We often get the question “What exactly is this gamification?” A game, a game or fun?”. The answer we give every time is the same: it is the applicability of a game mechanic (from filling in empty spaces, using event badges, points or any other mechanism) to encourage behavior change. This is where the assumption that it is something “fun” started, but it brings results because it is connected to our intrinsic motivations.

Why does it motivate us?
There are so many reasons why Gamification motivates people. Richard Bartle created the “Bartle Test of Psychology”, a research on motivating factors, from which 4 distinct personalities emerged.
1. Achievers
They play to win, and the ranking represents their inspiration. For example, if you make a top with the results of their activity, those who are close to the first places will work harder tomorrow to surpass themselves, and those who are not in the top will do their best to enter the top. Achievers want to have a goal in front of them and aim for it.
2. Explorers
They are motivated by unexpected gains during the “race”. They are not interested in being number one but rather in exploring to get something different. They don’t care about the ranking, but they do care about an unexpected gain for their effort, for example a coffee because they checked in to the event.
3. Socializers
The friendliest category, as the name suggests, they participate in competitions for the sake of the connections that are created. They are a weighty category in a conference, being the ones who encourage socialization through gamification.
4. Killers
Opposite to the category above, the Killers are this very small group who want to be number one in any way possible. They will get involved and play in the traditional form the challenges launched during a conference, therefore you will have to consider this aspect as well. The bright side of things is that they represent a small percentage of the entire group.

Spice Up your Conference
After you have decided what exactly you want from your participants, find the right methods. Below you will find a list of 5 fresh ideas to do this:
Catchbox
Catchbox is the first microphone in the world that was used by throwing it around the room. It’s a nice and colorful way to keep everyone active, asking questions and participating in the discussions launched by the speaker. Also, Crowdmics is a mobile phone application that turns your phone into a microphone that can be synchronized with the sound system in the hall.
Presentations
Gone are the days when a presentation lasted 90 minutes and kept the participants motionless from their seats. Today we meet more and more speakers who use technology to present their points of view and to create interactivity among the participants.
Speaker
I also mentioned in a previous article how important is the role of a Speaker in a conference. The interactivity of the participants depends a lot on the way the speaker presents his presentation and the way he can follow up during the event. The ball starts from him, that’s why he has the challenge to launch it as creatively and original as possible to the participants.
Badges
Organizers of an IT conference in Brooklyn challenged attendees to provide their parents’ contact information. They gave them a short Bio about the participants, everything turned into a fantastic energy and discussions based on “What did your family say about you?”. Another hack used was for each participant to turn their badge from front to back, so that those sitting on the back row knew the name of the person in front of them.
Social Media
Selfies, check-ins and quotes present in the event are elements that are part of the entire experience of an event. There is nothing new in this. That’s why most of the time the events have their own hashtag, thus creating online communities of people. Take advantage of this and encourage constant posting on social networks, collect all these posts with the help of a platform and turn them into a LIVE wall.

We invite you in the comments section to discuss more about the challenges of keeping participants active with the help of the gamification method.