Gamification by Design (O’Reilly Media, $24.99) provides the design strategy and tactics the reader needs to integrate game mechanics into any kind of consumer-facing website or mobile app. For example, learn how to use core game concepts, design patterns, and meaningful code samples to create a fun and captivating social environment.
“Gamification is fundamentally changing the way we design products, consumer interactions, and marketing strategies,” says expert author Gabe Zichermann in a news release. “Harness the power of Foursquare, Farmville, Nike+, and hundreds of other apps and games with the proven methodologies in Gamification by Design.”
The author presents examples that are well-written and easy to understand. It does a good job of presenting the key ideas of Gamification. The use of real world examples showing what people have done is great. There’s even some real code showing how a forum being enhanced with Gamification. The code examples and examples of interactions with gamification services complete a good book.
As great as this book seems, it would be more intriguing to game designers versus an ordinary reader just wanting to understand what gamification means in the marketplace today.
NOTE: Review copy was provided to Mitch’s Muse by O’Reilly Media Inc.