6 steps for implementing a Gamified System

Let me present you with some WONDERFUL content: 6 steps for implementing a Gamified System. By Dan Hunter & Kevin Werbachs. More infos HERE. Below a quick recap of the steps and an example by mademoiselle me. And guess what? It involves baby pterodactyls <3

STEP 1

Define your business objectives: What should your gamified product accomplish? What is your goal? What is your purpose?

I want to create an app to create awareness for baby pterodactyls. People don’t talk about baby pterodactyls anymore and if we don’t watch out, our children will have forgotten they have ever existed.

STEP 2

Decide what behavior you are targeting: What is it you actually want people to do with your gamified system? Remember, gamification is all about motivating people. So what should your system motivate users to do?

My system will lead people to make informed decisions about baby pterodactyls. I want people to create content about baby pterodactyls, I want baby pterodactyls to go viral.

STEP 3

Describe your players: Who is actually going to be using your gamified system? Who are you creating an experience for? What are they like and how can your system cater to them?

Here it would a great idea to create player personas. As I am gonna keep this short, let’s say I’ve done my research and identified different player types and what moves them. Bottom line: DO YOUR RESEARCH. Who is playing and why?

STEP 4

Devise your activity loop: This is where it all boils down to moving your game forward. What action are you players taking to move within the gamified system? How are players engaging and how are they progressing in the game?

My players would access the app and get new baby pterodactyl themed content bits everyday. They could also create their own baby pterodactyl content pieces and share and engage with each others baby pterodactyl content bits. And the more you consume, create, engage with baby pterodactyl content bits, you are rewarded. Engaging by creating and sharing content and progressing by getting more and better content.

STEP 5

Don’t forget the FUN: Never forget the fun, but especially when creating a gamified systems. Of course gamified systems are about creating structures, rules and processes, however don’t forget that systems need balance. And this is where creativity comes in. As important as these structures are, your system needs to also be fun and engaging.

Yeah… that’s a given. Baby pterodactyls are already fun. My app is so fu**ing adorable, that users are pulled right into it and cannot resist. Nobody can resist. By having adorable designs and fun and light copy, my app is so much fun, you have no idea.

STEP 6

Deploy the right game elements: Remember all those wonderful game elements we learnt about earlier. Now is the time to use them. Now is the time to combine all the knowledge we have gathered. What game elements are right for my system and my players?

So in my app, players will receive adorable virtual stickers for creating and engaging with baby pterodactyl content. These adorable stickers are ranked and can be stored in your very own exclusive virtual sticker album. And you can trade stickers with fellow baby pterodactyl friends. Or maybe, by creating and engaging with baby pterodactyl content, players receive pterodactyl eggs and you can build up entire pterodactyl worlds and trade eggs to receive even more baby pterodactyl content. The possibilities are endless.