What I mean by gamified problem solving is how to break down the solution into a clear loop we must construct to provide a successful gamification system.
This is just a first approach to it and will keep working on it as I feel it’s incomplete, although, it seems to be in the right direction. I will try to be as clear as possible.
The first thing to understand about a gamification system is that the goal is to solve a problem. If your system wasn’t designed for this, you will end up with more obstacles than advantages. So start there.
My loop on gamified problem solving goes something like this:
- The Goal is to solve a (the) problem(s).
- Problems are solved by Actions.
- Actions are executed by Agents.
- Agents ability is determined by Skill.
- Skill can be increased with Tools and/or Experience.
- Tools and Experience are rewards for Progression.
- Progression is earned by achieving Goals.
In gamification, agents are usually players, however it’s not always the them that execute an action but it can be the system (automated), the Game Master or an NPC.
If you want to reach a solution, you need three legs on that table: Problem, Agents and Actions. Everything else, is glitter. That’s why it’s important to create the loop focusing originally in SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
Once you build a loop with many different components it will help you design better systems making sure you don’t forget details in the process.
We know how hard Gamification Design is. Breaking it down helps with concrete logic to achieve the goal.
Feel free to break my breakdown. It’s really fresh and I know it needs a lot of work, though it’s a good start… I think.