This post is inspired by an optional assignment in the course on gamification by Kevin Werbach. The task was to write down some activities from one’s life in two columns: playful ones, and those which are more like games. Suddenly, that task drove me into a couple of little insights.

The difference between a play and a game

As it was stated in the course, a play exists for its own sake and has some restrictions while being in an outer structure. A game, in its turn, also has strict rules and a goal. Both expect voluntary participation.

Chatting with friends

This one is obviously a play. We have, certainly, some restrictions: a few topics that are not likely to be discussed, and physical boundaries, such as the number of people who are participating. And we’re not aiming any target when talking to our friends, we’re just having fun.

I never considered common leisure activities as a part of the field of games and plays. Though it appears that they are: the topic of a conversation is like a ball, passed from one player to another without any particular goal.

We may notice from that perspective that an argument may be a game. Not a pleasant one, but willfully attained. Well, why not?

Programming

Isn’t it charming? A hard job. An activity considered as a complex mental work by many people. And a really joyful game, a great adventure for those who like to think and to solve problems.

Of course, such idealistic view is hardly reachable in the real life. There are dull tasks when you work even on a very interesting project. But even then, considering all the obstacles, it is still a beautiful game.

Speaking about games, we can see that there are rules in programming, of course. Strict rules, though not the strictest in the world of games. We can often find a hidden way to complete a goal (which is present too).

Life

When started, I had only ‘chatting’ and ‘programming’ in mind. As it usually happens, I came up with another couple of thoughts while writing the post.

I realized that one’s entire life is also a game. Not in a popular philosophical sense of it, but from a view of a game designer (just to notice: certainly, there are people who live their lives as plays, but I myself handle mine as a game).

Look, you set goals to achieve (i.e, degree in sciences), you have strong limitations (and have no limitations at all at the same time, but that’s too theoretical), there are resources (money), leader boards (school ranking), badges (membership in organizations), etc.

There is one cool feature in life’s game design: you can avoid some of its game elements, but, unfortunately, with a different success rate.

Applying the concept

I’m not a very active person, there are people much more active than me. I suppose there are few of you who like housework. I certainly don’t. Always, when it comes to a monotone work, I frustrate painfully.

There is a way out of that pain. Gamification.

There is plenty of space to fuse game concepts in that domestic routine, or at least transform it into a play. For example, there’s a game Chore Wars, which purpose is to make the dull work a little less boring by creating a fantasy experience of it, replacing work with RPG quests, and so on.

We can mix game experiences with everything, but not all the problems will be solved by such an intervention. Analyse thoroughly before doing it.

What activities in your life can be compared to plays and games?