In a web2.0 Expo presentation from the perspective of a game designer, Amy Jo Kim uses the word ‘gamification’ to clearly present her core concepts of what makes an exceptionally designed game, from strategic analysis of potential customers to customizations and advancing levels. She states key requirements for creating an engaging game, like challenges, unlocking levels, and an eye towards fun and satisfaction.
All of her information is presented with an focus on modern gaming, which includes not only videogames but fads on Facebook and other social media sites. Amy Jo Kim also uses current examples and trends from a variety of sources, such as Farmville, Amazon’s tracking processes, and Foursquare’s recommendations. The underlying goal, she stresses throughout her portion of the expo, is to know your audience and meet it's desires in terms of technology, fun, and trends.
With information ranging from technical development advice to first-hand player knowledge, Amy Jo Kim’s brief outline of concepts that are integral to the creation of successful games is concise, informative, and well-presented: anyone from a game designer to a game player can learn core principles of game creation from this presentation.
Amy Jo Kim is an internationally recognized expert in online social architecture. She has designed social architecture for Electronic Arts/Maxis/Origin, Digital Chocolate, MTV/Harmonix, eBay, There.com, Yahoo!, and others. Her influential book Community Building on the Web (published 2000), translated into 7 languages, is required reading in universities and game companies around the world. She has a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from University of Washington, and a BA in Experimental Psychology from UCSD.
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Photo: Pinar Özger