Gamification or Game? Understanding The Difference

The terms 'game' and 'gamification' are sometimes used interchangeably by marketers but they actually refer to different concepts. This article will help marketers understand the nuances of both, how to plan and who to hire to achieve their gamification or game build goal(s).

What is a game?

A game is a structured activity that involves players competing or cooperating with each other in order to achieve a goal. Games often have clear rules, goals, and outcomes, and can be competitive or cooperative in nature. Kent Gambill, Studio Head at Winterborn Games was asked this very question and responded, '...a game is an interactive experience that you have some level of control over. As long as there is some kind of reaction for every action you can take as a player, and you are able to draw any kind of enjoyment or emotion from it, I would consider it a game. So whether you're fighting your way through hordes of undead, enjoying your time with a walking simulator, or collecting all your toys in a bucket just to dump them out again, you're playing a game.'

Fairly simple, right? Yes!

Simple in the context or marketing or product development? Not so much.

What is gamification?

Gamification refers to the use of game-like design, elements and mechanics to engage and motivate users to achieve a desired outcome. Gamification often involves the use of rewards, points, and achievements to encourage people to complete tasks or reach goals as well as leaderboards to create a sense of competition and achievement.

Gamification is an effective way to drive usability and is often used in digital products to engage and encourage user behavior. When gamification is implemented in a human-centered way, it prioritizes the needs, interests, and motivations of the users interacting with the product.

A bank or financial institution for example might use gamification techniques, such as leaderboards and achievement badges, to motivate customers to save money, make regular transactions, or achieve other account related tasks. Another way banks might use gamification is through the development of mobile apps and online platforms which use game-like elements to make banking more interactive for customers. This can include things like virtual currencies, mini-games, and social features that encourage customers to engage with their accounts in a more playful and enjoyable way. By using game-like elements and mechanics, banks can enhance and encourage customers to take more control of their experience and financial health.

A fitness app might use gamification to motivate users to exercise more regularly by awarding points for completing workouts and unlocking achievements as they progress. A social media app might use gamification techniques to encourage users to interact with the app more frequently by awarding points for likes, comments, and shares.

Levels to this

If you reading this and the terms are still hard to distinguish, good! Gamification and games are indeed similar BUT they differ in their approach, objective, context, mechanics and rewards. Here is a quick guide on the key differences between the two:

• Objective: Gamification is used to achieve a specific goal or objective, such as increasing productivity, improving health, or enhancing learning. Games are typically played for enjoyment or entertainment.
• Context: Gamification is applied in a non-game context, such as a digital work environment, health, wellness, or fitness setting, or an educational platform or program. Games are played in a dedicated game environment or platform.
• Mechanics: Gamification uses incentive elements such as points, rewards, challenges, and feedback, in a non-game context. Games have more complex and immersive mechanics i.e., storylines, characters, and progression systems.
• Rewards: Gamification often uses rewards or incentives to motivate participants to achieve goals in real-life. Games typically have in-game rewards or achievements, but these are usually not tied to real-world incentives.

Games require game design along with a strong understanding of game mechanics, player psychology, storytelling, and if that isn't enough, the ability to balance challenges and rewards to create an engaging and enjoyable gameplay experience. When a brief contains the elements below, your client wants a game or mini-game:

• Rules: The set of guidelines that dictate how the game is played and what is and is not allowed.
• Objective: The goal or result that players are trying to achieve in the game.
• Players: The individuals or teams who are participating in the game.
• Resources: The materials or assets that players can use in the game, such as pieces or cards.
• Chance: The element of randomness or unpredictability that can affect the outcome of the game.
• Strategy: The plan or course of action that players use to try to achieve the objective of the game.
• Feedback: The information or response that players receive during the game, such as points or messages, that helps them understand their progress and adjust their strategy.
• Constraints: The limitations or boundaries that are imposed on players in the game.

The best company to hire for the build of a game is a game development studio.

Choosing partners. Determining who to hire for your project.

Do you need a game developer? A game designer? Or do you need to hire a digital product development studio? For a marketer trying to pull together internal and external resources to complete a digital initiative, understanding the difference between gamification and game development is important. Let's dive in.

Digital product development studios help incorporate gamification into digital products to make them more engaging and interactive for users. If you want to build or implement any of the following game-like elements into a digital product, contact a digital product development studio:

• Designing a quest or challenge involving a component or incentive for completing tasks.
• Competition leaderboards to rank users based on their performance, creating a sense of competition and encouraging people to try to improve their ranking.
• Rewards and point systems used to unlock new features, deliver such as virtual currencies or in-app items for completing certain tasks or reaching certain milestones.
• Levels and progress bars to show users how far they have progressed and encourage continuous use of the product.
• Social features such as the ability to share progress or compete with friends, to create a sense of community and encourage social interaction.

Digital product development studios are fully equipped to meet the needs of clients seeking to plan and deploy gamification tactics across products and platforms, making them the best companies to hire for gamification deployment.

Hard Price To Pay

Depending on the specific requirements and goals of the project, the cost of a game versus gamification techniques can vary greatly. Both involve the creation of custom game elements and mechanics, as well as the integration of those elements. Both require ongoing maintenance and updates to keep the program engaging for users.

That being said, as a general rule, the cost of creating a game can be significant, as it involves a wider range of design and development work, including creating the concept, rules, and mechanics of the game, as well as creating the artwork, sound effects, and other elements of the game. The cost of creating a game may also include platform and distribution expenses.

Factors related to the complexity of the game or gamification program, the size of the development team, and the resources required to create and maintain the game or gamification program will also need to be accounted for.

Key takeway

While games and gamification can have some overlap, they are not the same thing. Games are standalone activities that are designed to be played for their own sake, while gamification is the use of game-like elements to enhance the appeal and engagement of non-game activities. In order to effectively utilize either in marketing and product development, it is essential you and your team understand the distinction between the two.

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