Estimates indicate that the video games industry generated around $184 billion in 2023, and the amount will only rise. The video game industry’s success has prompted others to analyze its elements and to try and recreate the magic formula. Among the numerous factors in play, gamification may be the most crucial aspect.
Gamification represents a method of applying video game elements to other industries or products that don’t usually possess them. Some key gameplay elements are player engagement, rewards, monetization, progression, interaction, and customization. Online casinos are a great example of where modern games get better with various gamification elements. Even the more traditional slot games offered to Kiwi players get taken to the next level with gamification, and Khadija Bilal notes a significant player base among the Kiwi players.
In a simple game like slots, the usual setup is for the player to pull a lever and wait for the results. But gamification can enhance the entire experience and offer a new dimension. Any slot game can now have a progressing story, where new stages appear with each win, and the final resolution displays after several sets. In such a way, story progression keeps players engaged, following the storyline in the background.
Goals are the next item on the gamification list, and goals stem from video game quests. Goals in slots can be to gather an X amount of symbols, resources, wins, or anything else the online casino can think of. By offering tangential goals, players aim to accomplish them, and just like in video games like Casino Tycoon, they can work towards accomplishing a goal. Here, we can see how different elements can combine and work together.
Story progression can entice players to see it through to the end. A goal could be for a player to discover the entire story, and then a player can be rewarded with an in-game achievement via an achievement system. Achievements are badges of honor, bragging rites, and a feat offered to the player of making a score in a game. The great thing about gamification is that the collaboration between elements does not stop there but extends as we can now incorporate the social aspect and communication. By having an online chat hub, slot players can compare achievements, brag about winning one, and discuss stories and high scores (another aspect of gamification).
Playing slots alone and in the company are two entirely different experiences, and the social aspect of any game builds communities around them, which leads to a healthy and long-lasting gaming scene. And in such environments, digital avatars can be the digital extension of a player. Achievements can offer customization options, and when players adopt a virtual person, they can easily interact with others online, due to the veil of anonymity.
All of these elements can be built around slots, where musicians can chat while waiting for a spin to finish, for example. The more gamification elements are incorporated into a slot game the better it becomes, as it offers new alleyways for designers and players to explore.
