Did you ever notice if training takes place in the form of a game, you achieve the expected result much faster? It happens because it becomes interesting and you are much involved in the process. Game elements are used not only in training, but they can also be applied in business. Many web design companies prefer using gamification in website designs as they make it more engageable for users. Let’s talk about gamification and discuss its method of operation on websites.
What exactly is gamification?
In simple words, gamification is a user’s involvement in a problem-solving drive through gaming. Websites that have game elements, are more attractive and are recommended by people to their friends and relatives. It helps to increase sales, registration on the site, boost contact lists and clicks and decrease bounce rate.
When you hear “gamification”, the first thing that comes to mind is game design. Although gamification and game design has a couple of similar features, they are not directly related. Always keep in mind that gamification is a design technique based on using game mechanics outside of games. Competently implemented gamification improves user involvement and increases conversion up to a great extent.
How game elements improve user experience?
Gamification is often associated with PBL- points, badges, and leaderboards. A web design company always assumes that it is possible to liven up the user experience by simply adding some bonus points to it. But it doesn’t happen in many cases. If people have the motivation to do something, they play games, not for points but because it gives them pleasure and challenges.
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Web Design Gamification
Web design company sites use gamification to give visitors a clear product path and clear goals. Users feel like a real player, start the whole adventure on the site, interact with the brand and purchase the products and services. It makes interaction with the site much clearer and more predictable.
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Challenge and Reward
Folks love challenges. They force us to focus our efforts on the results and prove that we can solve any problem by hook or by crook.
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Puzzles
You must have played puzzles in childhood. In the end, there was always a feeling of joy, when a whole picture came out of small details.
Note: You can use different elements of gamification on your website as per the user’s demand. IT companies offering web design services have a better knowledge of it. So, work with them to implement proper gaming elements on your website & make visitors happy.
5 basic principles of gamification
| Gamification principles | Brief Explanation |
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The application develops with the user |
When you design an application, it is very important that the digital product is perceived as something that can be used repeatedly. In most games, players usually go through the initial stage, which is essentially a learning cycle, and then within a few days or weeks, get a basic understanding of game missions and slowly move from simple interaction strategies to more complex ones. So, it is very important to evaluate users differently depending on what stage of the cycle they are at. Always keep in mind that application functionality and user experience must be adapted to a specific life cycle of a player or user. |
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Target loop |
It is very important to know the main behavior of users towards the application. All interactions should be encouraged. If this is not done, the application will inevitably lose some of its attractiveness sooner or later. Determine the target loops & focus the attention of users on them. Working with target loops is the main driving force of gamification. It allows you to build a system in which there are cycles of reward and encouragement for people. The pleasure received by users from the reward, stimulates them to repeat basic actions over and over again. |
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Resource Limiting |
Regular Internet users are smart and dexterous. So, by limiting their actions and access to basic resources, you can push them to maximize the results of their experience. Many mobile games have their own currency, a points system, with which you can build the best base, city or village, depending on the type of game. By allowing users to decide for themselves how to spend these limited resources, they can create the feeling that they are autonomous in their actions or achievements. In order to understand how resource restriction works in a non-game application, visit a Tinder dating site. So-called Super Likes are used there to show increased interest in other users. Such an approach allows users to keep their attention and stimulates new registrations. The company owners get leads by selling super likes. |
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Strengthening the sense of ownership |
Interaction with a personalized application through a character or a game avatar is extremely fascinating. It increases the user’s loyalty to the brand. Always keep in mind that the cost of communication with the application increases. If you give users something that they can be proud of or cherish, they will sincerely love applications. They will not show interest in competing products. While interacting with applications that include game elements, there is always a place for creativity. So, whenever possible, personalize the reward or give the user something that will show that his invested experience, time or ingenuity did not go unnoticed. |
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Social environment and personal experience |
Each application is designed for a specific audience. These most active users are very valuable for website or app developers. So, they need to evoke a feeling of unity with the service or site through the use of social hypersensitivity. This is not an easy task at all. Social interaction and personal experience matter a lot here. Clash of Clans is a fine example of gamification. |
Examples of gamification in web design
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Examples |
Game Elements |
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Experience points, levels, upgrade mechanism, etc. | |
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Zurb |
The opening of the object, the achievement of the goal. |
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Competition, completion of the mission. | |
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Competition. | |
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Zoho Motivator |
Competition (hard mode) |
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Quizzes, riddles, platforming, etc. | |
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Quotes |
Competition. |
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Bonus |
visualization |
Final Words
Gamification was in use several years ago. However, during this time, its popularity has faded up to a great extent. User experience has come to replace gamification. Nevertheless, the basics of the game are still present in the design. The inclusion of game mechanics in non-game applications is still an important principle. Therefore, it is still worth talking about gamification. Implement it on your website/app with the help of a competent web design company. It will help to develop interaction cycles with an application or site and generate lots of business opportunities. Best of Luck!
