Transform Life into a game.
May 11, 2009 in Entertainment, Workplace
Some people get really into video games. Along with the apparition of RPG games, players started to feel closer to the characters involved, thanks to the context, story and personality that goes with those virtual buddies. Then came internet and the online RPG games, that made the association between the player and his avatar even bigger since the user is know confronting his built virtual replica to other real players. The gained recognition got bigger, so did the player’s involvement.
But it is all still about geek gamerz that seek this gratitude within their group. This could get a lot bigger with the mobile devices, internet everywhere and the social networks. What is we could bound real life and video gaming so tight that Life itself became more challenging and entertaining? What if we could give the perfect excuse to people for showing off on the internet without being jerks that show their muscle on their facebook walls?
Warning: someone is already working on something like that! see: www.booyah.com (update: apparently they changed the concept of their game, it’s now some kind of monopoly mixed with real world)
Joan said on February 17, 2010
I just thought about a concrete concept for this idea: a to do list manager.
Of course there is an incumbent in that market http://www.rememberthemilk.com/ but the point is making the to do list pleasing to complete by making it more playful.
I’m still thinking about a way there, but I think that the problem is that benefits gained by doing something you have to don’t express themselves in the very short term. If calling the dentist or writing a letter to an administration could give you instant reward you would be more willing to do those things. I think there really is something to be done there.
Maybe you could have an avatar in the game that evolves every time you complete a task. Depending on the importance of the task, you could get more point. Whenever you feel like you are building/developing something you feel great. Maybe the game should be played in tandem too, so that a real life friend can confirm in the game that you did the things you had to.
What is for sure is that achieved tasks cannot be deleted, they have to be stored in some trophy room were you can watch them and feel proud of yourself.
Can you think about other possible incentives that could make people find it playful to meet their obligations? Or any other concept to connect real life and gaming?
Joan said on February 18, 2010
How and by the way, since the main topic in SIB improvements these days is how to get visitors to be more active, this is relevant too. We should make the website more playful.
Jonas Romain Wiesel said on February 18, 2010
Transform life into a game seems too ambitious…I would say transform everyday activities into a game an make them more playful
Henry said on February 18, 2010
I feel like there is potential here too, a real imporvement in the quality of living . This tool could stimulate people’s day to day life.
What is the reward people get from being on Facebook? OK, we always say the number of friends but actually it is way more than that. Facebook is the best people database we’ve ever seen. It’s so easy to find friends, to communicate with them and let them know what you do with your life! It is a game. You pick up your best pictures, post your favourite videos and say what’s on your mind, hoping that it will entertain people.
And geeks are allowed to do in virtual life what they can’t do in real life: they can use weird weapons, kill hundreds of people, their avatars can be monsters, etc…
Here there is a real service too: you make people wanna do what they have to do. The purpose is excellent! Rating people is good, it makes them carry on and eventually satisfies their egos. So THE INCENTIVE is to let the people know about your grade. But as you said: how do you implement that? If I pay my bill in time, who can prove it? If I do my laundry in time, who can prove it? I think it wouldn’t work with the friend’s confirmation system. I can’t picture myself how it would work yet.
Joan said on April 24, 2010
http://www.ted.com/talks/jesse_schell_when_games_invade_real_life.html