It’s a crowded app world out there. Anything you can imagine, chances are there’s an app for it. In such a competitive mobile app industry, how do you develop a product that stands out? How do you keep users coming back?
There could be many answers to that question, but one of the most popular today is gamification.
It’s a new and emerging app development idea. It’s the new buzz-concept in the apps industry. It has spread to mobile apps rapidly. What is it all about?
How gamification works
Why are our brains so eager to play games? What hooks us completely? What keeps us coming back for more?
It’s simple: game playing is a trigger of pleasure and well-being. During such positive play experiences, the brain releases endorphins like crazy. Dopamine is abundant too.
Playing games reduces stress and pain. It’s a roller coaster of happiness. We feel better about ourselves. It’s genuine emotional connection.
And there’s more. Game playing it’s not just about pleasure, but also motivation. And motivation is probably the greatest factor in changing behavior.
What is it about games that lead to deep engagement?
A game should surprise and amaze. Two words: curiosity and wonder. There’s so much joy in discovery.
A game must be challenging. Game players love to be pushed to the limit. It’s euphoria.
Let’s not forget about the social aspect. Competition and collaboration are the keys to game engagement.
A tangible reward should also be involved. It keeps the user focused and excited. It creates loyalty. It encourages viral sharing.
What does it mean to gamify your app?
Gamification means adding game mechanics (also called game dynamics) – like voting, leaderboards, achievements – to a non-game app. Gamification takes standard tasks and turns them into play and competition.
When done right, it can drive usage, boost user engagement and spending. It might be an immersive experience with the brand.
The question is this: could this gamified design interrupt the user genuine experience? People want apps to load as fast as possible and complete specific actions quickly.
Gaming features could sometimes get in the way of utility.
Do people really enjoy gamified apps?
Could a great app get any audience enjoy a little gaming? Are there ways to get your target audience gaming?
Do people really like gamified apps? Should you gamify your app?
Does gamification make people return to that app and to use it further? Does it engage and offer value to a higher degree? What’s in it for them is crucial. So it is to understand what they want.
The younger generation is clearly more attracted to games than previous generations. Not to mention their growing interest in apps.
An app both useful and entertaining could work wonders. There are many successful examples: Foursquare, GetGlue, Recyclebank, Sneekpeeq, etc.
Game play is deeply natural. We love to have fun, compete and be rewarded. When carried out the right way, gamified apps can fulfill these needs. But maybe that’s not enough for a successful product.
Gamified apps should tap into more powerful resources. Like self-esteem and social capital. A gamified app should not only be useful, but empowering.
Get to know how your audience behaves in the mobile world. Figure out if a gamified app could motivate people behave in ways that meet your business goals. Only then take a shot at gamification.
In order to achieve your business objectives, help people achieve theirs.
