Wouldn’t it be great if you could spend your entire workday playing games? That sounds like a fantasy to many people, but in some cases, it’s actually just what modern professionals are doing! No, we’re not just talking about people who are paid to try out the newest video games for a living. In fact, many regular office workers are actually playing games on the clock, all without upsetting their supervisors.
How is this the case? Let’s talk about the impact of games on the modern workplace, and how gamification is changing the way we work, study, and bond with each other. Whether you’re looking to solve puzzles or enjoy Indian online casino games and real money, it’s interesting to know that you can do so by playing with your co-workers together while having a break.
What is Gamification?
You may be asking yourself – what is gamification? Gamification is a word that was created to give an official name to the use of games for purposes other than pure entertainment. Through gamification, things that weren’t originally games can be turned into them, making these tasks more fun and engaging.
Just a few of the things that can be turned into fun through gamification include:
- Games that reward employees or students for good behaviors or achievements and allow them to collect these achievements to unlock even more.
- Interactive games that make peer-to-peer collaboration more fun.
- Superhero or zombie apocalypse-themed games that encourage teamwork and physical activity.
- Memory games using information that has been covered during class or training sessions.
- Imaginative simulation games that allow employees and students to decide what the right action would be for them in a particular situation.
As you can see, gamification is often employed in both the workplace and the classroom. People of all ages love to play, though the games that are geared toward specific age ranges must also be tailored to their interests, skill sets, and preferences.
The Benefit of Gamification
Why are tasks-turned-games so popular in the modern workplace and classroom? It’s simple: People love to play. Doing so makes both completing classwork and undergoing training exercises more enjoyable. When people enjoy what they’re doing, they’re more likely to remember any information that is being passed along in the process. It’s a simple way to help people remember the subjects being discussed or shared and prevent mental fatigue. Plus, play has been shown to help children and adults alike to bond with their peers, making it a perfect addition to any workplace or school!
What Caused This Interest in Gamification?
Why are so many employers and educators using games to engage employees and students? It has a lot to do with the popularity of games across nearly every age group – and their ubiquitousness in the modern consciousness.
What does that mean? It means that, these days, you’ll find games on nearly every person’s smartphone. On popular social media sites, you can find collaborative games. On tablets, notebook computers, and other devices, you’ll find gaming applications. Gaming – especially mobile gaming – is a huge industry, given the fact that almost everyone has a game or two that they regularly enjoy.
What does that mean? It means that on nearly every person’s smartphone these days, you’ll find games. On popular social media sites, you can find collaborative games. On tablets, notebook computers, and other devices, you’ll find gaming applications. Gaming – especially mobile gaming – is a huge industry, given the fact that almost everyone has a game or two that they regularly enjoy.
That commonality means that gaming is something that everyone can relate to. In fact, there are some types of games that are commonly understood that their format is considered nearly universal. These are the types of games that make up the bulk of gamification efforts – games that everyone already knows how to use, so they can focus on the information being presented through them, rather than mastering the gameplay, itself.
Here are some examples of these types of games and where you might have seen or played them before:
Word Games
Word games are a natural fit for educational and work-related purposes, since the use of language is a universal human trait. In every culture, there are word games being played. Some of these – such as word searches and crosswords – are popular in nearly every language, making them simple to convert to gamified tasks. Since people already understand how to play these games, it isn’t difficult to make them relevant to whatever information is being covered.
Puzzle Games
Everyone has the ability to think logically, although skill levels vary as widely as people themselves. No matter what your skill level, though, there are puzzle-style games designed with you in mind. These games make thinking and reasoning the main objective, rewarding you by passing you through levels or even completing exciting stories as you play. These, in particular, make great work and educational games.
Shooting Games
When you hear the term “shooter” in a game’s description, it may not make you think of family-friendly imagery. However, many shooting games are child-friendly, with cartoon characters and fun objectives. Of course, there are much more violent, adult versions, which are exceedingly popular with young adults and men of all ages. In all of these, you just point, shoot, and play!
Action or Combat Games
Action and combat games can vary dramatically from simple, child-friendly tapping games with superhero themes to complex and beautifully-rendered fantasy and military-themed games. No matter how old someone is, there is a familiar fighting game made for them.
Sports Games
Are you a sports fan? Even if you aren’t, you probably understand the basic rules of some of the most popular games. This is why so many sports-themed games are popular; people already know how to play them, and now, they can do it from home!
Casino-Style Games
Casino-style games are some of the most popular worldwide. These games offer the kind of real excitement and exhilaration that casino gaming does, all from the comfort of a person’s favorite places. Whether you’re hoping to feel that familiar “flutter” in the living room of your New York apartment or looking for free online casino games to win real money with no deposit in India, all of these games have similar and familiar formats that you can jump right into enjoying with very little learning curve.
With so many options for games, it’s no wonder that there’s something for everyone today – and why so many companies are using games to train, evaluate, and even help their employees to bond with one another. Look for your favorites the next time your boss says it’s time to get together! For once, you might just enjoy it!
SUMMARY: Don’t think games and work have anything to do with one another? Think again!
