Solution Archives - Gamified UK - #Gamification Expert

Are You Building a Solution Looking for a Problem?

May 31, 2016 by Andrzej Marczewski

One of the big issues I see in gamification and many young industries is the issue of building a solution for problems that don’t really exist!

“We are using a gamified solution to increase engagement”.
“Awesome, why?”
“Um, because it will increase engagement…”
“Cool, but why, what problem have you identified that can only be solved by investing in gamification?”
“Um…. go away I hate you…”

This happened a lot with social media. Everyone needed to be on Twitter but had no idea why, or how to use it.

I’ve said it hundreds of times, gamification is a solution, but not always the solution! The point is that there has to be a need (normally, but I’ll come on to that) for the solution. I always quote Big Weld from the film Robots. “See a need, fill a need”.

Now, there are some exceptions. iPads for instance. No one had proven a desire or a need for tablet PC’s at the time the iPad was announced. I remember many articles talking about “why would anyone need a huge phone anyway?” Some examples of articles that were around in 2010 after the initial announcement.

The iPad exemplified the notion of creating a solution that was not solving a problem anyone actually had! However, good marketing, good functionality and a little bit of the old “Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field” and suddenly it was a hot property and arguably started the entire landslide of tablet computing. I am almost certain all those who said no in 2010 now own one – I know I do!

However, this was an exception to the rule!

Most normal humans need to identify the need and design the solution that will fill it. Just using something like gamification because other people are is a sure fire way to bump up the failure rate stats that Gartner are so keen on quoting!

Don’t be afraid to say no to Gamification

April 7, 2015 by Andrzej Marczewski

No to gamification Don 8217 t be afraid to say no to Gamification

Here is something that many who know me or know of me would be surprised to hear. Gamification is not always the answer!

There, I said it.

Often gamification is just a concept people have heard of and know may be of use. In these cases they will ask if it can be used as a solution for an issue they have. The trouble is that it is very easy to fall into the trap of just saying yes. As a gamifier, we really want to use gamification to solve business problems. We know the power that games and game elements can have and want to demonstrate this whenever we can.

Sadly, that is where a problem lies. Gamification just isn’t always the first answer. I would say about half of the time that I have been asked about it, the problem has needed much simpler and more important fixes than applying gamification.

It really is okay to say no to gamification if it is not going to actually solve the problem. One of the stigmas we have in gamification is that its application is often so shallow that it does nothing to cure long term or ingrained issues with systems. As gamifiers, we are problem solvers.

Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution – even if it isn’t gamification!

Is it gamification if….?

November 20, 2014 by Andrzej Marczewski

This is a question I get asked all the time. Is it gamification if x,y or z. Depending on my mood and their question, I answer a little differently at first but always end the same way. Is it taking something that is not a game and making it more game like in some way? If it is, then you could call it gamification – but you are likely to get people complain one way or the other!

As you may or may not know, I have spent a great deal of time trying to organise my thoughts on this and define gamificaiton, which is how I settled on Game Thinking. This is my umbrella term that covers everything from making interfaces look a little more “gamey”, to making full fledged games.

The reality is we will probably never totally agree all the time on this. A better questions is “Does this solve the problem”, or “Is this the best solution for the users?”. It doesn’t matter if you use gamification or games or ninja monkeys. As a gamifier, you are a problem solver. Your job is to solve an issue the client is having. The likelihood is you will favour a solution with a game like flavour – but I would think that you would not reject a solution just because it is not “proper” gamification.

Never reject an idea or a solution that may be better than yours because you don’t know how to or have the expertise to execute it. If the answer is to create a game, it doesn’t matter if you think that is true gamification – it is still the answer and you should do what you can to facilitate it!