Variable rewards

[dvsDave]

You ever wonder what's the crack that makes facebook and mobile games like clash of clans and farmville popular? One of the mechanisms is a concept called Variable Rewards.

There is a great article here: http://www.nirandfar.com/2012/03/want-to-hook-your-users-drive-them-crazy.html and the article it references: http://www.nirandfar.com/2012/03/how-to-manufacture-desire.html

I just read this article and am trying to figure out a way to apply this system to forums. How can forums apply the concept of a desire engine to help drive greater engagement in a way that doesn't smack of gamification?

 

[drastic]

the other crack is using kate hudson and annoying everyone in the twitterverse with their big ad budget!

 

[Hotfix]

You ever wonder what's the crack that makes facebook and mobile games like clash of clans and farmville popular? One of the mechanisms is a concept called Variable Rewards.

There is a great article here: http://www.nirandfar.com/2012/03/want-to-hook-your-users-drive-them-crazy.html and the article it references: http://www.nirandfar.com/2012/03/how-to-manufacture-desire.html

I just read this article and am trying to figure out a way to apply this system to forums. How can forums apply the concept of a desire engine to help drive greater engagement in a way that doesn't smack of gamification?

This guy gets it. I'm also interested in forum gamification. Did you ever find solutions to your problem?

By the way, the default XenForo trophies are lame. They don't give instant gratification.

 

[M@rc]

Did you ever find solutions to your problem?

XF 2 Awards - https://xenforo.com/community/resources/addonflare-xf2-awards-system.6974/

I'm waiting for them to roll out some of my suggestions that aim to boost forum activity even further. But development and support is slow.