Game Change looks at game mechanics as a business model for the future

An estimated one billion people spend at least one hour every day playing computer and video games. Why do people put more effort into these games than their day jobs and personal relationships? Game Change, the latest book from global media and communications agency PHD (Omnicom Media Group), discusses how “gamification” can be harnessed and applied as a business model for the future.

Although gaming has an unfortunate capacity for attracting negative headlines, Game Change explores the growing evidence and opinions from a number of commentators who argue that gaming can actually be a force for good, especially when applied to real life problems.

“Gamification” uses game thinking and mechanics to engage users into solving problems. In a business and marketing sense, it creates new ways to engage both employees and consumers. Businesses need to consider that 7 billion hours by 1 billion gamers are up for grabs in the “Engagement Economy”.

Game Change co-author and PHD’s worldwide strategy and planning director, Mark Holden, says that if businesses and marketers apply even a fraction of the engagement seen in gaming, the payback will be incredibly significant. Gaming has the ability to create meaning and motivation relevant to the target market, whether internal or external, which results in engaged audiences and ultimately, increased revenue.

“It is not enough to expect people within any organisation to give the best part of their waking lives for money alone. People, especially the younger generation, are seeking more meaning from their working lives,” says Holden. “It is important that organisations start to take this on board. There’s a lot that can be learnt from the immersive and empowering experience that games provide. It is now becoming increasingly clear that, if employed correctly and not superficially, game mechanics can help to generate the levels of engagement required for this new working world.”

Game Change looks at “gamification” in practice through successful examples, including Nike+, Guinness and Heineken, and from sectors including finance, such as Mint.com.

PHD itself has implemented a ‘gamified’ global operating system, Source, the largest enterprise gaming system with more than 2,500 staff in over 76 countries collaborating and playing on a leaderboard at work every day. It has been adopted much more quickly than ever anticipated, thanks to the game element.

Jane McGonigal, Game Change foreword author, game designer and author of New York Times bestseller Reality is Broken, points out that innovative systems like Source empowers employees to gamefully tackle daily challenges that excite and interest them most. Not only does it help them to realize their strengths, it also creates significant improvements in employee engagement and output.

“Source has had an incredible impact on our employees and our clients,” says Elda Choucair, managing director of PHD UAE. “The added stimulation and combination of ideas and insights across the network that Source brings has delivered great results in staff performance, client satisfaction. It has also contributed to our latest new business successes.”

Game Change is co-authored by PHD’s Mark Holden, Craig Atkinson, Malcolm Devoy, Frances Ralston-Good, Chris Stephenson and writer Alasdair Reid.

Image retrieved from Inquirer