Gamification and game design: Theory and practice beyond promises of salvation
Dr Mela Kocher und Lic. phil. I René Bauer, ZHdK
Gamification refers to the translation of game-based elements into contexts that were originally foreign to games. The aim is to enhance the motivation of the users to solve the tasks posed more easily. Gamification scenarios generally only use individual elements of game systems. They are distinct from serious games (‘applied games’), which have sophisticated game mechanisms and endeavour to engage players more extensively.
These developments are not new, but the “promise of salvation” of digital games for serious or applied contexts are deeply diffused insociety. The two speakers show the theoretical fundamentals behind these game phenomena, the factors to be considered in development, and how these fundamentals can be used to explain cultural and societal developments beyond the realm of the magic circle of games. These questions are examined using specific examples of projects in therapy, research and development aid.
external pageDr. Mela Kocher lectures at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). In her subject area, Game Design, she works in research and development, focusing on Applied Games, Gamification and Urban Games. For example, she developed the urban game “LucyZH” for the International Office at ZHdK. Her doctoral thesis examined narration concepts in computer games.
external pageRené Bauer is Head of the Master’s specialisation in the subject area of Game Design, with a focus on motivation design. He is also Co-Director of the external pageGameLab at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). In addition to lecturing, he is involved in national and international projects and promotesan analysis of games in the field of Game Studies and the cultural sciences. As a game designer and application developer, René Bauer also manages his own games projects, experiments with AND-OR.CH on the interface between games and art, and co-develops collaborative authoring environmentssuch nic-las, imachinaandixistenz.