The benevolence and the malevolence of gamifications

While I view the process of gamification as an excellent way to enhance our daily experiences, it now seems vital to point out one thing:

Whether it is a mobile application trying to help someone learn a language,

or a corporation trying to avoid the gambling legislation,

or a governmental body trying to disguise a surveillance system –

gamification is simply a facade for a different intent.

This intent can be malevolent or benevolent. And it is a high time for us, users, to learn to see past this gamification facade. Games have an unfortunate power to turn good things into great things and not so good things into nightmares.

Please, learn to see the intent, not the game.

Art by Niki K & Jesper K