{"id":501,"date":"2020-04-18T21:46:51","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T20:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/technocript.com\/?p=501"},"modified":"2022-12-07T17:04:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T17:04:27","slug":"gamification-vs-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/technocript.com\/gamification-vs-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Gamification vs Games: What is the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A relatively new concept, Gamification<\/a> is based on achieving goals using lessons derived from games, not using games themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, what is the difference between gamification and games? and how are they related to other game-derived concepts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to the misunderstanding of the gamification definition<\/a>, many stakeholders fail to achieve the intended interactivity of gamified applications. This is mainly because of the ambiguity of gamification and its relation to games and other related concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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We explore in this article the difference between gamification and games, along with their relation to closely related concepts such as Gamefulness and Playfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Gamification and Playing Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gamification is basically related to “games<\/em>“, not to the idea of “playing<\/em>” games, and there is a big difference between these two last concepts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the first hand, games are dedicated systems, composed of clear rules. With the aim of all participants to compete and interact to achieve specific goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, playing games refers to a much broader concept, that reflects a more flexible behavior and activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Hence, playing games includes games, but they both refer to different patterns of behavior, which can be encountered while playing video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Gamification vs. Serious Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another distinction must also be made between games<\/em> and serious games<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serious games<\/a> are fully-fledged games, designed and directed to specific purposes other than pure entertainment. While gamification<\/a> refers to adapting specific elements of the games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gamification theory, therefore, does not aim to create games outside the context of the targeted application, nor does it mean to design serious games. Instead, gamification uses a number of gaming elements of different levels of abstraction, with the aim of increasing user motivation and engagement within provided services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Gamification vs. Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the previous explanation, gamification and games are closely related but conceptually different terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To clarify the relationship between gamification and games, we outline in the following table the main similarities and differences between these two concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criteria<\/th>Games<\/th>Gamification<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Goals<\/strong><\/td>Entertainment<\/em>
Clear and explicit goals, where entertainment is the primary goal.<\/td>		Motivation<\/em>
The main goal is to motivate users and create an interactive process.<\/td><\/tr>
Rules and Structure<\/strong><\/td>Clearly defined, but can expand to complex and complete systems.<\/td>Missions and challenges to be fulfilled, packed in a system of points and rewards. These tasks are not complete systems and, usually, don\u2019t include complex rules and principles.<\/td><\/tr>
Cost<\/strong><\/td>High design and development cost.<\/td>Relatively low cost.<\/td><\/tr>
Content<\/strong><\/td>Essential, and fully adapted to fit the rules and objectives of the game.<\/td>Mostly independent of gamification, but it\u2019s always better to be adapted to fit the gamification techniques.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Difference between Games and Gamification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Gamefulness & Gameful Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In another context, “Gamefulness<\/a><\/em>” is another concept related to gamification. It is described as the experiential and behavioral quality of a game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This phenomenon is complementary to another one called “Playfulness<\/a><\/em>“. Which is the quality of being fun and lively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\u0650Furthermore, gamification also brings to light further concepts, such as: “Gameful Interaction<\/em>” and “Gameful Design<\/em>“. These concepts are distinctive and not precisely prescribed. Also, they are different from other previously established concepts, such as: “Playful Interaction<\/em>” and “Playful Design<\/em>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this context, gamification must be distinguished from playfulness and playful design, and this is what represents a novelty in gamification applications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practically, gamified applications may lead to playful behavior. Just like video games, which may alternate between gameful and playful behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, the main goal of gamification is to ultimately reach a gameful experience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the following figure, we illustrate the positioning of gamification and some related concepts according to two axes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n