Chapter 4: The Fast and Furious Elements

Sonal and Rahim had few heated text exchanges about Sonal’s change in plan. Sonal finally got ready to leave office at 8:30 PM and Ravish was waiting for her at the parking.

Ravish held open the door of his sparkling red Duster for Sonal to get in. As Sonal entered the car she could feel the fresh Jasmine aroma and Lata Mangeskar’s rendition of the evergreen classic.

“Aapki najro ne samjha pyar ke kabil mujhe

 Dil ki ai dhadkan thehar ja, mil gayi manjil mujhe”

And with that Ravish turned the ignition to find their “Manzil”. Thank god we have GPS to guide us through the ever changing routes because of one construction or the other.

Sonal: Ravish what has been your greatest learning as you attended your course on “Gamification”?

Ravish: There are many considering I had very limited understanding of the topic when I started doing the course. The biggest myth buster though is the PBL framework.

Sonal: What does that mean?

Ravish: PBL stands for Points, Badges and Leaderboards. This is the most commonly exploited technique employed to design a Gamification framework. While it might engage people for some time, sustained engagement would be a challenge.

Sonal: I agree. I did not know about the PBL framework, Rahim and I were discussing today about loyalty points and how that itself will not get me to go back to a particular store.

Ravish: That’s the point. Most Gamification framework that I have studied start with what elements to use in a game. I always think it is about the overall experience that ensures longevity and continuity with a gamified environment.

Sonal: A game might have a lot of elements and amazing specifications but if I don’t connect with something I am playing or involved in, my engagement levels will wane.

Ravish: One of the course that I am attending is by one of the leading Gamification expert Kevin Werbach. He describes the Gamification element as a Pyramid structure: Dynamics, Mechanics and Components. Components are the base element, with Mechanics in the middle, and Dynamics at the top.

Sonal: I have read about this structure in one of the articles. I believe this is how movies would be made as well.

Ravish: That’s an interesting thought. Would you elaborate?

Sonal: When a movie is conceptualised, the writer or the director decides on the narrative of the story and probably the overall emotion. Then they would decide on the drivers to take the story forward and finally get very specific about how the action would play out.

Ravish: Get a little more specific Sonal. You are suddenly talking like some of the movies that I have been watching lately. The concept sounds intresting but I understand nothing when I watch the movie (laughs out loudly).

Sonal: Very funny!!! What was the last movie you watched?

Ravish: I watched Fast and Furious 8 and I liked the movie. Atleast it was not like one of those “Wanna be” movies.

Sonal: Like seriously!!!

Ravish: I love the series and this one had Charlize Theron. Wasn’t she great in the Italian Job and Monster?

Sonal: I see someone is smitten. I like Charlize Theron, I don’t want to start a war of words (Wow) with you (Winks).

Ravish: And you asked my last movie to explain the pyramid structure, so I am all ears.

Sonal: So what was the overarching narrative of this movie?

Ravish: A mysterious woman named Cipher forces Dom to betray his family. Now, they must unite to bring home the man who made them a family and stop Cipher from unleashing chaos.

Sonal: So what was your favorite part of the story?

Ravish: I see where you are headed with this. The director employed different challenges, competition and rewards to take the story forward. You had two characters fighting out in a prison and the usual gambit around outsmarting each other.

Sonal: Exactly. While the Big picture story-line is like the Dynamics in Gamification and the elements that take the story forward are Mechanics. Components on the other hand are specifics within a story, like who wins a fight, how does the character dress up for a particular scene, will the fight be a combat or a gun fight etc.

Ravish: I like the way you explained Dynamics, Mechanics and Components. Dynamics encompasses the big picture aspects of a gamified system. Mechanics are the basic processes that drive users to engage with the content and continue to drive the action forward. In many ways the components are more specific form of either Dynamics or Mechanics.

Sonal: (Looking at the GPS)… You need to take the right turn and “Coor Nights” will be to your right. What does “Coor” mean. Is it like a real word?

Ravish: It is a combination of two spanish words “Comida” and “Amor”. Comida in spanish means food and Amor is love.

As Ravish’s car took the right turn, Sonal could see a familiar looking Iron 883 Harley and as the car approached the parking, Rahim took off his helmet and gave a glance towards Sonal.