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The “Mobile Game” Doesn’t Start Or End With A Tactic

Why Gamify? — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:18:12 +0000

Mobile Tactics

The ugly and semi-worthless QR code,

The basic and efficient text,

The untested but cool Augmented Reality innovation,

Near Field Communication (amazing when you Google NFC and the National Football Conference is five rankings from the top – oh those mobile geeks are so smart…),

Apps, unless they are utilities, then don’t even go there,

The tried and true WAP “landing page” ,

Dial **, innovative and picking up steam,

Or, anything else that has been shoved down your brands face.

The “Game” begins with the psychology of the user and a virtual contract.

The Psychology of the User

The user wants something in return. The user wants to be rewarded or feel like they are valuable. For too long Apple, Google, Facebook and others have used the customer’s information and made a killing off of them. The master’s of the web have pre-sold the users information and the users have reluctantly had to deal with it. Right now, users have lost the battle by succumbing to the tortuous rabbit hole of relentless untargeted ads push upon them wherever they go on the mobile web.

They have been siphoned off to the web giants who have pre-sold their data to marketers who then market crap back to them. The users data, location, surfing habits, videos views, the time the user wakes the phone up, the time the users battery goes down, etc. has been pre-sold over and over again. As the user moves from one mobile page or app to next they’ve been pawned off for virtually nothing.

The Virtual Contract

The “game” is changing as mobile becomes the only player in town. The user will take back their “brand” and look at their data as a valuable asset. The “user” has information that companies will pay dearly for. The best part is that each user will have a different price – a different tipping point where they will hand over that valuable phone number in order to gain the reward or premium.

And the payments? They should be in offers or premiums, invitations and premieres, even cash!

So the mobile game is pretty easy. If you have the right content, the right reward, the right premium, then the user will give up their value in return – in essence, they’ll contract with the brand and each will give and get proportionally.

Publishers Are Marking Money Off Of Your Brand

Brands needs to stop tyring to trick them into some convoluted mobile tactic that takes more steps then a simple text. Stop trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist with stunts that act like big clouds with no rain and focus on the content and contract you have with the user.

#whygamify

Why Gamify? Because people deploy game mechanics in non-game based applications every day. We have ringtones to achieve status, we use our American Express Cards to level up for “cool things”, and we become members of the million mile clubs just to use the lounges. Our lives utilize ‘gamification’ mechanics every day, and this has been true since the dawn of mankind. Why Gamify? intends to break down non-traditional applications and introduce leaders in these fields to comment on what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and their best guess for the future of ‘gamification’ in their fields. Why Gamify? intends to bring together their insight on how ‘gamification’ and new technology will impact the way the average individual, teacher, business leader, entertainer, athlete, student and beyond thinks about ‘gamification’ in their lives.

Gotye: Using Fans To "Game" The System

Why Gamify? — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:19:29 +0000

Viral Music Marketing

Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know is one of the most “catchy” tunes of 2011, and 2012, and maybe even 2013 if the fans are allow it…. The ping of the Fisher Price Xylophone to the explosive female voice belting out her pain drives people to listen to the song over and over and over again. It’s become an anthem for many.

As this post hits the connected world, the video has received well over 300MM plays on YouTube… Wow!

But this was not your typical insta-smash rammed down by the label marketing machine (insert laughter since those barely exist anymore). No, this was a calculated hit using the most explosive content distribution platform that exists… Twitter. Gotye and team understand the power of the medium and allow users to create re-makes, covers, and parodies and port them instantly across the Twitter universe driving views and exposure beyond comprehension. If you haven’t seen the ode to his fans, enjoy this video below… Creating fan based content is a game changer for the new and savvy artists.

As Gotye builds views, he also builds interest in his shows and swag, and that is where the money is. His willingness to allow his anthem to turn into a user-based tool for teaching, a performance piece for new artists, a parody to get a laugh, or a simple nod from a devoted fan turns his performance into a strategic and targeted platform for driving tour and merch sales that puts true value into his bank account.

Gotye wins this game by unselfishly letting the fans “own” his moment in the sun, and by doing that, they owe him. When I say owe, it means they are loyal to him and will buy tickets to his performances, purchase his swag, and deliver his messages through Twitter and beyond. He stays independent, with a handful of straight distribution deals to push what’s left of the physical sales and digital deals. But, for Gotye, his music will thrive and he “games” the system by letting the fans drive while he sits back and creates the strategy.

#whygamify

Kompu Gacha (kampuガチャ), McDonald's Is In, Are You?

Why Gamify? — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:06:37 +0000

The Japanese Police “Gacha”

If you are an Agency or a Brand and missed the recent decision in Japan to outlaw “Kompu Gacha” and thought nothing of it (or heard of it), well, think again.

Tyler York explains: Kompu gacha, or “complete gacha”, is a system that strongly incentivizes the gacha monetization method. Gacha is similar to a prize vending machine at a carnival: you pay a small amount of money to receive an item at random. Kompu gacha expands on this mechanic by offering players an extremely valuable grand prize for completing a set of gacha prizes. Since the gacha prizes are awarded at random, it’s very hard to get these grand prizes.

Basically, it’s the lottery, and it’s not legal in the US and many other countries worldwide. Yet, McDonald’s seems to pull this off every year through their Monopoly game. To be fair, they allow users to “write in” for free game pieces, making the game a contest rather than a lottery. But really? Does anyone ever write in for the free game pieces? McDs knows all to well that they “Gacha” when you roll into their fine dining establishment and buy that Happy Meal for one more chance to get Boardwalk… (stupid pun, but had to)

Well, they are smart, and it works, and brands who want to make mobile their home should incorporate this game mechanic. It is simple, proven and addicting – like any good game.

The initiation can be as simple as a mobile tweet, SMS or NFC campaign, insert “Great Prize X” and multiple “Pretty Good Prizes Y through Z” and you’ve got an addictive, virtual reward, mobile campaign. And, if you really want to get crazy, build in a skill-based promotional betting module (legal in all but 4 US States) and you’ve got a hyper-powerful, socialized and gamified mobile platform.

なぜgamify

#whygamify

Mobile Ads Suck! The Future is Gamifing Mobile Ads

Why Gamify? — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:01:02 +0000

Banksy Banner

Mobile Theory, 4th Screen, Facebook Mobile Ads, give me a break. The ad value is dropping as the banner becomes the only model. It’s the wrong time to push a terrible model from the web to mobile like so many companies have tried. It’s the same mantra..

CEO: We need a mobile ad strategy

Mobile Guru: Yes master, no problem, we’ll build an app and layer in full screen banners ads, the users are going to love ‘em.

CEO: Great, apps are the best, right?

Mobile Guru: Sure, and we can cross promote with Angry Birds or something and really drive sales.

CEO: How?

Mobile Guru: You know, banners, everyone clicks on them and then we extend our brand through a mobile ecosystem driving retention and ROI while shaping our social footprint for future campaigns via word-of-mouth extended through viral BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..

CEO: I have no idea what you said, but let’s go for it…

My favorite is when you get articles written by Value Click - http://yhoo.it/FOdJSV – that speak volumes of the business. Of course they are going to write articles and hide any negative facts, user experience, etc. The article discusses how full screen banner ads on mobile are X amount more interactive. Can you imagine the user experience? What is worse is that they have the cajones to put an ad in on their press release for one of their divisions, Greystripe.

“To integrate Greystripe’s SDK in only a few simple steps, visit:”

I’m sparring you the opportunity to click on the link since i’m not supporting this embarassment.

To compound the issue, Romney, of all people, is trying to get “in touch” with the American people by delivering full screen ads through iad:

Romney iAd Coming To Haunt You

Ouch, this one has to hurt as users open their favorite story, game or app to get that punch in the face. Really, no gamification?, no compelling mission?, no leveling system? Just a black and white image with the standard Twitter, Facebook and G+ logo in case you feel the urge to Tweet, Post or do whatever G+ does with the ad. Give me a break, socializing a crappy banner ad? Really Zac Moffett? – Here’s a quote from Zac…

“Zac Moffatt, the Romney campaign’s digital director, believes that people will “spend more time” with the iAds and said that the campaign will be experimenting with the mobile push leading up to the Republican convention in August. The camp is also using Google’s mobile network to get information to Android users, effectively covering the entire smartphone market.” ( http://bit.ly/MqJrHi )

I love how he says people will “spend more time” with the iAds – What he means is that people will spend more time looking for the little X to delete out of the obnoxious ad that they never asked for.

It’s simple, gamify the mobile ad expereince through unique missions, badges, and value to the user to create a true “gamified” exchange between both participants. Until now few companies have done this. Just ask Facebook how it’s going for them.

#jonashudson

#whygamify

Beware, Games and Film Disruption Coming To A VHX or Steam Near You!

Why Gamify? — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:01:25 +0000

A movie about a video game makes it to Sundance and gets distribution through VHX and Steam… Huh? Did everyone in the studio system follow?

OK, to be fair, it is also did a theatrical four-wall tour and will drop onto iTunes in with an “extremely tight release window”, according to Indie Game’s producers.

In a recent article by Liz Shannon Miller ( http://bit.ly/Ky9BHZ ), Casey Pugh, a co-founder in VHX was talking about the model, and said the following -

“Crowd-funded on Kickstarter and self-released on VHX. This is where the film, video and television business is going and it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”

This comment showcases the disruptive models intersecting with the game and film models and turning traditional content financing, production and distribution on it’s head.

Furthermore, the entire disruptive model gamifies the experience through social expression, P2P content management, and, most importantly, the F-U factor to the old school model. Between this and the recent Kickstarter success of Amanda Fucking Palmer and her climb to finance and distribution history by trying to raise 100K and receiving over 1MM in pledges – http://kck.st/JliwXm the box once owned by Pandora is open – It’s going to be a frenzy for the film, games and music industries – and it’s a beautiful, gamified, thing!

(added) Trailer for the film, Indie Game, The Moive

#whygamify

Hunger Games "Gamifys" Marketing

Why Gamify? — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Banksy-HANKSY

The success of the Hunger Games against it’s relatively low spend in marketing and ad dollars shows a tipping point in how the conglomerates are going to play the studio P and A game.

A recent article ( http://reut.rs/J1V3NU ) discussed how social media and fewer traditional marketing and ad tactics helped drive the success of the one of this years top film openings – The Hunger Games. In the article Chase Carrey, deputy chairman and chief operating officer of News Corp, downplayed the threat of social networking sites.

“TV will have a truly important place in generating interest in new movies,”. Users of social networks “don’t like pop-ups and other ads.”

This statement implies that Chase doesn’t get how and what a social networks role in messaging works. The social ecosystem is a game based on how, who, what, where and why.

How: How is the studio going to make their message the next social “meme”? What are the tactics that will drive the objective.

Who: Who is going to understand the messaging and take it from a simple Facebook posting tactic to targeted meme.

What: What is the social influencer tactic that is going to drive any relevance. A simple game or giveaway is not the answer. The “What” needs to be the content and if you don’t treat social as content then you might as well stop playing the game.

Where: Where is critical and knowing where to launch will dictate reach and frequency – a true ROI metric that most “social” leaders have trouble grasping. It’s not a matter of posting on Twitter and getting as many re-tweets, it’s about targeting social to the audience that matters, the ones that are the true early adopters of the content.

When: When is like “Where” – When is the right time to leak the meme to the tastemakers; weeks, days, or hours before you want the messaging to bake into the social conscience.

The people running the congloms are frightened. The VPs and up are freaking out; pension and retirement are only a few years away and they don’t want to upset the applecart so they will continue to place media buys in the “traditional” environment. Meanwhile, the underlings want to keep their jobs but have one foot out the door trying to figure out which group or technology is going to disrupt the antiquated model.

Fortunately for Lions Gate, they have always rewarded the “free thinkers” by giving their employees some runway to launch creative and tech friendly campaigns. It will be fun watching the transformation from ad and marketing budgets from “traditional” to social and new media.

Let the social ad game begin.

#jonashudson

#whygamify

Skylander's "Gamifies" The 2 Year Olds

Why Gamify? — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:57:01 +0000

Ask any 2 year old today and they’ll tell you they’ve been hoodwinked by the brilliance of Activision’s Skylanders. It’s incredible what the genius’ over at Activision have come up with – the blending of the toy and video game industry into a simple, manageable package.

According to CNBC.com, Skylanders has sold just under $200 Million at retail since October of 2011.

“To put that in context, it puts Skylanders in the top 10 properties during that timeframe in terms of revenue generated at retail,” ( http://www.cnbc.com/id/47043890 )

Pairing video games with toys has always been a long shot, but Skylanders seems to manage doing it perfectly, and in a down video game economy.

It works because it gives the kids a chance to collect both physically and digitally and parade their achievements where it counts most – the schoolyards. Families can “co-own” the creatures which enables community in the household. And, most importantly, it allows the little 2 Year olds to play with their older brother or sisters.

The 2 year old has been “gamed” and it will surely change the way brands look at the physical toy marketplace. I can see the Hasbro’s and Matell’s of the world scrambling now as the VP’s of product scream down the hallways -

“Why doesn’t Barbie have a Teleporter”

#whygamify

Gaming Headlines - Driving Readers Insane On The Cable Debate

Why Gamify? — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:26:03 +0000

Headlines have, since the dawn of the printing press, been the hook that grabs the eyes of readers. They are a classic example of how magazines, blogs, websites and media in general utilize game tactics to drive revenue. They will flip flop there headlines to create controversy, disinformation, or whatever they feel will drive more eyes to read more ads. In the same day these two blogs used similar stats to create two different headlines

PaidContent.org – http://bit.ly/HLLkvX -

Research: Over 1 million U.S. cable subscribers cut cord in 2011

and, Vision2mobile.com release this article – http://bit.ly/HT30Dq

CORD-CUTTING MORE COMMON, BUT CABLE NEED NOT FEAR?

Both articles really only discussed some stats but used the headlines to give to clearly different reasons for a user to click on their articles.

The argument over the cable industry and cord cutting is basically a joke. Follow history and you’ll see that the cable companies who bundle a bunch of junk with a few decent channels (ESPN being the biggest driver) is similar to the old record business that bundled a bunch of junk songs with two hits to make you buy the entire album. It’s old business and it’s going to die. But if you read the article’s Headlines, you would think there was this huge debate based on the same data.

Google “CABLE IS DEAD”and you will find troves of articles spewing out stat upon stat while cable execs banter on about how great their business is doing.

#whygamify

No More Excuses - The Time To Gamify Education Is NOW !

Why Gamify? — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:11:21 +0000

The excuses need to be thrown out the window, the education system needs to change – Teachers are so far beyond the kids when it comes to information dissemination, instruction, understanding, reporting, data collection, socialization and GAME THEORY, that they should be teaching the classes. I work with school systems from Newark to LA and I’ve seen small gems of hope coming from experimental groups -

iPads for all the kids - http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18179724

Video Games in the classrooms - http://nyti.ms/bMP9EG

Game Mechanics and leveling - http://bit.ly/y1d4fS

The above links show a ripple in the systems, the problem is, we need a tsunami to make real change. We need legislation, curriculum and “leaders” in all aspects to make this a priority. Legislation and curriculum needs to change their embedded focus and change with the technology and the teaching tools of game theory.

Here’s another example from John Hunter through Ted Talks (http://huff.to/w1ZbhL) using game mechanics to teach an issue in ethics and morality. To get to his kids with such deep subject matter, he needed to gamify the experience… I love the video below.

“The game board itself is a multi-level tower of Plexiglas covered with thousands of game pieces and layer upon layer of complex, global crisis requiring hyper collaborative problem solving, in the midst of chaos, uncertainty, and adversarial pressures. Everything is, and is designed to go wrong on every level and in every sphere… all at once… for everyone.”

Imagine if John’s system was built into a curriculum using technology from virtual worlds to apps for the latest mobile devices.

Innovation Through Education…

#whygamify

Gamify The Law - Drive and Win!!!

Why Gamify? — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:44:14 +0000

Ever wish the law could be just a bit more fun?

Last year, Kevin Richardson’s “SPEED CAMERA LOTTERY” ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iynzHWwJXaA) made the news by “gamifying” the law. Kevin proposed a “gamified” tactic to try and slow down motorists by rewarding their good habits as opposed to simply penalizing their bad ones. The Sweeds deployed the program and saw a 22% reduction in speed. This practice is a great example of how and why game theory is being tested worldwide in everything from politics to entertainment. It will be “fun” to see how the “gamification” trend will continue to spill from the psychological theorists to executable tactics seen throughout society.

The politics of societal culture will shift as Generation G* shifts into the power position in both pop culture and the mainstream workplace. Look for more “gamified” laws in year to come…

* I benchmarked “Generation G” from Gabe Zichermann, i think it’s a perfect description of the “gamfied” generation that is populating our planet.

#whygamify

I HATE QR CODES!!!! They are Brand Graffiti

Why Gamify? — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:28:22 +0000

I Hate QR Codes

It’s a bit strong, but really, QR codes are a manifestation of the perfect mobile marketing storm for idiots.

Here are the steps:

1. Brand wants to “get into mobile” – they don’t know what that means, but they think they need to for job preservation and something to talk about at the next marketing meeting

2. Brand hires “mobile marketing consultant” who explains to the Brand that QR codes will revolutionize mobile marketing.

http://carltonzone.com/blog/qr-codes-the-future-of-local-business-marketing-is-here/

3. Brand agrees without any question because, of course, the industry is “buzzing” about QR codes and – Bam!!!!, those ugly, black and white, kinda but not really futuristic, brand graffiti is now popping up everywhere.

Brands, “gamifying” a user experience needs a payoff, and QR codes don’t deliver. With QR codes, users have to take out their phone, download an app, aim their camera perfectly, let the reader take the picture (if you are lucky, many times the “focus” won’t work), and then get a coupon or marketing message… BIG DEAL – if you want to send them a message or coupon, then just do it. Don’t make the user go through 5-7 steps to generate something that a simple ** campaign (dial **DQ or **USA) or text campaign does.

Brand Graffiti at it’s finest. More on this later…

#Gamify

PS: Take Brian Chen’s approach.. He hates ‘em too.

http://www.digiday.com/stories/short-takes-wired-s-brian-chen-hates-qr-codes/

PSS: Classic link to an anti QR code blog

http://theantisocialmedia.com/anti-social-media/fk-you-friday-qr-codes/

Old News, or Just too Early, "Gamify" Music, The Key to Billions

Why Gamify? — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:05:47 +0000

Hi “Gamers”

It will happen, soon. Social entertainment platforms will change the way content and game theory co-exist. Tracks (or songs) are the musicians “business cards” which will unlock revenue and reward based content – Digital goods, multi screen EST and VOD concerts, and “passes” to the live performances in local markets.

Playing in the Park by Banksy - Why Gamify

“Gamified” tracks will alter the way music is syndicated and drive the next billion dollar market. The link below by Paul Resnikoff looks at this about a year ago….

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/091310socialgaming

What will happen next is the advent of social gamers unlocking premium content and it will start with music. They will “spend” their time, their “eyeballs” on ads, or purchase of digital goods to unlock the new rewards – premium content.

Music is first – Day and Date feature films are next.

#whygamify

Virtual Worlds, The New Game in Social

Why Gamify? — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:44:36 +0000

Social is about to step it up a notch when it comes to “gamifying” the experience. Yes, Linkedin has an XP bar and Google’s +1 has some segregated “freinds” circles, but the real games are about to hit. A recent blog by Avatar Generation dedicated a series of articles around Virtual Worlds and kids. http://www.avatargeneration.com/blog. The blogger is on topic because when the kids who grew up gaming on their mobile phones, World’s of Warcraft, and so on learn to “grow up” in social and actually us social for what it is, they still want the experience they are used to – cool graphics, cool user tools, and excitement.

No longer will web 2.0 work. Facebook, forget it, what an absolute joke- even today’s Myspace has more functionality in regards to personality. Hell, all Facebook is these days is a place to “ohhh and awww” at photos and people’s digital graffiti.

If Facebook Changed Anything, It Might Be Cool

Big deal. Facebook is far from making any earth shaking changes. The next gen in social will drive the changes, and it will gamified, 3D and in a app format. Stay tuned!!

#whygamify

3D Virtual Shopping Will Be Like A Social Game

Why Gamify? — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:01:15 +0000

Shoppers and Social Gamers share the same psychology;

1. Interaction with peers – Most shoppers, like social gamers, bring friends with them to shop or “share” their personal stories with the clerks or employees.

2. Stress Relief – Both shopping and social games allow for a stress release 3. Addiction – Both shoppers and social gamers suffer from an “addictive” trait.

3. Vanity – “Leveling Up” and “Looking Good” co-exist. It’s a status symbol which screams ”Hey look at me”. Achievement and social status fit into the same category.

3D Virtual World’s will lead the “shopping gamification” revolution in the near future. The “world’s” will change the way users purchase through new media platforms. The product reviews via a poorly produced YouTube video or 140 character tweet will be replaced with humanoid 3D avatars ready to engage in real-time product demos, answer questions via in an avatar based UI, and earn points for the shoppers as they browse.

In a recent article from Techcrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/18/web-of-games/) it states;

Gamification will accelerate the movement from physical to online solutions. Already, we read about vanishing shopping malls being replaced by online shopping, but as websites that sell goods and services become games rather than content sites (and this is already happening), the trend away from buying at bricks-and-mortar stores will accelerate dramatically unless we can make shopping more fun

The transition from 2D to 3D shopping will take over the new media shopping landscape.. More posts to come on the leaders in 3D shopping and Gamification.

#whygamify

Lady Gaga Plays Games with Starbucks... Designed by Marketers, Not Gamers

Why Gamify? — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:05:21 +0000

A marketers dream, i can see it now. ”We got her!”, screamed the Starbucks marketing exec after hanging up the phone with William Morris. ”We bagged the biggest name there is; 18 Billion Facebook Fans, 100 Billion Twitter Fans, this is it, the greatest coup in marketing history”

Now what?

Assistant: ”Let’s create a digital game and deploy every piece of ‘cool’ mobile and online technology available”

Marketing Executive: ”Like Mobile check-ins”

Assistant: Yeah, perfect! Foursquare, I got that app at SXSW

Marketing Executive: ”and Twitter….”

Assistant: ”I’ll tweet that right now”

Marketing Executive: “and Facebook…”

Assistant: ”already LIKEing”

Marketing Executive: “Oh yeah, and that annoying bar code thing Best Buy puts all over the stores, that thing is cool, because everyone is talking about it”

Assistant: ”I have my trusty QR code reader right here” ”Got that at CTIA.”

And so it begins, Starbucks has successfully pulled out all the stops to make a “fun game” ( http://usat.ly/mF1rjl ) for the US minority.

Only 21% of the country can actually compete because smart phone penetration only hits 21% of the US mobile users, worse, only 18% of smart phone users access location-based services (http://www.clickz.com/clickz/stats/2071292/-access-location-smartphone-services) which is 7.1% of the nations mobile users.

And then the real problem… only a handful actually use QR codes (http://www.resourcenation.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-qr-codes-to-drive-engagement/32265/) This article states 32% of smart phone users have used a QR code (what, once?)… I’ve read as low as 21%. Frankly, I don’t buy it, QR codes are the biggest pain to work with;

My favorite part of the program is this message on Starbucks page:

And for those of you who love a good puzzle, you don’t have to wait for May 23. We’ve just launched a unique digital game called SRCH. Along with the thrill of the hunt, there are some pretty sweet prizes and Lady Gaga has a featured role. The game lasts from May 19 to June 7, and there’s no purchase necessary to play. To get started, scan the code below with a QR code reader. (Need a QR reader? Conveniently, the My Starbucks iPhone app has one embedded in it). Have fun and good luck!

Starbucks GAGA Promo For the Minority

Starbucks has to explain to their audience that they have to get a QR reader. Starbucks understands that this is a niche technology pushed by a few to try to change users mobile habits. Starbucks would be better off using a text campaign or a ** campaign .

A reminder to marketers, don’t try to teach people technology if you want a good consumer experience. Starbucks has successfully removed 90% plus of the US population from their promotion. Ridiculous…

On a lighter note, they are deploying “gamification” tactics, which should be fun for a few of their latte drinkers.

Starbucks should learn from Zynga, a gaming company and even better marketing company. Zynga brought the Gaga brand to their house, “Farmville”, and made them stay there. Starbucks is sending their customers to other brands – Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. They should keep the game in “their house” so people have to physically be there – that’s the mantra of retail right? – KEEP THE CUSTOMERS IN THE DOOR.

#whygamify

About Why Gamify?

Facebook "Gamifies" Ads - They Must Have Read My Blog

Why Gamify? — Sun, 15 May 2011 18:29:05 +0000

So, I guess Facebook is starting to read my posts – – A few weeks back I wrote about how Facebook should take advantage of its social network by rewarding people who partake in helping Facebook serve targeted ads relevant to the end users psychographic and demographic profiles. ( http://whygamify.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/gamification-will-save-advertising/)

Well, Facebook announced they are “gamifying” ads (see link http://mashable.com/2011/05/06/facebookfacebook-10-cents-ads/), but this wasn’t exactly what i was talking about. In fact, it may even backfire if they are not careful.

Game May Explode In Your Face

The idea to apply gamification tactics in adverts is smart, but by rewarding users to view ads that aren’t targeted is a problem. Facebook has the ability to both reward and serve targeted ads. Right now, Facebook is “paying” people to watch ads they may or may not want. In fact, odds are the ads won’t be what they want and users will simply collect the reward and look at the ad without any emotion – or worse – mock the ad because the users feel as if they are better because the ad is paying them to watch.

Adverts need to drive messaging and tie into the emotion or nature of the subject viewing it, or it is simply a waste. In the gamified Facebook ad model, the ads just become a means to an end as users collect rewards and ditch the emotion and message.

Facebook needs to clean up their act and reward relevant ads, better yet, have user help build their own ad campaigns for Facebook and earn rewards and FaceCash while doing it.

About Why Gamify?

#whygamify

The Kids of Hospitopia

Hospitopia — Fri, 13 May 2011 05:25:23 +0000

Kids at Play in Hospitopia

By now, you should have a number of kids wandering around the halls of Hospitopia, if you dont, be sure to click the Patient button to add more kids. And like most kids they leave toys laying everywhere and their rooms always need cleaning. Everyday you log in to play Hospitopia you will have the chance to earn extra miracle points and cash easily by cleaning and pickup up toys. Its a great way to take care of your kids and level up.
Soon you will be able to interact even more with your kids in new and exciting ways. So make sure you log in everyday for your bonus, take care of the kids and soon they will be ready for the Identity Guard helicopter to fly them home, happy and healthy once again!

About Hospitopia

Hospitopia, the hospital social game soon to be launched by CausePlay, LLC and benefitting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, allows the end user to create and operate their own virtual hospital while generating real funds to help children around the country. CausePlay will donate 10% of all game revenue to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to further their mission. The more you play, the more we give. Hospitopia, helping kids with every click. To learn more visit http://www.hospitopia.com.

About Children’s Miracle Network HospitalsChildren’s Miracle Network Hospitals has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983 from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the North America’s leading children’s charities. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with two simple goals:

Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals most recognizable symbol and greatest fundraising tool is its red and yellow Miracle Balloon icon. As of 2011, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.3 billion—most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time.

About CausePlay
CausePlay, LLC. a social gaming company, was founded on the idea that games can make a difference. As part of the company’s business model, each CausePlay game in the marketplace aligns with a worthy nonprofit and generates funds for the cause throughout the life of the game. The company takes social gaming to the next level by activating social change. CausePlay is located in Manhattan Beach, California. To learn more visit http://www.4causeplay.com

Sunday Game Tips #7 - Happy Mother's Day

Hospitopia — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:47:13 +0000

First off, Happy Mother’s Day to all the friends of Hospitopia and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Thank you Moms for all your hard work and support, we appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Today’s game tip is more of an update. We have launched the latest mini-game into our game play “The Jumbies Concentration” game. Jumbie’s has graciously helped provide local CMNH hospitals with a fun incentive – monthly give-aways to hospitals on our leaderboard. This week, the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical holds the honor of top position… Help and support your favorite CMNH hospital in the standings by sending the message out to friends and family and play Hospitopia for a cause…..

“Helping Kids With Every Click”

May 8th Leaderboard

About Hospitopia

Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

Sunday Game Tips #6 - JUMBiES Mini-Game Is Ready!

Hospitopia — Tue, 03 May 2011 22:40:20 +0000

Hey everyone, yeah, we know it’s not Sunday, but we thought you’d like to see the new mini-game in action…

The JUMBiES are here and ready to help players earn more points in Hospitopia. Click on the new “Delivery Room” and play the JUMBiES concentration game to earn game cash. The game is a “concentration style” game that tests a players memory skills. Match JUMBiES until you clear the board, but too waste too many turns or you may not collect your cash bonus.

JUMBiES Mini-Game in Hospitopia

About Hospitopia

About JUMBiES ( “The Original Jumbled Babies”)

JUMBiES which stands for Jumbled Babies are the a result of the storks who were delivering baby animals accidentally crashing into each other and Jumbling them all up! So a Duck and a Monkey becomes a Duckey!…and a Dingo and a Bat a becomes a Dingbat! JUMBiES plush animals ignite the imagination of children and adults alike. They are a must have for every child, bringing happiness and joy with every hug! Please go to www.jumbieland.com for more information.

Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

Coke Creates A Physical Game 1+1=Millions of smiles

Why Gamify? — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:02:31 +0000

#WhyGamify? Watch this Video (http://bit.ly/l88zzr):

Coke “gamified” a vending machine using influencers to drive exploration.

Influencers (the people who had the guts to press the button while standing on someone’s back) – help give confidence to the Explorers (the one’s who want to explore the situation but waited to see if someone would go first.)

The campaign is simple, inexpensive and produces a powerful branding message brought on by ‘gamification’ tactics. Players must work together to produce a goal or reward – in this case, a couple of Cokes. The video has already become a minor “meme” and will most likely grow as more and more users pass it around.

Now, if this was done in the US, the real game would be in court where lawyers would be working against each other in a lawsuit… But that’s for another post.

About Why Gamify?

#whygamify

Gamification Will Save Advertising!

Why Gamify? — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:30:33 +0000

A recent article posted by Digiday suggests that “opt-in data will save advertising”. ( http://bit.ly/ekZIj5 ) The article is partially correct – people will need to opt-in to help save advertising 2.0, but they are not going to do it because they “want” targeted ads served to them. People are going to “Opt-In” if there is something for them to gain in order to allow targeted ads to be served to them. It’s the “what’s in it for me” online generation and the audience is getting much, much smarter.

An example to help improve and “gamify” ads.

Look at Facebook’s “targeted ad solution”. The picture below represents an ad served by Facebook for Living Social.

Facebook Ad

If you hover over the ad and click on an X you get the following;

Facebook Ad Targeting Request

Users are asked to give information. In theory, like the article states, it sounds great if users would supply Facebook with their own personal “marketing data”. Some users will try it out, but to build a massive database, Facebook should deploy ‘gamification’ tactics. Here’s a mocked up example of what future ‘gamified’ ads will looks like (a bit crude, but you should get the point).

Facebook Gamification Model

Why Gamify? in the ad space? If more people respond, then more targeted ads will be served, which will then drive stronger ad performance, which will drive more revenue. Pretty simple. #whygamify

About Why Gamify?

#whygamify

Why Gamify? Why Put Guessing in Education?

Why Gamify? — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:07:44 +0000

Ever wonder why we spent most of our young lives fretting over our report card? Why did we always have to guess what our grades were? Why was it always shocking to us if we didn’t get the grade we thought we were going to get? The first 35 seconds of this clip will show you what people have to go through just to get good grades. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUTt_rafiyQ

Well, maybe that was a bit extreme, but to enhance performance and take the guessing out of grades, education needs to deploy ‘gamification’ and introduce the gaming industries simplest tool… The Experience ( XP ) Bar.

XP Bar #whygamify

It’s a simple tool that shows how far you are away from a “grade”. The student starts at the “F” level and the bar moves north as the student performs certain achievements. During the course of the year, the student will know exactly where they stand and how to get to the next “level”/grade.

Every student in the world has grown up with these in some fashion or another: Here’s my favorite, the US Government fear bar.

XP Bar For Fear #whygamify

Each student should be afforded the right to view their status throughout the school year and utilize the technology that they covet – MOBILE. The XP Bar, or status bar, should be a mobile and online social experience for both the student, class and teachers. The basic set up should incorporate a simple cloud served application that enables the following:

1. Clear communication with the teacher.

2. Social support mechanisms with other students.

3. A clickable and updatable list of achievements, tasks and tools for “grading” up.

This extremely inexpensive (meaning, a student could probably build it into some social tools for extra credit) digital tool could change the way teachers, students and classmates interact, teach and learn through ‘gamification’.

“With increased global competition, employee productivity and engagement have become more critical to businesses” said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt also discussed the importance of utilizing ‘gamification’ in the workplace. Mr. Schmidt is a “gamer” and understands that the new work force are gamers, have grown up as gamers, and understand gaming because it is in their blood.

So, the question is, why don’t schools look at ‘gamification’ in the same way? #whygamify

About Why Gamify?

#whygamify

Why Gamify?

Why Gamify? — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:22:50 +0000

Socrates discussed it, your high schools drilled it into your psyches, American Express mastered it, your ringtones deployed it, the social new media explosion “greased it’s wheels”, and now “IT” is everything…

The question Why Gamify? is because with out ‘Gamification’, you will find yourself, your business and today’s new social world order lost in the mobile and web 3.0 abyss.

Todays Consumers are screaming ME…ME…ME

What is in it for me? What do I get of this? I’m tired of handing out my information, give me something in return!!!… The modern consumer has created a new deal with the brands, artists, entertainment and virtually every other entity out there - ”Reward Me and I’ll stay, Ignore Me and you’ll pay”

Meaning, “if you don’t suck up to my wants as a consumer, i’m moving on”. This migration from brands and entertainment happens at lighting speed with today’s new media savvy consumers. Brands and products who understand ‘Gamification’ in their marketing and business tactics will succeed.

Why Gamify?

The Why Gamify? blog will attempt to disect and desconstuct current programs, campaigns, celebrities, companies and brands along with non-traditional entities that apply ‘gamification’ in their daily outreach. Below is a video by Gabe Zicherman who outlines ‘gamification’ in practices beyond the standard fields and offers some amazing insight at last years Google Tech Talk. The presentation is close to an hour long, but it nails todays need for companies, creatives, politicians, teachers, entreprenuers and social taste makers to take notice.

Jonas Hudson, Global Digital Syndication

Sunday Game Tips #5 – Why Isn’t Your Favorite Hospital In The Lead?

Hospitopia — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:55:48 +0000

Hospitopia Game Tips: It’s mid-April and MeritCare Children’s Hosptial is in the lead. So far, players playing Hospitopia for MeritCare in Fargo, North Dakota have earned and play more Miracle Points than any other Hosptial. (Click or Paste this link for more information about MeritCare - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJU0FWaeSjE )

To earn points players must complete game actions such as picking up the toys, leveling up, playing the shredding mini-game, and purchasing them from Hospitopia’s offer wall. Once a user earns the Miracle Points they can purchase good, toys and equipment for the game which will help them level up.

At the end of the month we will be announcing our monthly winner and the Hospital at the top of the leader board will earn premium gifts from Hospitopia.

About Hospitopia

Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

Sunday Game Tips #3 – Hospitopia’s Daily Toy Clean Up

Hospitopia — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:52:48 +0000

Hospitopia Game Tips: The kids in Hospitopia play a lot, and what usually happens is they seem to leave their toys scattered around Hospital. Each day you log in you will find toys scattered about and each one is worth game cash and/or Miracle Points. Click on the toys and they will turn into rewards immediately. The timer on the upper right starts clicking away after the first toy is clicked on and it is set to re-set normally less than 24 period.. so, if you play enough, you may be able to pull the “Daily” clean up twice in the same day and rack up more rewards and points in Hospitopia…

Helping Kids With Every Click…

About Hospitopia
Hospitopia, the hospital social game soon to be launched by CausePlay, LLC and benefitting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, allows the end user to create and operate their own virtual hospital while generating real funds to help children around the country. CausePlay will donate 10% of all game revenue to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to further their mission. The more you play, the more we give. Hospitopia, helping kids with every click. To learn more visit http://www.hospitopia.com

Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.