Alternate reality games: gamification for performance

130 Pages·2016·7.33 MB·English

by  Palmer

Computer Game Development P
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Alternate Reality Games O A l t e r n a t e
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Gamification for Performance
While formal training and communication are a foundational
approach to developing employees in the workplace, alternate
reality games (ARGs) provide a framework for increased and
R e a l i t y
sustained engagement within business organizations. ARGs are
transmedia experiences designed to generate engagement and
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immersive learning beyond what is achieved in formal and con-
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ventional training and communication approaches.
T
E
Alternate Reality Games: Gamification for Performance
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G a m e s
leads you through the fundamentals of ARGs. It includes a dis-
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cussion of what is and is not an ARG, citing examples and identi-
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fying business challenges that can be addressed through ARGs.
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It presents case studies that illustrate the variety of forms that
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ARGs take and the issues to which they can be applied, such as

improving performance and critical communication situations. It R
also gives guidelines for creating your own ARGs, reviewing the E
process and technological tools and considerations relevant to A
their creation. L G a m i f i c a t i o n f o r P e r f o r m a n c e
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Presenting a thorough examination of the beneficial roles ARGs T
Y
can play in the business environment as well as methods for
creating effective ARGs, Alternate Reality Games: Gami-
G C h a r l e s P a l m e r
fication for Performance is an ideal reference for those ap-
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proaching or considering ARGs for the first time as well as the
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training professional or professional game designer. It presents a
comprehensive overview of the advantages of applying ARGs to E A n d y P e t r o s k i
the workplace as well as methods for designing and using them. S
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A l te r n a te

R e a l i t y
G a me s
Gamif icat ion for Perfor man ce

A l te r n a te

R e a l i t y
G a me s
Gamif icat ion for Perfor man ce

Charles Pal mer
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, PA, USA
Andy Petroski
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, PA, USA
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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There are many people that have supported our work with
Alternate Reality Games and gamification for performance,
along with the writing of this book. Thank you to those
listed below as well as those who we are ashamedly
forgetting to note and the players who are the key to it all!
Drew Davidson
Justin Detig
Janet Dubble
Randall Fujimoto
Harrisburg University of Science & Technology
Koreen Olbrish
Anthony Ortega
Paula Palmer
Madison Palmer
Pennsylvania Educational Technology Conference & Expo
Melissa Peterson
Kelli Petroski
Powerful Learning Practice
Robert Pratten
Lee Sheldon
Jesse Schell
The Deep Sleep Initiative Team
Professor Mary Waller Ph.D

Contents
Preface, ix
Chapter 1 Why am I NegotIatINg WIth alIeNs
durINg sales traININg? 1
THE ARG JOURNEY 2
ARG EXAMPLES 3
AN ARG OR NOT AN ARG 6
An ARG Is Not eLearning 6
An ARG Is Not a Computer Game 6
An ARG Is Not Geocaching 7
An ARG Is Not a Scavenger Hunt 7
An ARG Is Not Live Action Role-Playing 8
An ARG Is Not Just Social Learning 8
An ARG Is Sort of Gamification 9
An ARG Is Transmedia 9
THE LEARNING CONNECTION 9
THE BUSINESS APPLICATIONS 12
ENDNOTES 14
Chapter 2 NeW employees should Be FINdINg the Ceo 15
ARG 1: IMMERSION INTO NEW PROGRAMS 16
ARG 2: TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATIVE NARRATIVE 19
ARG 3: OPTIMIZE TRAINING TIME 19
ARG 4: INCREASED SKILLS 20
vii
viii ◾ Contents
FUELING INNOVATION AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS 21
FULL PARTICIPATION 22
MULTIPLE RABBIT HOLES 24
THE BUDDY SYSTEM 24
BAIT-AND-SWITCH 24
ENDNOTES 25
Chapter 3 KeepINg up WIth the JoNeses 27
OTHER ARGS TO EXPLORE 37
ENDNOTES 37
Chapter 4 all the World Is a stage 39
BUILDING AN ARG 40
INITIATION 41
PREPRODUCTION 42
Build the Teams 42
Define the Goals, Objectives, and a Preliminary Schedule 42
Design the Experience 44
Document the Idea and Development Process 45
Build a Media Plan 46
Put It All Together 46
PRODUCTION 46
Use a Treatment to Prototype the Experience 47
Building the Components 48
Preparing to Fail 48
POSTPRODUCTION 49
GO-LIVE 49
Starting the Game 49
Monitoring the Experience 50
Ending the Game 51
DEBRIEF 51
ENDNOTES 52