Octalysis Gamification
Workshop
For: Habit Summit By: Yu-kai Chou
@yukaichou / #octalysis /Yukai@OctalysisPrime.com
Guild Leader:Yu-kai Chou
@yukaichou / #octalysis / yukai@yukaichou.com
http://yukaichou.com/books
http://yukaichou.com/books
OctalysisPrime(.com)
Games?
Games?
Entertainment Software Association (2012)
Games?
Entertainment Software Association (2012)
Average Gamer: 35Years Old
68% Gamers Over 18Year Old
47% Gamers are Women
More Adult Women than Under 18 Male
What is Gamification?
Game Elements Non-Game (Boring) Context
Exercise
Think about ONE game you enjoyed playing:
Farmville? Candy Crush? Angry Birds?
Starcraft? WoW? DOTA? Halo? LoL?
Poker? Golf? Majong? Crossword Puzzle? Sudoku?
Think about what made that game fun/
enjoyable
Exercise
We’ll come back to this later.
“Human-Focused Design”
• As opposed to “Function Focused Design”
• System that is designed to optimize for the
motivations and feelings of the human inside
• ...instead of assuming the people within are robots
that will complete the task
vs
“Human-Focused Design”
• Gaming industry = first to master Human-Focused Design
• Games have spent decades/centuries mastering how to
engage people without a mandated purpose
• Now we are learning from games, hence “Gamification”
@yukaichou / #octalysis / yukai@yukaichou.com
vs
Global Movement
Almost all continents and industries are
experimenting with Gamification campaigns
90+ Gamification Case
Studies with ROI Stats
http://bit.ly/gameROI
Outside Reading
Design Problem
Beginning with “game mechanics” instead of
the Core Drives
Good Gamification
does not start with
Game Elements
but starts with our
Core Drives
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
-Narrative

-Elitism

-Humanity Hero
-Revealed Heart
-Beginners Luck
-Free Lunch
-Destiny Child
-Creationist
-Status Points

-Badges (Achievement Symbols)

-Fixed Action Rewards (Earned Lunch)

-Leaderboard

-Progress Bar
-Quest Lists
-Dessert Oasis
-High Five

-Crowning
-Anticipation Parade
-Aura Effect
-Step-by-Step Overlay Tutorial
-Boss Fights
-Milestone Unlocks
-Real-Time Control
-Evergreen Combos
-Instant feedback
-Boosters
-Blank Fills

-Plant Pickers
-Poison Pickers
-Exchangeable Points
-Virtual Goods
-Build from Scratch
-Alfred Effect

-Collection Sets
-Avatar
-Protection
-Recruiter Burden
-Monitor Attachment
-Brag Button
-Water Cooler
-Conformity Anchors
-Mentorship
-Social Prod
-Friending
-Social Treasure/Gifting
-SeeSaw Bump
-Group Quests
-Tout Flags
-Appointment Dynamics
-Magnetic Caps
-Dangling
-Prize Pacing
-Options Pacing
-Last Mile Drive
-Count Down Timer
-Torture Breaks
-Moats
-The Big Burn
-Glowing Choice
-MiniQuests

-Visual Storytelling
-Easter Eggs
-Random Rewards
-Obvious Wonder
-Rolling Rewards
-Evolved UI
-Sudden Rewards
-Oracle Effect
-Sunk Cost Prison
-Progress Loss
-Rightful Heritage
-Evanescence Opportunity
-Status Quo Sloth
-Scarlet Letter
-Visual Grave
-FOMO Punch
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Octalysis
Meaning
Epic Meaning & Calling
Octalysis
Accomplishment
Development &
Accomplishment
Octalysis
Empowerment
Empowerment of
Creativity & Feedback
Octalysis
Ownership
Ownership &
Possession
Octalysis
SocialInfluence
Social Influence
& Relatedness
Octalysis
Scarcity
Scarcity & Impatience
Octalysis
Unpredictability
Unpredictability & Curiosity
Octalysis
Unpredictability
Unpredictability & Curiosity
Skinner Box
Octalysis
Avoidance
Loss & Avoidance
Right
Brain
Left
Brain
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Right
Brain
Left
Brain
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Extrinsic (tendency) Intrinsic (tendency)
White Hat Gamification
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Black Hat Gamification
White Hat Gamification
Black Hat Gamification
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
White Hat Gamification
Black Hat Gamification
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Zynga figured out how to do a lot of Black Hat techniques,
which led to great engagement and monetization metrics for
each user. But in the long run, users leave when they CAN
because they don’t feel like they are in control over
themselves.
Self-Submission to Black Hat Gamification
Just because it’s called Black Hat
doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad
-Sharing creative content (sentences,
photos, videos)
-Tons of Facebook games

-Instant feedback of friends “liking”
-Best way to create a cool profile
-Friending
-Anchored Conformity
-Social Prodding
-Social Treasure
-Group Quests
-Tout Flags
-Envy Cloud
-Completed Profile
-More friends
-Increased likes and comments
-Aura Effect
-IKEA Effect
-Photos/Profiles 

-Friends
-Memories
-Protector Quest
-Recruiter Burden
-Monitor Attachment
-Inner Circles
-Note: (Early
Facebook has
HIGH scarcity
score with certain
universities only)


-Mystery Box
-Glowing Choice
-Refreshing Content
-Easter Eggs
-Scarlet Letter

-Sunk Cost Tragedy
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Octalysis Score: 448
-Lack Epic Meaning & Calling
-On Facebook for a “Cause”
Social
Influence
Octalysis
-No higher meaning besides being a farmer
-Allows the ability to “paint” with
your farm
-Leaderboard

-Group Farming

-Free Social Gifts
-Neighbors
-Farm getting Bigger & Better
-Difficult badges for sorts of crops

-Reward Loops
-Ownership of Farm

-Virtual Goods
-Appointment Dynamics

-Milestone Unlock

-Real-money Only Crops

-Free Social Gifts

-Season-based Gifts
-Waiting for what’s next in the game
-Avoid plants withering
-Avoid losing opportunities
-Avoid Sunk-Cost Tragedy
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Octalysis Score: 414
-Helping a weird monster solve problems
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Constantly looking
for better combos
and planning
boosters
“Sweet” “Delicious!”
Level tracks and “Boss Stages”
1-3 Stars
Defeating Chocolate
Quest to accumulate more
points and boosters
Social Treasure - Lives
See friend progress
Always waiting for the
right gems
Seeing levels ahead
Countdown timer/
moves
Balancing Owl Gems
Unpredictable Gems
Random CombosAvoiding Loss
Fear of the chocolate
encroaching candy
Octalysis Score: 432
http://yukaichou.com/
octalysis-tool
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
-Narrative

-Elitism

-Humanity Hero
-Revealed Heart
-Beginners Luck
-Free Lunch
-Destiny Child
-Creationist
-Status Points

-Badges (Achievement Symbols)

-Fixed Action Rewards (Earned Lunch)

-Leaderboard

-Progress Bar
-Quest Lists
-Dessert Oasis
-High Five

-Crowning
-Anticipation Parade
-Aura Effect
-Step-by-Step Overlay Tutorial
-Boss Fights
-Milestone Unlocks
-Real-Time Control
-Evergreen Combos
-Instant feedback
-Boosters
-Blank Fills

-Plant Pickers
-Poison Pickers
-Exchangeable Points
-Virtual Goods
-Build from Scratch
-Alfred Effect

-Collection Sets
-Avatar
-Protection
-Recruiter Burden
-Monitor Attachment
-Brag Button
-Water Cooler
-Conformity Anchors
-Mentorship
-Social Prod
-Friending
-Social Treasure/Gifting
-SeeSaw Bump
-Group Quests
-Tout Flags
-Appointment Dynamics
-Magnetic Caps
-Dangling
-Prize Pacing
-Options Pacing
-Last Mile Drive
-Count Down Timer
-Torture Breaks
-Moats
-The Big Burn
-Glowing Choice
-MiniQuests

-Visual Storytelling
-Easter Eggs
-Random Rewards
-Obvious Wonder
-Rolling Rewards
-Evolved UI
-Sudden Rewards
-Oracle Effect
-Sunk Cost Prison
-Progress Loss
-Rightful Heritage
-Evanescence Opportunity
-Status Quo Sloth
-Scarlet Letter
-Visual Grave
-FOMO Punch
Discovery Onboarding Scaffolding Endgame
Design for All 4 Phases
Level 2 Octalysis
Discovery Onboarding Scaffolding Endgame
Design for All 4 Phases
Level 2 Octalysis
Discovery Onboarding Scaffolding Endgame
AchieversExplorersSocializersKillers
Discovery Onboarding Scaffolding Endgame
AchieversExplorersSocializersKillers
The Game You Like
Now that you have learned the basics of
the 8 Core Drives, think about which Core
Drives made the game you enjoy fun?

Practice Creating an Octalysis Chart for It
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
-Narrative

-Elitism

-Humanity Hero
-Revealed Heart
-Beginners Luck
-Free Lunch
-Destiny Child
-Creationist
-Status Points

-Badges (Achievement Symbols)

-Fixed Action Rewards (Earned Lunch)

-Leaderboard

-Progress Bar
-Quest Lists
-Dessert Oasis
-High Five

-Crowning
-Anticipation Parade
-Aura Effect
-Step-by-Step Overlay Tutorial
-Boss Fights
-Milestone Unlocks
-Real-Time Control
-Evergreen Combos
-Instant feedback
-Boosters
-Blank Fills

-Plant Pickers
-Poison Pickers
-Exchangeable Points
-Virtual Goods
-Build from Scratch
-Alfred Effect

-Collection Sets
-Avatar
-Protection
-Recruiter Burden
-Monitor Attachment
-Brag Button
-Water Cooler
-Conformity Anchors
-Mentorship
-Social Prod
-Friending
-Social Treasure/Gifting
-SeeSaw Bump
-Group Quests
-Tout Flags
-Appointment Dynamics
-Magnetic Caps
-Dangling
-Prize Pacing
-Options Pacing
-Last Mile Drive
-Count Down Timer
-Torture Breaks
-Moats
-The Big Burn
-Glowing Choice
-MiniQuests

-Visual Storytelling
-Easter Eggs
-Random Rewards
-Obvious Wonder
-Rolling Rewards
-Evolved UI
-Sudden Rewards
-Oracle Effect
-Sunk Cost Prison
-Progress Loss
-Rightful Heritage
-Evanescence Opportunity
-Status Quo Sloth
-Scarlet Letter
-Visual Grave
-FOMO Punch
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
Relatedness
Autonomy
Competence
Purpose
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Core Drive 1:
Epic Meaning & Calling
Core Drive 2:
Development & Accomplishment
Core Drive 3:
Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback
Core Drive 5:
Social Influence & Relatedness
Core Drive 4:
Ownership & Possession
Core Drive 8:
Loss & Avoidance
Core Drive 7:
Unpredictability & Curiosity
Core Drive 6:
Scarcity & Impatience
White Hat Motivation
Black Hat Motivation
The 8 Core Drives
1) Epic Meaning & Calling
Part of something bigger than yourself
World About to End
Waze
Elitism
2) Development & Accomplishment
Feeling Progress and Achievement
LinkedIn Progress Bar
Amazon
Glowing Choice
Empty Achievements
3) Empowerment of Creativity
& Feedback
The creator inside of us
Kids who play Card Games like Magic the Gathering
need to remember a ton of information
…more information than the periodic table
SAPS (Zichermann)
1.Status

2.Access

3.Power

4.Stuff
Best Reward: Boosters
(CD3)
Best Reward: Boosters
(CD3)
Simple “Gamification” :-(
User Performs
Desired Action
User Gets Points
User Gets Free
Stuff
End
Please do it again!
After X Points
Simple “Gamification” :-(
User Performs
Desired Action
User Gets Points User Gets Badge End
Please do it again!
After X Points
Simple Game
Kill Monsters
Get EXP Level Up Become Stronger
Boost
After certain EXP
Get Gold
Get Treasure
Chest/Loot
Get Gear Look Cooler
After certain Gold
Random
ly
Earn
End
Bandwagon Streak
Emotion-Tag
InterestingVideos
Get EXP Level Up
Increase Emotion
Tag Limit
Boost
After certain EXP
Get Emotion Tags
End
If people
same-tag
within X Hours
Extend Emotion
Tag Hours
Ifpeople
sam
e-tag
w
ithin
X
Hours
Boost
If people
same-tag with
X Hours
Get High Level
Frame
4) Ownership & Possession
The more you have, the more you want
CustomizingYour Avatar
Makes you feel more ownership over it as your own identity
Collection Sets (GT #16)
Pokemon GO
Exercise
• Think about within your project, are there
components of 

CD1: Epic Meaning & Calling

CD2: Development & Accomplishment

CD3: Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback

CD4: Ownership & Possession
• Think about two ideas to add the Core Drives
above to your project
5) Social Influence & Relatedness
What others think can kill you
Game Technique #22:
Group Quests
OPower
Sign #1 — Social Proof: "Many past visitors have removed
the petrified wood from the park, destroying the natural state of
the Petrified Forest." (This was accompanied by a picture of
park visitors taking pieces of wood.)
Sign #2 — No Social Proof: "Please don't remove the
petrified wood from the park, in order to preserve the natural
state of the Petrified Forest." (This sign showed a lone visitor
stealing a piece of wood with the universal “No” symbol, a red
circle with a diagonal line).
Sign #3 — No Sign At All: This test didn't include a sign of
any type, serving as the control test for the study.
Petrified Wood Theft
Sign #1 — Social Proof: "Many past visitors have removed
the petrified wood from the park, destroying the natural state of
the Petrified Forest." (This was accompanied by a picture of
park visitors taking pieces of wood.) - ???
Sign #2 — No Social Proof: "Please don't remove the
petrified wood from the park, in order to preserve the natural
state of the Petrified Forest." (This sign showed a lone visitor
stealing a piece of wood with the universal “No” symbol, a red
circle with a diagonal line). -1.67%
Sign #3 — No Sign At All: This test didn't include a sign of
any type, serving as the control test for the study. - 3%
Petrified Wood Theft
Sign #1 — Social Proof: "Many past visitors have removed
the petrified wood from the park, destroying the natural state of
the Petrified Forest." (This was accompanied by a picture of
park visitors taking pieces of wood.) - 7.9%
Sign #2 — No Social Proof: "Please don't remove the
petrified wood from the park, in order to preserve the natural
state of the Petrified Forest." (This sign showed a lone visitor
stealing a piece of wood with the universal “No” symbol, a red
circle with a diagonal line). -1.67%
Sign #3 — No Sign At All: This test didn't include a sign of
any type, serving as the control test for the study. - 3%
Petrified Wood Theft
Amazon
Amazon
6) Scarcity & Impatience
The Grass OnThe Other Side
Scarcity
6) Scarcity & Impatience
The Grass OnThe Other Side
Mozzy
6) Scarcity & Impatience
The Grass OnThe Other Side
Laurelix
eMart
Magnetic Cap
7) Unpredictability & Curiosity
What kills the cat
Easter Eggs
Chase Picks Up the Tab
FourSquare
8) Loss & Avoidance
The threat is stronger than the execution
Never Again!!!
Sunk Cost Prison
Rightful Heritage
Exercise
• Think about within your project, are there
components of 

CD5: Social Influence & Relatedness

CD6: Scarcity & Impatience

CD7: Unpredictability & Curiosity

CD8: Loss & Avoidance
• Think about two ideas to add the Core Drives
above to your project
Speed Camera Lottery
Speed Camera Lottery
Octalysis
Avoidance
Ownership
Empowerment
Meaning
Unpredictability
Accomplishment
Scarcity
Social
Influence
-Narrative

-Elitism

-Humanity Hero
-Revealed Heart
-Beginners Luck
-Free Lunch
-Destiny Child
-Creationist
-Status Points

-Badges (Achievement Symbols)

-Fixed Action Rewards (Earned Lunch)

-Leaderboard

-Progress Bar
-Quest Lists
-Dessert Oasis
-High Five

-Crowning
-Anticipation Parade
-Aura Effect
-Step-by-Step Overlay Tutorial
-Boss Fights
-Milestone Unlocks
-Real-Time Control
-Evergreen Combos
-Instant feedback
-Boosters
-Blank Fills

-Plant Pickers
-Poison Pickers
-Exchangeable Points
-Virtual Goods
-Build from Scratch
-Alfred Effect

-Collection Sets
-Avatar
-Protection
-Recruiter Burden
-Monitor Attachment
-Brag Button
-Water Cooler
-Conformity Anchors
-Mentorship
-Social Prod
-Friending
-Social Treasure/Gifting
-SeeSaw Bump
-Group Quests
-Tout Flags
-Appointment Dynamics
-Magnetic Caps
-Dangling
-Prize Pacing
-Options Pacing
-Last Mile Drive
-Count Down Timer
-Torture Breaks
-Moats
-The Big Burn
-Glowing Choice
-MiniQuests

-Visual Storytelling
-Easter Eggs
-Random Rewards
-Obvious Wonder
-Rolling Rewards
-Evolved UI
-Sudden Rewards
-Oracle Effect
-Sunk Cost Prison
-Progress Loss
-Rightful Heritage
-Evanescence Opportunity
-Status Quo Sloth
-Scarlet Letter
-Visual Grave
-FOMO Punch
http://yukaichou.com/books
http://yukaichou.com/books
OctalysisPrime(.com)
ThankYou.
Truly.
YukaiChou.com @yukaichou
yukai@octalysisgroup.com
-Emphasize this narrative more
-”Accelerwaze” - try to find a route that
beats Waze’s estimated ETA
-Carpool matching by
preferences type
-Waze Flash Mobs
-Only Wazers of a certain level can choose
who they get matched with, or access to flash
mob
-Demonstrate more on how Waze is
being personalized to user behavior
-Show cute graphs with data
-Bigger victory feedback when
arrived upon destination
-Avoid sidetracking for detours.
-Avoid paying for unnecessarily high-priced gas

Habit Summit Octalysis Gamification Workshop 2018