How high do the piano stairs go? Applying fun to user experience (GOVIS 2011)

transcript

By Matt LaneGOVIS Conference 201121 June 2011

Presents:

INSERT COINS

How high do the piano stairs go?

Applying fun to user experience

WEB EXPERIENCEMANAGEMENTSOLUTIONS

Level 1: Piano stairs and “Gamification”

Level 2: Examining fun and games

Level 3: A return to the real world

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Piano stairs and the “Fun Theory”

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“Gamification”

Movement in the last few years to:

“just add fun/game”

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“Gamification”

“the process of using game thinking and game mechanics to solve problems and engage users”

Gabe Zichermann http://www.slideshare.net/gzicherm

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Some “Gamification” mechanics

-Points

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Points: Youtube views and “likes”

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-Points

-Badges

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Badges: Foursquare

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-Points

-Badges

-Collecting sets / “100%”

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Collecting sets / “100%”: LinkedIn Profile completion

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-Points

-Badges

-Collecting sets / “100%”

-Unlocking rewards

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Unlocking rewards: Bonus space in Dropbox

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LEVEL 1 COMPLETED

Our time to finish Level 1

WE HAVE BROKEN A RECORD!

Our time:

Average time:

Previous record:

BONUS POINTS:

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What is a game?

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What is a game?

Structured play:

Artificial rule/s+Artificial goal/s=Interesting fun challenges

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What is a game?

Only use your feet+Get the ball in the goal=Football

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How are video games different?

Controlled environment

Allowing:

-Complicated “rules” (/physics etc.)

-”Juicy” feedback

-A rich tapestry of challenging but achievable goals

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Examining video games goals:Super Mario Brothers

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Examining video games goals:Super Mario Brothers

Long-term goal:Defeat King Koopa and rescue the Princess

Middle-term goal:Complete this world

Short-term goal:Complete this level

Immediate goal:Head right while:-Avoiding / killing enemies-Collecting coins and power-ups

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Examining video games goals:

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Goals, nested in goals, nested in goals

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Skill/time

”FLOW”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29

Anxiety

Boredom

Skill/time

Why do we play games?

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Because they’re fun

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Why are games fun?

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Why are games fun?

ChallengeAutonomyFeedback

Mastery

Achievement

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Why are games fun?

Achievement

Mastery

- Serious consequence

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Why are games fun?

Achievement

Mastery

+ X (?)

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Why are games fun?

Achievement

Mastery

= Fun(?)

+ X (?)

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Why are games fun?

Not totally sure

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Because they’re fun

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LEVEL 2 COMPLETED

Our time to finish Level 2

WE HAVE BROKEN A RECORD!

Our time:

Average time:

Previous record:

BONUS POINTS:

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9:359:369:379:389:399:40

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Play versus work

In 2007, I moved to Montreal with my girlfriend. I thought I was lucky to very quickly land myself a job “testing” video games.

For eight weeks I played Contra 4 and Army of Two every day, from 8:30am until 5pm.

I learnt an important lesson…

Play versus work

Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do.

Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.

Mark Twain

Why are games fun?

Challenge

Autonomy

Feedback

Achievement

Mastery

Why are games fun?

For one: we are not obliged to do them

“Compulsory fun” = torture

Why do we use websites?

Most of the time

it is to achieve a purpose

Seldom

because we are looking for a diversion

“…is an inadvertent con. It tricks people into believing that there’s a simple way to imbue their thing … with the psychological, emotional and social power of a great game”

Margaret Roberson

http://www.hideandseek.net/2010/10/06/cant-play-wont-play/

“Gamification”

“Games are not fun because they’re games, but when they are well-designed”

Sebastian Deterding

http://www.slideshare.net/dings/pawned-gamification-and-its-discontents

What if all stairs were piano stairs?

What if all presentations quirky fonts and sound effects?

What if all sites were “gamified”?

Questions

You can’t build fun into a system:

Fun is not an intrinsic attribute; it is the effect caused in a subject

Key messages

So sadly, there is no simple answer

We need to think hard to ensure sites and applications are well designed

(Fun is an extremely optimistic [and subject dependant] goal)

Key messages

Universally good ideas:• Clear goals• Clear current status• Clear path to goal• Clear choices• Clear confirmation

• Excessive feedback

Key messages

Know your users

Know the context

There will be some situations where some gaming mechanics may make sense

BUT: Game mechanics for their own sake are kryptonite to users

Key messages

By Matt LaneGOVIS Conference 201121 June 2011

Presents:

INSERT COINS

How high do the piano stairs go?

Applying fun to user experience

How high do the piano stairs go? Applying fun to user experience (GOVIS 2011)

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