Part 1/2 of CHI 2017 course "Applying Gameful Design Heuristics". This course will supply attendees with our gameful design heuristics and train them in using the heuristics on an example application. Finally, at the end of the second unit, we will be discussing how to generate design ideas with the heuristics.

1. Introduction to
Gameful Design
Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello
Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
CHI 2017 – Applying Gameful Design Heuristics

2. Introduction
Heuristics
General design principle or
guidelines
Heuristic Evaluation
Use of said principles to identify
design problems
Gameful Design Heuristics
Set of guidelines for heuristic
evaluation of gameful
applications
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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3. Background (1)
Dimension Octalysis
(Chou, 2015)
HEXAD
(Marczewski,
2015)
RECIPE
(Nicholson,
2014)
KEG
(Kappen &
Nacke, 2013)
Super Better
(McGonigal, 2015)
MDL
(Deterding,
2015)
Purpose &
Meaning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Challenge &
Competence ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Completeness
& Mastery ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Autonomy &
Creativity ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Relatedness ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Immersion ✓ ✓ ✓
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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4. Background (2)
Dimension Octalysis
(Chou, 2015)
HEXAD
(Marczewski,
2015)
RECIPE
(Nicholson,
2014)
KEG
(Kappen &
Nacke, 2013)
Super Better
(McGonigal, 2015)
MDL
(Deterding,
2015)
Ownership &
Rewards ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Unpredictability ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Scarcity ✓
Loss Avoidance ✓
Feedback ✓ ✓
Change &
Disruption ✓
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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5. Intrinsic Motivation Heuristics
Motivational affordances related with the satisfaction of psychological needs
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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• Meaningful
contribution
• Information and
reflection
Purpose and
Meaning
• Increasing challenge
• Onboarding
• Self-challenge
Challenge and
Competence
• Progressive goals
• Achievement
Completeness
and Mastery
• Choice
• Self-expression
• Freedom
Autonomy and
Creativity
• Social interaction
• Social cooperation
• Social competition
• Fairness
Relatedness
• Narrative
• Perceived fun
Immersion

6. Extrinsic Motivation Heuristics
Motivational affordances that provide an outcome or value separated
from the activity itself
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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• Virtual goods
• Incentives
• Virtual economy
Ownership
and Rewards
• Status
• Exclusivity
Scarcity
• Urgency
• Loss of rewards
Loss
Avoidance

7. Context Dependent Heuristics
Motivational affordances that can provide either intrinsic or extrinsic
motivation, depending on contextual factors
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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• Clear and
immediate
• Actionable
• Graspable
Feedback
• Varied challenges
• Varied rewards
Unpredictability
• Innovation
• Disruption control
Change and
Disruption

8. Using the Gameful Design
Heuristics
1. Familiarize yourself with the application
2. Use the heuristics checklist (handout)
3. For each heuristic:
a. Familiarize yourself with the heuristic
b. Think about the supporting questions in relation to the app
c. If you identify any issue in the app related to the heuristic, write it
down
4. Finally, count the number of issues identified for each
category to identify those with more issues
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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9. Practice
Evaluate the Duolingo app using the Gameful Design Heuristics
www.duolingo.com
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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10. Gameful Design Heuristics
gamefuldesign.hcigames.com
Gustavo F. Tondello, Dennis L. Kappen, Elisa D. Mekler, Marim Ganaba,
and Lennart E. Nacke. 2016. Heuristic Evaluation for Gameful Design.
In Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human
Interaction in Play Extended Abstracts – CHI PLAY EA ’16.
ACM. doi:10.1145/2968120.2987729
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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11. References
Yu-kai Chou. 2015. Actionable Gamification - Beyond Points, Badges, and Leaderboards. Octalysis
Media. Alt.: yukaichou.com/gamification-examples/octalysis-complete-gamification-framework/
Sebastian Deterding. 2015. The Lens of Intrinsic Skill Atoms: A Method for Gameful Design. Human-
Computer Interaction 30, 3-4: 294–335. doi.org/10.1080/07370024.2014.993471
Dennis L. Kappen and Lennart E. Nacke. 2013. The Kaleidoscope of Effective Gamification:
Deconstructing Gamification in Business Applications. Proceedings of Gamification 2013. ACM, 119–
122. doi.org/10.1145/2583008.2583029
Andrzej Marczewski. 2015. User Types. In Even Ninja Monkeys Like to Play: Gamification, Game
Thinking & Motivational Design. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 69–84.
Alt.: http://www.gamified.uk/user-types/
Jane McGonigal. 2015. SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver
and More Resilient. Penguin Books.
Scott Nicholson. 2014. A RECIPE for Meaningful Gamification. In Gamification in Education and
Business, T. Reiners and L. C. Wood (eds.). Springer, 1–20. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10208-5
CHI 2017 - Applying Gameful Design Heuristics
Gustavo F. Tondello and Dr. Lennart E. Nacke
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