seriously fun

Gamification: Seriously Fun

TTI Vanguard 2011

Jesse Schell

Seriously Fun: Agenda

• 8:30-9:00: Lecture A: Intro to Games and Gamification• 9:00-9:15: Exercise 1: (team) Meet your teammates• 9:15-9:45: Exercise 2: (all) What problems could gamification solve?• 9:45-10:00: Exercise 3: (team) Pick a problem to solve• 10:00 -10:30: Lecture B: Game Brainstorming 101• 10:30-10:50: BREAK• 10:50-11:30: Exercise 4: (team) Brainstorm potential solutions• 11:30-11:50: Lecture C: Narrowing the Game Idea Space• 11:50-12:10: Exercise 5: (team) Choosing one solution• 12:10-1:00: LUNCH• 1:00-1:30: Lecture D: Developing Your Game Idea• 1:30-2:30: Exercise 6: (team) Develop a Three Minute Pitch• 2:30-3:10: Pitch session! All teams give their pitches!• 3:10-3:30: Lecture E: Final Thoughts

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Lecture A: Introduction

Real Life

Games

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

– Marcel Proust

Magic Words

• I am a game designer.

• Who is a game designer?• I am a game designer.

• No you’re not.• I am a game designer.

• What kind of designer?• I am a game designer.

• You mean you play games.• I am a game designer.

What does “game design” mean?

Game Design is the act of deciding what a game should be.

What skills does Game Designer need to be good at?

• Animation• Anthropology• Architecture• Art• Brainstorming• Business• Cinematography• Communication• Creative Writing• Economics• Engineering

• History• Interface Design• Management• Mathematics• Music• Psychology• Public Speaking• Sound Design• Technical Writing• Visual Arts• …and much more!

What is the most important skill for a game designer?

?

Team Client

Game

Audience

Self

?

Experimental Film by TMBG• I already know the ending /

• it’s the part that makes your face implode /

• I don’t know what makes your face implode /

• but that’s the way the movie ends.

The Lens of the

Essential Experience

Choco-fication!

“Hafta” “Wanna”

Slavery Freedom

Duty Fun

Work Play

Efficiency Pleasure

“Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”- Mark Twain

Games are special because…

• They are interactive

• They are designed ENTIRELY for pleasure

Games provide:

• Clear Feedback

• A Sense of Progress

• The Possibility of Success

• Mental and Physical Exercise

• A Chance to Satisfy Your Curiosity

• A Chance to Solve a Problem

• A Feeling of Freedom

Sensation

Fantasy

DiscoveryLaughter

Story

Challenge

Thrill

Triumph

Expression

The Lens of

Pleasure

What is a game, anyway?

A game is:a problem solving activity,

approached with a spirit of curiosity.

The Lens of Curiosity

The Lens of

Problem Solving

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The Lens of the Team

Exercise 1: Meet Your Teammates

1. What is your name?

2. What is your company and role there?

3. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

4. When you were ten years old, what was your favorite game?

5. How do you hope to use what you learn in today’s session?

6. One question from a teammate. Finish by9:15am

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The Lens of the

Problem Statement

Exercise 2: What Problem to Solve?

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Exercise 3: Pick one!

1. Pick a problem that you personally are interested in solving – write it down

2. Get everyone’s written ideas up on the easel

3. Come to consensus one which one you will pursue

Finish by10:00am

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Lecture B: Game Brainstorming 101

Idea Game

1) Think of an idea.

2) Try it out.

3) Keep changing it and testing it until it seems good enough.

The Lens of the

Problem Statement

Reasons for a clear problem statement

1) Broader creative space

2) Clear measurement of success

3) Better communication

The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.- Linus Pauling

Nine Brainstorming Tips

1. Yes, and…

2. Write down EVERYTHING

3. Number your lists!

4. Acknowledge the power of the marker

5. Jot notes if interrupting is hard

6. Use Images

7. Crack Jokes

8. Listen to your subconscious

9. Mix and Match categories

Ray Bradbury

Technology

StoryMechanics

Aesthetics

The Elemental Tetrad

The Lens of the Elemental Tetrad

Technology Aesthetics

Story Mechanics

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BREAKtil

10:50

Exercise 4: Brainstorm Solutions!

1. Yes, and…

2. Write down EVERYTHING

3. Number your lists!

4. Acknowledge the power of the marker

5. Jot notes if interrupting is hard

6. Use Images

7. Crack Jokes

8. Listen to your subconscious

9. Mix and Match categories

Finish by11:30am

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Lecture C: Narrowing

Which idea should I pick?

Pick something!

A plan is a real thing.

The Lens of the Eight

Filters

The Eight Filters of “Good Enough”

1) Artistic Impulse – Does this game feel right?

2) Demographics – Will the intended audience like this game?

3) Experience Design – Is this a well-designed game?

4) Innovation – Is this game novel enough?

5) Business and Marketing – Will this game be profitable?

6) Engineering – Is it technically possible to build this game?

7) Social / Community – Does this game meet our social and community goals?

8) Playtesting – Do the playtesters enjoy this game enough?

Rewards can Backfire

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Exercise 5: Choose one solution

1. Each person pick 3-5 you like, and write them down

2. Go through each, one at a time, and mark down the votes

3. Come to consensus on a solution that you will go forward with

4. Write it down on a piece of paper, and give it to me

Finish by12:10pm

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LUNCH!

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Lecture D: Developing Your Game Idea

Pleasure is COMPLEX

The Lens of Fun

What is fun, anyway?

Fun is pleasure with surprises.

The Lens of

Surprise

Player Experience of Needs Satisfaction(www.immersyve.com)

Competence Autonomy Relatedness

I want to be good at what

I do!

I want freedom!

I want to connect to

others!

The Lens of Control

The Lens of Freedom

Freedom

The Lens of Community

Age Demographics

• 0-3 Infant / Toddler

• 4-6 Preschooler

• 7-9 Kids

• 10-12 Tweens

• 13-18 Teen

• 19-24 Young Adult

• 25-34 Adult

• 35-49 Thirties and Forties

• 50+ Fifties and Up

Gender Preferences

• Male

– Mastery

– Competition

– Destruction

– Spatial Puzzles

– Trial and Error

• Female

– Emotion

– Real World

– Nurturing

– Dialog and Verbal Puzzles

– Learning by Example

The Lens of the Player

The Lens of Judgment

Crossing the street

Suxxors Roxxors!

The Lens of Feedback

LEVEL

The Lens of Visible Progress

Four Keys for Gamifying

Before After

Key 1: Make it Engaging

Key 2: Make it Effortless

Key 3: Make it Uncheatable

Key 4: Make it Not Embarrassing

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Exercise 6: Develop Your Pitch!

• You will create a three minute Powerpointpresentation that explains your idea

• But…

• Your powerpoint will have NO WORDS!

Exercise 6: Develop Your Pitch!

1. What problem are you solving?

2. Why is this problem worth solving?

3. Who is the audience for your solution?

4. How does your solution work? (Walk us through an example of it being used)

5. Is there a compulsion loop? What drives it?

6. What are the key moments?

7. What are the social forces?

8. Why is this a good investment of time and resources?

Finish by2:25pm

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Pitches!

1. What problem are you solving?

2. Why is this problem worth solving?

3. Who is the audience for your solution?

4. How does your solution work? (Walk us through an example of it being used)

5. Is there a compulsion loop? What drives it?

6. What are the key moments?

7. What are the social forces?

8. Why is this a good investment of time and resources?

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Final Thoughts

You CAN make your experiences better

• Ask yourself these simple questions:

– Given what I know about my guests…

– Why will they like this experience?

– How can I get them to like it more?

Persuaders Fulfillers

Artists Humanitarians

Persuaders

Fulfillers

Artists

Humanitarians

Persuaders Fulfillers

Artists Humanitarians

“Long experience has taught me that the

crux of my fortunes is whether I can radiate

good will toward my audience. There is only

one way to do it and that is to feel it. You

can fool the eyes and minds of the audience,

but you cannot fool their hearts.”

- Howard Thurston

LEVEL

10000

00000

Email: jesse@schellgames.comTwitter: @jesseschell

Slides: jesseschell.com

Thanks!