The spread of ‘Gamification’

Molly Wood Aug 9, 2013
HTML EMBED:
COPY

The spread of ‘Gamification’

Molly Wood Aug 9, 2013
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Volkswagen just launched an app called Smile Drive. Using bluetooth, the app gives you data on the trips you make — also badges and tiny rewards for long drives, holiday trips, things like that. Is this sounding suspiciously familiar yet? It’s “gamification.” The idea of making non-game activities more game-like isn’t brand new, but companies like Volkswagen, and even government agencies, are using it more and more. Ty McCormick has been studying the spread of gamification for Foreign Policy Magazine.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.