Applying Game Mechanics to Functional Software

Full title: “Putting the Fun in Functional: Applying Game Mechanics to Functional Software”. In this 2009 Google Tech Talk, Amy Jo Kim, a game designer and web community architect whose credits include Rock Band, The Sims and eBay, reviews the psychology and systems thinking behind game design.

She shows how to use game mechanics to create experiences on the web and mobile that are fun, compelling and addictive, and ends by showcasing new services that incorporate these ideas and point to the future of social applications. The talk was introduced with the observation that many Google services could benefit from simple ways of becoming more engaging by applying lessons from game mechanics. At the time, Kim’s company Shufflebrain was building smart games for social networks, starting with Facebook.

Investor Dave McClure called the earlier version of this talk one of his favourite discussions on user engagement and app and web design. Patterns such as Achievements, Levels and Feedback Loops cover many of the game mechanics involved.