Gamification

The lesson today was all about GAMIFICATION.

Gamification is the use of game mechanics and design in a non-game capacity.

Gamifcation:

• Applies to none-game applications and processes in order to encourage people to adopt a style of behavior or to influence them. 
• Makes Technology more engaging.
• Encourages people to perform chores they would normally consider boring.

Includes: Air miles, Checking in on social networks, Coupon collection, Educational Games and Petrol Points as well as many others like Coffee Cards.

We were then presented a lecture by Jesse Shell upon the subject.

"Who in this room is going to lead us to get there?"~ Jesse Shell.

This sort of reward system, as Jesse describes, could be very real very soon. It could be abused in so many ways but also inspire in us a need to be greater.

Jane Mcgonigal also describes the benefits of Gamification in a different, very human light.

People need the 4 superpowers to function as a game in real life:

+ URGENT OPTIMISM
+ SOCIAL FABRICATION
+ BLISSFUL PRODUCTIVITY
+ EPIC MEANING

Without these, challenges become insurmountable and all efforts obsolete.

If 'Reality could be fixed', we may find gamers stepping up to roles and saving more than Princess Peach.