Gamefication

Lately, it seems that game-based learning is trying to make a new push in going beyond entertainment. I have been running into a lot of projects that want to involve games in health and construction sector, but practically all other business areas as well.

What is interesting is that I think we may be coming to a point where the developers and buyers are getting closer to understanding each other. Instead of thinking about game-based learning as a real game it has become a good compromise to think in a game-like product. So, you will actually have applications, processes and products that you enhance by using game elements. This can both be game mechanics and graphics, which depends very much on the actual application.

The game-lile approach is in contrast to previously where you would often build things from the ground up – trying to make it as a real game, which is of course triggy with the budgets out there. In many ways I think this is a sign of the area maturing, and it will be really interesting to see what happens. Also, because it opens a way for subject matters experts to easier understand what games are and can be in there own area. This should cater for innovational thinking, where the game-based learning people. don’t come up with good ideas but rather the subject matters experts are enabled by the game-based learning people.

Currently, we are examining ways of thinking about knowledge management, innovation processes, change management and internal communication in companies not as games, but rather to enrich them with a few twists (Less is more). We already have a few cases but would like to take it to the next level – hopefully, we will be able to get some forward seeking companies.