The term gamification was first coined back in 2002, and now the market is poised to reach almost $23 billion by 2022. Still, despite the popularity of gamification, there’s often confusion on exactly what it is, and you’ll find a lot of different definitions out there. We like Growth Engineering’s description, “The application of gaming mechanics to non-gaming environments to make difficult tasks more palatable.” As a New York City event planner, that’s often exactly what you’re tasked with: making a dull meeting more exciting, engaging the audience, inspiring team building, and boosting attendance. So, let’s take a look at some popular gamification options being used at meetings around the world.
7 Popular Gamification Ideas for Your Next Event
1. Create a gamification zone
While young men make up a large share of people who play video games in the United States, four-in-ten women and roughly a quarter of Americans ages 65 and older also say they play video games, according to a Pew Research Center survey. So, a gamification zone gives event attendees a place to relax and play games during breaks. Depending on your budget and the size of your zone, you might consider a virtual batting field or golf course. Not feasible? Then try virtual reality gaming. PlayStation VR is sure to excite the crowd and get them talking.
2. Play ice breaker games
Gamification doesn’t have to involve the latest technology, some of the best ice breakers are the most simple! Ice breaker games create a positive atmosphere, break down social barriers, and get people thinking outside of the box. A few ideas you might consider:
- Have attendees play a few rounds of “two truths and one lie.” People will discover others who they have something in common with, which will give them a reason to engage in further conversation later if there is networking.
- Turn networking into a competition by informing attendees that there will be a prize for collecting the most business cards. This gives them an incentive to speak with fellow attendees, and a reason to approach them without feeling awkward.
- Consider “speed networking,” in which attendees face each other across a table, and are given 1-2 minutes to chat before a buzzer signals that time is up and they must move to the next attendee in line. Then, once mingling commences, they know which people they want to approach for further discussion.
3. Polling
A show of hands has been replaced with online polls, which have become a popular way to poll the crowd and engage guests. They’re easy to employ through a number of polling apps, devices, and plugins. What’s great about them is that you’ll also get the truth out of people; unlike raising a hand, most online polling apps allow people to remain anonymous which encourages more participation—and honesty.
4. “Test Your Knowledge”
You can’t go wrong with trivia, which is why you’ll find touchscreen Buzztime trivia machines at popular bars and restaurants—some even host-specific trivia nights. Now, trivia is showing up at events, with moderators posing questions throughout presentations to hold people’s attention, or sending out questions via SMS notifications and posting answers on leaderboards.
5. Quests
Quests are basically a scavenger hunt in which attendees work together or individually to win prizes. Today, a lot of events are employing augmented reality (AR) to make quests more exciting. Augmented reality is a great way to transform an attendee’s tablet or smartphone into an interactive experience in which their real-world environment is “augmented” by computer-generated information or imagery. Think of it as Pokémon Go—for the event goer! At large events and conventions, AR is also a neat way to help attendees navigate the crowd. For example, booth numbers and vendor names can be overlayed on top of the actual environment, made viewable through a mobile device. This allows attendees to hit all the spots they want to go (and can also direct them to refreshment areas, restrooms, and more).
6. Leaderboards and Social Media Walls
Motivate your attendees and encourage friendly competition with a real-time leaderboard providing updates on who’s ahead in whichever games you decide to employ. Regular updates and syncing will ensure guests see their progress on their mobile devices and on posted leaderboards in your live displays. Social media walls can also complement your leaderboard. This engagement tool can display social media and text communications related to the event in real-time on video screens, or it can be projected onto walls. If you’re worried about guests getting inappropriate, posts can be monitored and edited by a moderator with a brief posting delay in place.
It’s no longer enough to put chairs around tables and put a speaker on stage, no matter how dynamic they are. Today’s event goers expect more, and gamification is what way you can give them that. Are you going to be holding an NYC event and want some other ideas to make your venue more experiential? Contact us at 1 Way Event Productions today!
