Gaming the Crowd: Turning Work Into Play

What do Amazon Mechanical Turk, the Obama campaign, the 2010 Honda Insight, and the Nike+ all have in common? They all use gameplay mechanics to turn difficult real-world problems into play. I'll discuss practical ways to turn any website into a game, and the serious risks of doing it wrong.

RT @karinab #SXSW #gamingthecrowd Jesse Schell says that everything we do can be turned into a game + trackable
by screeny via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:25 PM
RT @hursman: ppl will pursue collection acheivements even when they dont enjoy the task/game. all in the name of completing a goal #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by Steph_Bousquet via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:29 PM
RT @brianfit: #gamingthecrowd #sxswi Facebook making friend count public turned it into a game. So true. One big clever contest.
by bsniz via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:33 PM
Putting the Fun in Functional http://slidesha.re/mFe8p #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by schuylerkaye via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:38 PM
#SXSW #gamingthecrowd Games can change the world - Andy Baio
by karinab via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:48 PM
Love this t-shirt! Thinking many @foursquare addicts, not just gamers, will enjoy its humor. bit.ly #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by akeats via twitter 3/14/2010 4:38:58 PM
something like ribbon hero for adobe creative suite would be awesome #gamingthecrowd: bit.ly
by nabidka via twitter 3/14/2010 4:39:00 PM
ppl thought location would the big thing at SXSW; it's not, it's the inclusion of game mechanics in everything computerised #gamingthecrowd
by Sifter via twitter 3/14/2010 4:40:16 PM
#gamingthecrowd @PatrickRuffini Randy Farmer & Bryce Glass: "Building Web Reputation Systems"
by screeny via twitter 3/14/2010 4:40:46 PM
Andy Baio gives an interesting survey of metagaming. #gamingthecrowd #sxsw ^A
by momentumww via twitter 3/14/2010 4:41:35 PM
Very interesting concepts about integrating gaming in daily life at #gamingthecrowd
by pedrocs via twitter 3/14/2010 4:42:03 PM
If you're hyperfocused on the game (leaderboard) it's a detriment to the larger community. Game is a means to behavior #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by vaguity via twitter 3/14/2010 4:43:00 PM
#gamingthecrowd if you post a leaderboard, try to limit the scope
by ramdac via twitter 3/14/2010 4:43:00 PM
Key tips to metagaming from Andy Baio twitgoo.com #gamingthecrowd #sxsw ^b
by momentumww via twitter 3/14/2010 4:43:09 PM
Live coverage of the #gamingthecrowd panel at #SXSWi bit.ly
by fmcblog via twitter 3/14/2010 4:43:57 PM
Favorite talk so far! And lots of good reading material was recommended for follow up. #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by tenormad via twitter 3/14/2010 4:44:07 PM
the panic status board bit.ly #gamingthecrowd
by Switched via twitter 3/14/2010 4:44:09 PM
ok, no good answers for how gaming approaches are being used inside the enterprise. sounds like an opportunity. #gamingthecrowd #sxsw #sxswi
by hursman via twitter 3/14/2010 4:44:43 PM
Panic software developer posted an internal leaderboard for support queues. Described results as "magical". #gamingthecrowd
by screeny via twitter 3/14/2010 4:45:15 PM
Personal dashboards on performance coming to every company #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by PatrickRuffini via twitter 3/14/2010 4:45:44 PM
Andy is smart, learning my brain at his meta game mechanics presentation #gamingthecrowd ja1.me
by jmacias via twitter 3/14/2010 4:45:49 PM
Andy Baoi's #gamingthecrowd ( @waxpancake / @kickstarter ) talk moved up my SXSWi leaderboard ;)
by organised via twitter 3/14/2010 4:46:20 PM
#gamingthecrowd using guilt to reinforce behavior. ...evil.
by ramdac via twitter 3/14/2010 4:46:24 PM
My favorite part about the panic status board: when the next buses come tr.im #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by vaguity via twitter 3/14/2010 4:46:28 PM
#gamingthecrowd Swoopo is so evil! #sxsw
by kkowalcz via twitter 3/14/2010 4:47:16 PM
Swoopo.com - the darkside of metagames. SUnk cost auctions. #gamingthecrowd
by screeny via twitter 3/14/2010 4:47:50 PM
Check this out -- Notes from #gamingthecrowd are available here bit.ly #sxsw /via @AndrewPWilson
by Steph_Bousquet via twitter 3/14/2010 4:47:58 PM
Motivation by game is a weird combination of manipulation and pleasure. Takes advantages of our irrationality... #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by yknakano via twitter 3/14/2010 4:49:52 PM
Andy Baio showing off swoopo.com at #gamingthecrowd So cruel! #sxsw
by tomkiss via twitter 3/14/2010 4:49:58 PM
Swoopo auction site: paying per bid, each big extends the auction--"takes advantage of our irrationality" #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by vaguity via twitter 3/14/2010 4:49:59 PM
Wow, I didn't know Swoopo, this is incredibly evil! www.swoopo.com #gamingthecrowd
by pedrocs via twitter 3/14/2010 4:50:03 PM
Swoopo named "most evil startup" by Andy Baio #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by momentumww via twitter 3/14/2010 4:50:18 PM
#SXSW #gamingthecrowd all games needs to have achievements to keep people engage no matter what the content
by karinab via twitter 3/14/2010 4:50:53 PM
"Anything that you can measure and teach can basically be turned into a game" #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by vaguity via twitter 3/14/2010 4:50:56 PM
Another highlight. Andy Baio great on turning work into games -scary and fun #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by jonathanbriggs via twitter 3/14/2010 4:51:36 PM
#SXSW #gamingthecrowd andy biao suggest design repetition blog for anyone who wants to develop games for good/social game
by karinab via twitter 3/14/2010 4:52:08 PM
(Any) Repeatable skills that can learned and measured can be turned into game (even registers at Target) #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by mvermut via twitter 3/14/2010 4:52:17 PM
Panic are adding simple game mechanics to their customer service, and its working wonders tr.im #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by tomkiss via twitter 3/14/2010 4:52:21 PM
Gaming in the workplace: status boards foster shared drive to succeed bit.ly #gamingthecrowd #sxsw
by _Fire_Starter_ via twitter 3/14/2010 4:52:22 PM
#SXSW #gamingthecrowd Recomendations for cause games Achivements makes people feel good, anything that fosters collaboration
by karinab via twitter 3/14/2010 4:53:00 PM
Things that fosters collaboration, issues achievements, uses quests, are good game mechanics #gamingthecrowd
by mrmcq5 via twitter 3/14/2010 4:53:52 PM
tracking some of the resources @andybaio mentioned in #gamingthecrowd via delicious: bit.ly
by hursman via twitter 3/14/2010 4:55:14 PM
Andy Baio predicting achievement aggregators #gamingthecrowd
by jonathanbriggs via twitter 3/14/2010 4:55:18 PM
#SXSW #gamingthecrowd The future of social gaming, possible game fatigue, move from web based back to platforms, brand/ad based games
by karinab via twitter 3/14/2010 4:55:56 PM
Just heard an AWESOME talk on incorporating meta games into business applictaions. #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by Jaredac via twitter 3/14/2010 4:56:01 PM
#gamingthecrowd @waxpancake killer talk. Best of sxsw so far.
by lightsoutfilms via twitter 3/14/2010 4:57:13 PM
Behavioural reciprocity in farmville, everyone can see it - you feel compelled - it gnaws at your brain #gamingthecrowd (via @mrmcq5)
by jam3 via twitter 3/14/2010 4:57:16 PM
Usability 4 Evil: got a new favorite website out of #gamingthecrowd bit.ly
by tenormad via twitter 3/14/2010 4:57:16 PM
Good games are easy to learn, hard to master #gamingthecrowd (via @mrmcq5)
by jam3 via twitter 3/14/2010 4:57:27 PM
#gamingthecrowd great talk by Andy Baio - game mechanics that harness human behaviour, leveraging our competitive nature w/o alienation
by jam3 via twitter 3/14/2010 5:02:23 PM
TweetNotes for #gamingthecrowd are here: bit.ly see who's tweeting & rate best tweets!
by benrigby via twitter 3/14/2010 5:07:10 PM
#sxsw #gamingthecrowd shows potential in modifyng communities behavior thru gaming. Whether it's used for evil is a different discussion
by drSaab via twitter 3/14/2010 5:08:39 PM
the panic status board bit.ly #gamingthecrowd: bit.ly
by nabidka via twitter 3/14/2010 5:10:34 PM
TweetNotes for #gamingthecrowd are here: bit.ly - Rate and comment on tweets from the panel.
by benrigby via twitter 3/14/2010 5:13:15 PM
Social gaming rewards/accolades help dictate our worth amongst friend groups....agree? disagree? #gamingthecrowd #sxsw ^b
by momentumww via twitter 3/14/2010 5:15:33 PM
Excellent presentation from @waxpancake ; a lot to think about now. #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by vaguity via twitter 3/14/2010 5:18:17 PM
Great session, thanks for making it comprehensible to non-gaming folks #upvote #gamingthecrowd @andy baio
by SarahC73 via twitter 3/14/2010 5:19:49 PM
#gamingthecrowd instant review: The reward systems in this kind of gaming are easily built. Can they also be personally fulfilling to users?
by screeny via twitter 3/14/2010 5:26:33 PM
This is a really cool way to motivate your company: bit.ly #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by schuylerkaye via twitter 3/14/2010 5:35:23 PM
Talk about a terrible way to spend your time: www.swoopo.com #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by schuylerkaye via twitter 3/14/2010 5:36:09 PM
Good online Karma in Persuasion bit.ly #sxsw #gamingthecrowd
by schuylerkaye via twitter 3/14/2010 5:37:19 PM

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Gaming the Crowd: Turning Work Into Play

What do Amazon Mechanical Turk, the Obama campaign, the 2010 Honda Insight, and the Nike+ all have in common? They all use gameplay mechanics to turn difficult real-world problems into play. I'll discuss practical ways to turn any website into a game, and the serious risks of doing it wrong.