So we are all incredibly lazy, there is no doubting that. Somehow, I can justify spending 8 hours straight grinding in a JPRG, forcing my characters to train and then train some more. Meanwhile, it is a mission and a half just to make myself eat a salad and get to the gym!
It seems developers have picked up on our innate laziness, as well as our drive to get characters to level up. Enter programs to “gamify” our lives.
The most established of these so far is Fitocracy. As the name would imply, the focus is fitness. There are a variety of quests, achievements and badges to be earned, not to mention plenty of levels. With hero status, you can even challenge others to duels. In essence, Fitocracy is designed to harness the addictive quality of gaming for people trying to get fit.
The newest of these is this (fully-funded) Kickstarter, HabitRPG. Not only can you use this for fitness, it also applies to all habits and activities – from taking the stairs to drinking enough water. Succeeding in your goals or habits will earn you EXP, while failing will make you lose HP. Again, there is plenty of leveling, as well as armor and mounts.
Neither of these seem to have much of a storyline or plot to their games, although presumably our lives are supposed to provide those. Still not sure how long I would grind in Final Fantasy if there weren’t a boss to fight or a trophy to gain.
Mashable has even jumped on this bandwagon with an entire section devoted to gamification. There, they define it as:
Typically gamification applies to non-game applications and processes, in order to encourage people to adopt them, or to influence how they are used. Gamification works by making technology more engaging, by encouraging users to engage in desired behaviors, by showing a path to mastery and autonomy, by helping to solve problems and not being a distraction, and by taking advantage of humans’ psychological predisposition to engage in gaming. The technique can encourage people to perform chores that they ordinarily consider boring, such as completing surveys, shopping, filling out tax forms, or reading web sites.
A quick google of gamification will show it is becoming the new business buzz word – everyone wants to seem fun, hip and exciting. Users and clients are being approached as players.
I get it – society has finally realized that gaming is awesome. Now leave me alone to grind on my JRPG!
Last Updated: April 29, 2013
umar bastra
April 29, 2013 at 15:34
Wow. this is really awesome, would so take part in this. quite a positive thing. Now if this would net me extra gil or let me learn Ultima sooner , I will die happy
Sageville
April 29, 2013 at 16:03
Sadly they lost me at “fitness”.
umar bastra
April 29, 2013 at 16:22
But now you can’t level up 🙁
Sageville
April 29, 2013 at 16:24
I’ll join up when the “Lazy-git on the sofa” patch is released, guaranteed platinum right there.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 29, 2013 at 15:37
“Achievement unlocked: Did not punch anyone in the face today”
ElNicko
April 29, 2013 at 15:38
Achievement unlocked :Only swore at 3 idiotic employees today
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 29, 2013 at 15:40
Achievement unlocked: Did not feed cat from plate after it stared at you the entire supper long *This is a really tough one to achieve man. Took me a few tries. Why do devs make these achievements so grind like! Argh!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 15:41
Pfff
DRAGON KICK CAT
UNLOCKED
ElNicko
April 29, 2013 at 15:42
achievement unlock : administered first aid for severe bites and scratches after Cat mauled me
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 29, 2013 at 15:45
Achievement unlocked: Got tetanus shot
ElNicko
April 29, 2013 at 15:52
achievement unlocked : Got a New Cat
Tateboetie Malaaitie
April 29, 2013 at 15:43
The dragon kick also works to train cat not to poop on carpet.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 15:45
Dragon kick works on dogs as well.
If skilled enough, you can stare at the dog, for an IMPLIED Dragon kick, if level is high enough, it will be just as effective
umar bastra
April 29, 2013 at 15:43
Shoo I find that really hard actually! For the entire meal the lil bugger just won’t stop staring with those big eyes …..
HvR
April 29, 2013 at 15:55
I find that the cat will mind its own business 2 seconds after you let in the Rottweiler “Vat hom Satan”
Hint: also works on beggars, neighbor’s kids and Maltese.
umar bastra
April 29, 2013 at 16:00
Firstly Satan?? lol … Remind me never to come to your house, for a dog that’s called will clearly devour me whole
Secondly, the kids!!! lol Hardcore!
Andre116
April 29, 2013 at 19:17
Do you have a problem with beggars watching you, in your house, while you eat? Tough neighborhood?
Lourens Jordaan
April 29, 2013 at 15:54
Achievement unlocked: Birthday cake!!!
Level 35 human
Experience: +365
Attack: -1
Defence: -1
Speed: -5
Stamina: -1
Wisdom: +1
umar bastra
April 29, 2013 at 15:57
LOL why are all the stats decreasing !
Brady miaau
April 29, 2013 at 17:20
Level 35 human!
Although as a level 35 1/2 human, I think speed decrease is only by 1
HvR
April 29, 2013 at 15:57
only 10 levels to go and then you unlocked the Venus’s potion of Viagra and Baal’s Pump of Penis.
Brady miaau
April 29, 2013 at 15:58
that is just awesome
ElNicko
April 29, 2013 at 15:38
its a Fantastic Idea, however implementing it and getting users to adopt it is another ball-game. (talking from an IT Systems POV)
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 15:38
Cut someone off in traffic
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Pour in 1000 liters petrol
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Eat 50 burgers
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Sleep uninterrupted for 8 hours
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Stealth-ninja fart 15 strangers
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 29, 2013 at 15:40
Hahaha stealth ninja fart. Nice one
DrKiller
April 29, 2013 at 16:03
Can we get a guide on some of those achievements? 😉 “Sleep uninterrupted for 8hours” – How the hell? There must be a cheat in the system! Can someone else come and change the time on your alarm? Will the achievement pop-up? 🙂
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 16:05
Cut someone off….pfff
1000 liters petrol….:( sad but true
50 burgers…….pfff
sleep…….gaming to tire out + soft bed
stealh-ninja……OH YEAH I DID
Anon A Mouse
April 29, 2013 at 15:38
Am I the only person to ever wonder if I’m not just a Sim in some losers Sims game?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 15:39
HAHAHAHA GO POOP MINION!!!!
I mean, no, not really
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 29, 2013 at 15:42
I always look pixelated through the shower door. Anyone got a patch for this?
Sageville
April 29, 2013 at 16:00
Ag Cute!
My “Anon A Mouse” sim is now posting existentialistic ideas, remind me to throw in some matrix-cat timeloops, just to mess with his mind.
Anon A Mouse
April 29, 2013 at 16:08
What?! Did you just say there is a glitch in the Matrix?
As a side note you do know you just outed yourself as a loser? lol
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 16:08
XDXDXDXD
Sageville
April 29, 2013 at 16:13
NoooO!
Anon A Mouse
April 29, 2013 at 16:23
Oh look it’s Erwinnnn’s dog armor.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 30, 2013 at 07:48
I cannot wait to get home to try this out. Dog is bigger though.
[Mental note, pick up 15 rolls of foil before home time]
Trevor Davies
April 29, 2013 at 15:54
The only problem with gamifying my life is that I know the cheat codes.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 16:01
Ok, I’m curious, what do you want to cheat at?
Trevor Davies
April 29, 2013 at 16:08
Rewarding myself for going to gym. I can do it even if I don’t. The problem isn’t wanting to cheat, it’s knowing I can. Damn temptation & my weak will 😉
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 16:10
Gym? Bah, a Jedi craves not this thing
Sageville
April 29, 2013 at 16:07
ENTER CHEAT CODE: USERIGHTHAND
Achievement Unlocked: Got Laid!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 30, 2013 at 07:47
Oh well trolled sir, well trolled!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 29, 2013 at 16:01
I CAN GET ARMOUR FOR MY DOG!!!
Brady miaau
April 29, 2013 at 17:18
would you want to?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 30, 2013 at 07:47
Wouldn’t you???
matthurstrsa
April 30, 2013 at 07:09
Awesome in theory, but as the cartoon suggests, companies aren’t really taking it far enough yet. There is no real reward, beside a personal satisfaction.
Kobus Nel
April 30, 2013 at 08:42
It’s a positive thing, sure. But an app won’t get you fit, exercise is the key factor here.
Yateen Dayaram
May 2, 2013 at 22:18
I want God Mode