gamification: should you care?

GamificationShould you give a $%!# ?

Noah Falstein

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

My Background in Brief

• Started in the games industry in 1980• Many years on games of all sorts –

Sinistar, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, recently Mata Hari, Alan Wake• In 1996 started The Inspiracy – have

worked since as a freelance designer and producer on all kinds of titles• Increasingly working on Serious Games

What’s in a name?

Simulation Edutainment

Serious GamesGamification

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Simulations

• Popular since 70’s–Military is still fond of it– But it’s a restricted subset, best for vehicles– Tended to be literal, expensive (esp motion)– Also feels old, creaky now

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Edutainment

• Popular in 80’s–More market-speak– Glib mashup name – Jazzercise, Dancercise,

Infotainment – does not inspire trust–Much of Edutainment was tainted by the

Chocolate Covered Broccoli fallacy

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Serious Games

• Popular in 00’s– Serious implies “very great, bad, dangerous,

harmful, or difficult to handle” (#1 def)– Others are not frivolous, trivial or superficial– Some Serious Games aren’t even games

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Gamification

• Popular now – since 2010– Best analysis of flaws from Ian Bogost:• www.bogost.com/blog/gamification_is_bullshit.shtml

– Another Marketing term– Oversimplified, makes it sound easy,

reassuring, “just sprinkle on badges, score”– Chef: “I’m too tired to make dinner, I’ll just

cookify some food”

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Serious benefits

• But there are many positives too• I’ll use the term Serious Games because

I find it the most inclusive, and least odious – if you don’t like it, sorry!

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

What are Serious Games?

• A purpose beyond entertainment• Sample fields:–Military– Government (NASA, State Dept, etc.)– Education – all levels– Simulation – Training (esp. Corporate)– First Responders– Social Causes/Political/Commentary– Health (Examples just from this one area)

Creative: Folding@home

• Use networked PC, PS3 to do research

• Use old skills, new ways, avoid burnout© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Challenging: Driving While Distracted

• Designed to be played during fMRI

• Stretch your abilities – hardest goals!© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Commercial: Wii Fit

• 22 million units as of May 2010

• Make money, diversify studios, income© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Compassionate: Dance Dance Revolution

• Verified fitness increase, weight loss

• Help people with real world problems© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

Consequential: ReMission

• Study in Pediatrics: Saves kids w/cancer

• Serve society, fix problems, save lives!© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

© Copyright 2012 Noah Falstein

In Summary

• Creative– Fresh approaches, redefining games

• Challenging– Interesting problems, different fields

• Commercial– First steps into what will be a huge market

• Compassionate– Helping people with real world problems

• Consequential– Shaping opinions, instructing, saving lives!

© Copyright 2010 Noah Falstein

Thank you!

Noah FalsteinThe InspiracyEmail:

www.theinspiracy.com

Twitter, Skype: nfalstein