Look I normally like Brent Simmons’ blog Inessential, but this post… well how can I put it… sucks.
Aside from linking to a Google search, he doesn’t explain what he means, he doesn’t cite any examples, he doesn’t talk about where is might be useful (almost nothing is universally bad), etc. All he does is make a blanket dismissal and make it sound like he is making a point.
Not every gamified app is bad. Part of the point of Foursquare is that there is a game element to it. It isn’t my thing, but I can understand why the friends of mine who love it do.
My most recent app — Mystery Theater – Five Minute Mysteries — is gamified (though I agree that the word is horrible). As just a list of episodes, it would have appeal for a core audience of Old Time Radio lovers; but the fact that I made a game opened up its appeal.
But according to Simmons my app sucks, because all gamifaction is bad. Therefor, though the transitive property, my app is too.
The simple truth is that gamification — like all techniques or approaches — has it’s place, and it bad if over applied. But it does not, in and of itself.
But do you know what does suck? Blanket judgements, and ire masquerading as argument.
