(2004-03-02) Social Networking As Gaming

Amy Jo Kim on Social Networking as Game Playing. In Rules Of Play, Eric Zimmerman defined a game as a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome... Clearly, there's a lot of playful, engaging digital entertainment out there that's game-like, but not strictly "a game" in the classic sense... Earning points (in one form or another) and asociating levels with earned points is a common and powerful game mechanic that taps into basic human nature. When you earn points for in-game actions, you gain a sense of progress and accomplishment - which motivates you to keep playing. And when you're rewarded for your persistence with a new "level" that offers greater status, powers and challenges, that compounds the motivational power of the mechanism.