 169
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