games, Gameful Bits

The Theoretical Basis of User Types: My review of the article recently published in IJHCS

A team of researchers from German, Finnish, and Canadian Universities, led by Dr. Jeanine Kirchner-Krath, recently published the interesting article Uncovering the theoretical basis of user types: An empirical analysis and critical discussion of user typologies in research on tailored gameful design. They analyzed and…

Games Gamification HCI User ExperienceNovember 26, 20190Comments

Gamification User Types or Player Traits: When should I use each one of them?

At the HCI Games Group, we have been working for the past few years on two related projects: the validation of the Gamification User Types Hexad and the study of player typologies, which recently led to the creation of our Five-factor Player Traits model. Therefore,…

Games Gamification HCI ResearchFebruary 26, 20170Comments

Collection Interfaces for Digital Game Objects

Originally published by the HCI Games Group. Sample favourite digital game objects. Please see the linked original publication for credits. The HCI Games Group collaborated with a research project that also involved the Play & Interactive Experiences for Learning Lab at the New Mexico State University and…

Games Gamification HCI Research User ExperienceOctober 5, 20160Comments

The peak-end rule influences enjoyment of games

The peak-end rule is a psychological heuristic that explains how people judge an experience largely based on its peak (i.e., its most intense point) and its end, rather on the whole experience. A research from the Universities of Saskatchewan and Canterbury and Autodesk sought to…

Games Gamification HCI ResearchSeptember 30, 20160Comments

Understanding How the Context Supports Autonomy

Self-determination theory posits autonomy as a basic need that fuels intrinsic motivation. Thus, we consider it an important characteristic of intrinsically enjoyable tasks, including games. We often say that game playing is a voluntary activity. However, when we think about serious games or gamification, there…

Design Games GamificationSeptember 17, 20160Comments

Defining Clear Goals in Gameful Applications

I have previously talked about the prominent role of challenges in games and gameful applications. Challenging oneself to overcome unnecessary obstacles just for the fun of it is at the heart of a gameful experience. Moreover, good challenges only work together with clear goals and…

Games Gamification NewsJuly 14, 20166Comments

Pokémon GO is not Gamification! (It’s a game!)

During the past week, considerable attention has been given in the media to Niantic's new game, Pokémon GO! Lots of people are talking about the game's potential benefits and dangers. One of the many claims that have taken the media is that Pokémon GO is…

Design Games GamificationMarch 31, 20161Comment

Level Up! The role of progression for gameful design

Welcome to the final post in this series focused on better understanding some of the most widely used gameful design elements! This post will address progression, one of the basic design elements to help foster users’ intrinsic motivation from competence and mastery. If you…

Design Games GamificationMarch 9, 20162Comments

I’m in it for the prize! The role of rewards for gameful design

In my previous post, I talked about the important role of challenge as an element for gameful design. Today I will talk about rewards, a game element that is present in many gameful applications. But before you continue, if you did not read part…

Design Games GamificationFebruary 25, 20168Comments

Challenge Accepted! The role of challenge for gameful design

There are dozens of different game elements that can be employed for gameful design, from the most well-known points, badges, and leaderboards, to levels and progression, social interaction, competition, rewards, and many others. But there is one important game element that is perhaps underestimated: …

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