PixelMEDIA

In gaming, playtesting and user research are crucial. The interface and the user experience don’t just have to work; they have to be enjoyable and engaging. That’s why game companies invest so much time in prototyping and user testing, and why they collect so much data.

But this doesn’t have to stop at the test lab. With online and networked games becoming more and more popular, game companies have an opportunity to monitor their users remotely. Some companies, like Valve - makers of the hit Half-Life franchise - constantly monitor their players, which yields some interesting statistics.

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This article on VentureBeat just caught my attention. It’s a great summary of a design approach called “funware,” which Dean Takahashi defines as:

applications with game-like mechanics and game-like behavior that really aren’t traditional video games.

He’s summed up a trend where social networks, business apps, and even some fairly utilitarian (read: dull) websites try to engage users with game-like mechanics. His examples come from both directions - games that liven up social networking sites like Facebook, and applications such as eBay that use points systems, competition and collection to reward and incent their users. The industry experts Takahashi speaks with see big rewards in the proliferation of mini-games, Facebook games, and game-like applications in our everyday lives.

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