See the video here: http://conveyux.com/past_session/beyond-gamification-lessons-from-game-design-for-engaging-users-catt-small/ When UX designers think of techniques that have been borrowed from game design, gamification is often the first approach that comes to mind. However, the oversaturation of gamification in products we use every day can cause fatigue. Not every product needs a system of achievements. UX practitioners can learn so much more from game design. In this talk, I explored other ways to engage users in products via game design concepts without coming off as gimmicky.

1. Beyond Gamification
Lessons from Game Design for Engaging Users
Catt Small @cattsmall

2. I’m Catt Small

3. I’m a gamer

4. I’m a UX designer & developer
Bedrocket Media Ventures

5. I’m an event coordinator

6. I’m a teacher
The Code Liberation Foundation

7. I’m a game maker
Quantum Box

8. UX is a hybrid

9. The field is constantly
EVOLVING
Jurassic Park

10. UX
Game Design
pettileaf.deviantart.com

11. ACHIEVEMENTS
LEVELING UP

12. STRATEGY
MOOD
EMOTIONS

13. What UX can
learn from games

14. Complexity vs. Value

15. Very confusing
Not enough meaning, too much complexity

16. Very interesting
More usefulness/meaning than complexity

17. At least a 1:1 ratio
Usefulness
Complexity

18. Five Stages, © Asia Hoe, Catt Small & Chris Algoo

19. Five Stages, © Asia Hoe, Catt Small, & Chris Algoo

20. BREAK DOWN
complex features

21. Prioritize features
Part 1
Complex
feature
Part 2
Part 3

22. Allow users
to sign in w/o
Facebook
Let users
contribute
content
Content
screening
process
Front-end
user CMS

23. Be consistent across platforms

24. Sonic 2, Game Gear
Sonic 2, Genesis/Mega Drive
Both games © SEGA

25. Spelunky, © Mossmouth, LLC

26. Prism Shell, © Brooklyn Gamery

27. Since 2011,
MORE SMARTPHONES
have sold than computers

28. Don’t assume anything
About how people use your services

29. Playtest production-ready code

30. Test more than just
PROTOTYPES

31. FEEL

34. Your product should feel
RESPONSIVE

35. Add Easter eggs
ellythegee.deviantart.com

36. Easter eggs are
RELATABLE

37. Game Players
Game Makers

38. Sonic Generations, © SEGA

39. Sonic Generations, © SEGA

40. Your product has
PERSONALITY

45. BOND

46. Capitalize on emotions

47. FUN

48. MEMORABLE

49. Dys4ia, © Anna Anthropy

50. Contrast, © Compulsion Games

51. Prism Shell, © Brooklyn Gamery

53. To review:
•
Balance complexity with value
•
Create a cohesive cross-platform system
•
Playtest production-ready builds
•
Add Easter eggs
•
Capitalize on emotions

54. Thank you!
Questions?
Tweet me @cattsmall.