Gamification is the current buzz word. It refers to "the use of game design elements in non-gamin... more Gamification is the current buzz word. It refers to "the use of game design elements in non-gaming contexts" . This paper aims at suggesting a new approach to this concept through taking one step back, and looking at "ludification" instead of "gamification". Relying on preexistent literature to infer the differences between gamification and ludification, and trace the characteristics of mobile games that may or may not contribute to the construction of a culture of playfulness and fun, the author wants to understand what is the real range of these two terms. Mobile apps and games should reflect these phenomena and help understand how are they part of contemporary culture and society and what do they tell us about the historical moment we are living in.
Mobile phones have been game-enabled since 1997. However, it seems that mobile phone games are on... more Mobile phones have been game-enabled since 1997. However, it seems that mobile phone games are only taking off now, in the 2010s. With mobile phones and, specially, smartphones, reaching critical mass games, in their mobile form are accessible to more and more people, young and old, men and women. Angry Birds, first released for iOS in December 2009, was the best-selling mobile game in 2011 (Reisinger 2011). In order to understand who is playing Angry Birds, how, and why, the author conducted a series of interviews with a group of Angry Birds players. The results of those interviews are here analyzed according to perspectives arisen from those conversations. Two main axis of analysis resulted from the interviews: gender gap and gaming background. This study should be relevant to broaden the thinking about mobile games as meaningful experiences to players in different demographic groups.
Gamification is the current buzz word. It refers to "the use of game design elements in non-gamin... more Gamification is the current buzz word. It refers to "the use of game design elements in non-gaming contexts" . This paper aims at suggesting a new approach to this concept through taking one step back, and looking at "ludification" instead of "gamification". Relying on preexistent literature to infer the differences between gamification and ludification, and trace the characteristics of mobile games that may or may not contribute to the construction of a culture of playfulness and fun, the author wants to understand what is the real range of these two terms. Mobile apps and games should reflect these phenomena and help understand how are they part of contemporary culture and society and what do they tell us about the historical moment we are living in.
Mobile phones have been game-enabled since 1997. However, it seems that mobile phone games are on... more Mobile phones have been game-enabled since 1997. However, it seems that mobile phone games are only taking off now, in the 2010s. With mobile phones and, specially, smartphones, reaching critical mass games, in their mobile form are accessible to more and more people, young and old, men and women. Angry Birds, first released for iOS in December 2009, was the best-selling mobile game in 2011 (Reisinger 2011). In order to understand who is playing Angry Birds, how, and why, the author conducted a series of interviews with a group of Angry Birds players. The results of those interviews are here analyzed according to perspectives arisen from those conversations. Two main axis of analysis resulted from the interviews: gender gap and gaming background. This study should be relevant to broaden the thinking about mobile games as meaningful experiences to players in different demographic groups.
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Papers by Maura Bouqa
analyzed according to perspectives arisen from those conversations. Two main axis of analysis resulted from the interviews: gender gap and gaming background.
This study should be relevant to broaden the thinking about mobile games as meaningful experiences to players in different demographic groups.
analyzed according to perspectives arisen from those conversations. Two main axis of analysis resulted from the interviews: gender gap and gaming background.
This study should be relevant to broaden the thinking about mobile games as meaningful experiences to players in different demographic groups.