Gamification, Gamify, Game Mechanics... all of these terms get tossed around daily and are becoming more and more prevalent when talking about websites. How are leading sites using Game Mechanics to create exciting experiences and what can we learn from the gaming world?

1. If you‟re tweeting:
Tag it with:
#gamifycg
Follow me: @flashmen

2. What is a
game mechanic?
Have you ever been „gamed?‟

3. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Here is a task.
Complete it (at some risk to yourself).
Earn MEANINGFUL rewards.

4. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
(with pretty graphics)
Task:
! Do this action a number of times.
! Risk:
If you don’t complete the action, this could happen.
Reward:
Here’s what you get when you complete it!

5. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey!
Task:
Task:
!
Risk:
! Risk:
Challenging Death: Reward:
Reward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3gFIDiBq0
E

6. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey!
Task:
! Beat Death at a game
Risk:
! Spend Eternity in Hell
Reward:
Challenging Death:
Return to the world of the
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3gFIDiBq0 Living. Excellent!
E

7. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Hunch
Task:
Task:
!
Risk:
! Risk:
Reward:
Reward:

8. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Hunch
Task:
! Answer 20 Questions
Risk:
Connect Facebook? (scary!)
! Don’t have a... taste profile?
Reward:
Build a taste profile?

9. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
LinkedIn
Task:
Task:
!
Risk:
! Risk:
Reward:
Reward:

10. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
LinkedIn
Task:
! Complete Your Profile
Risk:
! Don’t appear in search?
Reward:
Be 40x More Visible

11. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Groupon
Task:
Task:
!
Risk:
! Risk:
Reward:
Reward:

12. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Groupon
Task:
! Buy a Daily Deal
Risk:
! Expires in 24 hours
100 people must Buy
Reward:
Save 40-50%

13. What do Games do
differently?

14. Games always offer and identify next actions
Cityville

15. Games always offer and identify next actions
Angry Birds

16. Games increase difficulty
Super Mario Bros‟ level 1 jump

17. Games increase difficulty
Super Mario Bros‟ level 8 jump

18. Games increase character power
level 1 warrior

19. Games increase character power
level 85 warrior

20. More Difficulty + More Power =
More ‘Epic Wins’
Source: Jane McGonigal‟s ted talk

21. The Perfect Game
Difficulty
Character Power

22. “They are the star of the
game... Keeping them feeling
good about themselves is
important.”
Source: Sid Meier, Designer of Civilization

23. Follow Me: @flashmen
I occasionally tweet about User Experience and Game Mechanics
(and Disco Music!)
Brad Dickason
Product Manager
E-mail: dickason@gmail.com

24. Anatomy of a Game Mechanic
Follow: @flashmen
Task:
! Follow Brad on Twitter
Risk:
! Activity feed clutter
(and Disco Music!)
Reward:
Receive awesome
nuggets of info!
Or, you can e-mail me: dickason@gmail.com