When we hear the word “gamification” this term can mean a couple of different things. A video game is a computer or video game that entails interaction with a user interface or physical input device such as a mouse, keyboard, joystick, or touch screen device for controlling and playing the game. Video games have evolved greatly over the years and there are now many types and styles of these technological toys. Video games are usually played on dedicated game consoles such as Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox. Online gaming has also reached a whole new level with websites like World of Warcraft and Second Life that allows its users to create characters and connect with other like-minded individuals who participate in the same virtual world. Gamification is really just a fancy word for personalization and improvement.
So what exactly does this have to do with how we can gamify our lives? Gamification includes a wide variety of activities and techniques, ranging from activities that you perform alone in a virtual environment to multiplayer online role-playing games that allow players to interact with one another using a number of features (audio, text, graphics, etc) that are typically found within a single gaming console. You can basically turn playing games into an exercise that improves your mental capacity and decision-making process. Gamification can involve anything from solving problems to getting information. Gamification can be applied to almost any business activity or career, especially if it is directly related to the area of gaming.
For example, gamers can purchase multiplayer gaming consoles such as the Xbox, Play Station, and Nintendo Wii. These gaming consoles allow up to four people to join in on a single gaming session that is centered around a single player campaign or adventure. Gamers can then fight and compete against each other in a high-stakes battle. This interactive experience is perfect for people who have been unable to play a traditional sports game because they are not good enough (for example, bad knees) or are too old (too old to be able to run). In fact, more companies are hiring people just like you and me to work in the company of people who love gaming and want to grow their business while at the same time improving their productivity.