Putting the Fun in Functional
Amy Jo Kim, Ph.D.
CEO, ShuffleBrain Inc.
First, some terminology…
What is Social Media?
What is Social Media?
player-created content
What is Social Media?
player-created content social infrastructure
What is Social Media?
player-created content social infrastructure
tools for sharing
What is a Game?
Formal Definition
a
system
in which players engage in an
artificial conflict,
defined by
rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome*
*from Rules of Play by Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen
Informal Definition
a
structured experience
with
rules and goals
that’s fun
Games tap into our primal response patterns
Games engage us in flow
What are Game Mechanics?
the systems and features that make games fun, compelling and addictive
Game Mechanics for Social Media
1. Collecting
Show me your stuff!
Game Mechanics for Social Media
1. Collecting 2. Points
Social Points are given by other players
Game Mechanics for Social Media
1. Collecting 2. Points
3. Feedback
Feedback accelerates mastery and adds fun
Game Mechanics for Social Media
1. Collecting 2. Points
3. Feedback
4. Exchanges
Exchanges are structured social interactions
basic, primal form of social engagement
Implicit vs Explicit Exchanges
“Add Friend” is explicit comments are implicit
Game Mechanics for Social Media
1. Collecting 2. Points
3. Feedback
4. Exchanges
5. Customization
Character Customization
Interface Customization
Case Study: PhotoGrab
Social Media + Game Mechanics
Collecting
Points
Feedback
Exchanges
Customization
Thank You – Any Questions?
amyjokim@gmail.com Amyjokim (Twitter) ShuffleBrain (FaceBook) www.shufflebrain.com