Opinion

Moving from iPhone (iOS) to Android (Samsung S8)

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Samsung galaxy s8 2643381 1280 Moving from iPhone iOS to Android Samsung S8

Like many, I have been a happy iPhone user for many years now. My first was an iPhone 4. I have had several since then, up until the 6S, I have even had 3 iPads. I will be honest and say that I really have always liked iOS and the iPhones. To an extent, I still do.

However, the release of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 made me see a few cracks I had been ignoring with the iPhone. It showed me some issues with Apple’s business model as well. I was reminded that, just like all other major corporates, they just want my money no matter what it takes. Read More ...

PDF Tray Moving from iPhone iOS to Android Samsung S8

A New Year for Gamification

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Pf 2018 3031241 1920 A New Year for Gamification

As we usher in a New Year, I wanted to make a few New Year wishes for gamification in 2018.

The industry finally matures and stops acting like a petulant teenager!
  • 2017 saw a lot of advances in gamification, but the industry still has a way to go. Misogyny, pettiness, immature attitudes towards research and evidence are just some of the problems we still face.
  • And don’t get me started on the concept of 1-week courses producing gurus and specialists!
We stop using words like “addictive” and “addicting” (goes for the games industry as well)

  • We do not want to create addictive products. Engaging, yes. Compelling, yes, but not addictive. Addiction is very bad, yet I keep hearing people talk about creating “Addictive products” or “Addictive experiences” and seeing it in product descriptions and platform description. Again, addiction is bad, we don’t want it! If you can’t make a product that is engaging without relying on behaviour loops that create addiction, you need to get out of the industry.
    • Read More ...

    PDF Tray A New Year for Gamification

    Keeping Children Safe in the Internet Age

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    Age ratings Keeping Children Safe in the Internet Age

    The world children are growing up in now is very different to the world their parents grew up in. Whilst many of the dangers may have stayed the same, the way they present themselves is often beyond the scope of understanding of many parents out there because they have no relevant personal experience to give it all context.

    What I want to offer here is a little bit of advice about keeping children safe online and in games, based on my personal experience covering all of those various angles I have mentioned! This is not a definitive list of advice, but I hope it can help some of you. Read More ...

    PDF Tray Keeping Children Safe in the Internet Age

    Review: Eating Robots by Stephen Oram

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    34761663 Review Eating Robots by Stephen Oram

    For openness, I was sent a copy of the book to review.

    A rare book review from me. Every now and again, thanks to previously running a review site, I get asked to review stuff. In this case, it was a book of short stories titled  Eating Robots and other stories, by the author Stephen Oram.

    I love dystopian stories, having even written several myself in the past. For me the future is anything but bright, depending on how you look at it.  One of the best representations of using this dystopian “lens” has always been the T.V. series Black Mirror from the brilliant Charlie Brooker. Read More ...

    PDF Tray Review Eating Robots by Stephen Oram

    Some Gamification Videos and a bit of Fun

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    Evil daddy Some Gamification Videos and a bit of Fun

    I’ve been busy making videos of late, here are the last few. Some tutorials, a few rants and a bit of fun 🙂

    Player Types and User Types in Gamification

    Ethics in Gamification

    Failure and Consequences in Gamification

    Stop Perpetuating Bad Gamification Design

    The Games Invasion: Why It’s a Good Thing

    Parenting and Gamification

    The Little Cog

    PDF Tray Some Gamification Videos and a bit of Fun