We all love playing games, but what most people don’t realise is that game mechanics are being introduced into many online sites to increase both participation and return visits. This presentation will explore the recent use of game mechanics online, including some examples from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, and a few more unusual cases. It will also highlight some of the issues when implementing game mechanics, such as people trying to “game” the system. It will explore how it can influence social action, making for a great viral tool for not-for-profit organisations. The presentation will also outline some basic game mechanics that can easily be integrated into your social campaigns, and some steps to think through when designing them.

PRESENTER: Richard Giles (CPSU/CSA)

Called ”the network marketer” by BRW, Richard has been online since 94, creating websites and lecturing about ecommerce at Curtin. He has since worked for Sun Microsystems, authored two books, and launched a company listed in BRW’s Top 10 Web Apps 2008.

@richardgiles

@cpsucsa