Gamification places human inspiration above all other factors. Essentially, gamification is a human-focused product design approach, as opposed to a function-focused design, aiming to optimize the excitement of users and participants.

Most systems we encounter today, from software and applications to education and healthcare, are often designed with a focus on features—solving specific tasks or problems—without paying much attention to the excitement of the users or participants. On the other hand, a human-focused design, deeply aware of emotions, motivations, and reasons for wanting or not wanting to do something, believes that products and programs should directly engage these emotions and motivations to captivate users at the highest level.

This is why designers following this approach often learn from the elements and mechanics in games. The simple reason is that games have always been designed for entertainment, aiming to make players enjoy their experience. After decades of development, games have become masters in attracting and creating excitement for participants. Imagine how successful an educational application, software, or marketing campaign would be if it could captivate users as much as games do, turning them from users into players?

2. Gamification and the Application of Gamification in Training

When applied creatively and intelligently, gamification can bring significant benefits across many fields due to its ability to ignite excitement and leverage human behavioral motivations. Understanding this, professionals in human resources and training have leveraged the advantages of gamification to engage learners and direct them towards the desired learning outcomes and knowledge.

Training through games, or what is commonly known as Game-based Learning (Gamification), involves applying typical game elements (such as rules, scoring, competition) to other areas of activity, particularly to engage participants in solving problems. In addition to enhancing training results, games offer a creative and active form of learning.

Jane McGonigal, a well-known game designer, also asserts that “games are not an escape from reality, but a way to apply oneself.” People can work effectively and collaborate in games. Playing a game is similar to working or going into battle: everyone and every action must be coordinated tightly, for the common good, and to win together.

The application of gamification in training must focus on understanding the learners and the motivations that can guide their behavior in the direction the trainer or game designer intends.

The goal of this approach is the process, not the outcome. What educators or game creators want participants to gain is not just the final result, but how they approach and solve problems.