On Gamification

Abstract

Games have become a popular media. As a consequence, they have been studied extensively to see what it is about them that interests people. A phenomenon called gamification has risen, which tries to bring about the same kind of reactions games do. Gamification is about using game design elements in non-game contexts, for a specific purpose. Games can invoke a flow mind set, which is ideal for optimal performance. This thesis examines what gamification is about, and how to gamify applications. A small case study is presented, in which a gamified system is created and the lessons learned from it are discussed.

Keywords:gamification, motivation, fun, games, play, microwork, games with a purpose