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No Blog Post – New Book

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Maybe No Blog Post 8211 New Book

As you may have noticed, for the first time in over a year – there is no blog this week. The reason is two fold.

1. I have been insanely busy!

2. My spare time has been spent finally finishing up my second – as yet untitled – book!

So, instead of a blog, here are some random bits of development stuff from the book :). It will be available soon on Amazon as an eBook and I am trying to make sure that it is available in print (through self publishing). More info soon 🙂

Cover Ideas

Title Ideas

  • Gamification: Get Serious and Start Playing
  • Gamification: How to hold your own in conversation
  • Ninja Monkeys Rule: Gamification…
  • Game Thinking: Gamification and Games Based Solutions
  • Gamification: An Insiders View
  • Gamification: How do sound smart… :p
  • Gamification: Understanding the power of game based solution design

Contents Page

Defining Gamification
Game Thinking
Play, Games and Playfulness
Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation RAMP
User Types
Rewards and Leaderboards
Feedback and Getting Rewards Right
The User Journey
Goals, Activity Loops and Flow
Loyalty
Cheating
Game Mechanics
Gamification Mechanics and Elements
Neurotransmitters in Gamification
Design Tips
Modelling Systems Read More ...

Hidden in the User Types Hexad

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User types hexad mystery Hidden in the User Types Hexad

For the first time that I can remember, someone has asked a question about a little “hidden” feature of the User Types Hexad. Two secrets actually.

Take a look at it now, what is odd?

I love symmetry – it is a quirk of mine. I hate how my kids build with LEGO, they always put the wrong colours together and use odd numbers of bricks and the like! Drives the little picky part of my brain insane. That’s part of why I have the hexagon shape, it is perfectly symmetrical – except for the circle in the middle. Read More ...

Amazon: Getting customer care wrong

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Customer centric header Amazon Getting customer care wrong

Recently my wife pre-ordered a book from Amazon. She put her order in the day after pre-orders opened and chose super-saver delivery. Her understandable assumption was that if she pre-ordered, then the book would at least be dispatched on the day of release. She knew she would have to wait a few days for delivery, but that was fine.

The truth was a little different. The book was due for release on the 18th of June. Looking at her delivery estimates in Amazon, it stated the book was due for dispatch on the 22nd of June with a delivery estimate of 27th of June. She was a little confused by this. Read More ...

The Green Button – A Short Story

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Green Button 2 The Green Button 8211 A Short Story

Hi all.

A little self promotional, but it does have a gamification twist! I just published  short story on WhatPad that some of you may enjoy. If I get a decent response, I will probably write some more around the concept. Below is short segment and a link to the full story. You do have to register though it seems!

Thanks in advance 😀

“Good morning Dave.”

Dave lay motionless, unsure what was happening. “It’s time for you to get up now”. Dave opened his eyes and looked around. Nothing looked or felt familiar, least of all the disembodied female voice. Read More ...

Getting rewards right. Recognise, don’t Bribe.

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Rewards recognise dont bribe Getting rewards right Recognise don 8217 t Bribe

One of the things that my daughters school like to do is give certificates to students for various achievements. Below are two that she has had over the last few months. Which one do you think she was happiest to get?

If you guessed the Gold award for reading 25 times or more in a term – you were wrong. She has half a dozen of them on the wall. The Bronze award for a “brilliant and inspiring” science experiment had her far more excited than all of the Gold awards put together.

I have mentioned our struggles to get my eldest to bond with reading and to be honest, even though she now does it quite happily, it really is not something she enjoys much. The thing is, she knows that it is something good to do and for the most part is OK with reading every night. That makes the Gold award pretty much guaranteed without having to put any abnormal effort in. Read More ...