For over a decade, “gamification” has been the prevailing buzzword, promising to infuse a dash of gaming enchantment into our mundane tasks. But was it merely a façade, as game designer Ian Bogost vehemently argued back in 2011? Let’s delve into the gamified world and discern whether it’s a genuine game-changer or simply another marketing gimmick.
The Critique That Ignited the Debate
In the past, Ian Bogost unabashedly declared, “Gamification is Bullshit.” He accused it of being a slick marketing ploy concocted by consultants to transform corporate life into a mere video game simulation. According to him, it’s a form of smoke and mirrors, impressing and coercing without any substantive foundation. Bogost also took a swipe at gamification for oversimplifying the potent elements that make games truly impactful.
