There’s a lot more talk happening around gamifying, gamification and game design and how the approach of gamifying can increase customers, boost morale, reduce churn and stimulate liking behaviour. Loyalty cards, bonus points, free offers and any story designed to make you feel different about an organisation, product or service is an attempt to co-opt you into their game.
But would it surprise you to know that you’re already playing a number of games? Games such as being child, supervisor, manager, subordinate, relative, service provider, emotional support provider and so on are examples of games roles which highlight that you’re playing a game. If you watch yourself carefully, you’ll come to see that you behave very differently when playing each of these games. In other words, you put on a mask and play the particular game based on what you think the other game players expect from you. So what’s a game?
A game may be defined as a learned cultural sequence that includes Rituals, Rules, Roles, Resources, Goals, Language, Values and Style. Each element of the game is in continuous systemic relationship with all other elements of the game – a change in an element of the game impacts and is impacted by all other game elements
In the isivivane game model, the squares represent structure (the combined energies keep the game together) and the circles represent change (the combined energies inform change in the game structure.
The definition of game provides you the ability to start changing the nature of the game that you’re playing. You may want to use the same model to start a completely new game.
Why use the idea of a game to stimulate change?
As humans, we’re best able to understand things through a metaphor. There aren’t many useful metaphors for describing ‘real life’because of it’s complexity – everyone experiences it differently. However, if we use a metaphor for real life being a “complex of many games”makes it a little easier to approach. Also, the idea of a game should remind you that you can, and should be having fun when you play the game. In other words, seeing reality as a game complex is liberating and opens you up to many new possibilities.
Changing an existing game
For instance; if you want to change a game you’re already engaged in, you might want to examine your intention for how you see the game progressing (The center point / spark energy). Then, with this in might you want to look at the points of change in the game such as:
- South East – What language and stories to you need to bring into the game? What language and stories do you decide not to bring into the game?
- South – What stylistic elements of the game could be transformed?
- North West – Are there new roles and patterns that can be brought into or created within the game?
- North East – What rituals could you change or add to make the game more interesting and engaging?
The way in which you think and talk about your experiences not only describes but makes those experiences ‘real’ for you and others. Understanding that a game structure underlies all human experience is both helpful and empowering – those who see it as ‘real life’ tend to have a serious approach that is not particularly helpful in the creative process. And serious thinking might also set them up for the anxiety and worry that are precursors to stress-related disorders.
Creating a new game
Here’s a simple set of ideas that will help you create a new game; Write your responses down on paper
- Dream (Centre Point) – dream about what it is you want. What do you want to achieve through the game?
- Goals (East) –Every game has a goal, even if the goal is to simply continue playing the game in a sustainable manner. What are the goals of the game?
- Language / Stories (South East) – each game has its own language which allows participants to talk about (and even create?) common experience. What language will support this game?
- Resources (South) – What resources do you actually need to make the game work.
- Style (South West) – Style is the unique way you play the game. Style embodies your behaviours, thoughts and words. In what way will the game be seen to be played?
- Values (West) – Values are are standards or qualities considered worthwhile or desirable. They are abstract ideas about what an organisation/ society/ community believes to be good, right, and desirable. What are the values of this game?
- Rules (North West) – In order to play a game well, you need to be clear about what the rules are – both written and unwritten – and work with them stretching the boundaries where possible. Rules stipulate what can and cannot be done and not playing by the rules means you risk penalty or even exclusion from the game. What rules are necessary for this game?
- Roles (North) – Every human being plays a number of different roles in day-today life. What roles are necessary to ensure tis game runs smoothly and efficiently?
- Rituals (North East) – A ritual refers to Speech, action, singing, and other activities which often contain a symbolic meaning, performed in a specific order. In organisations, audits, year-end functions, teambuilding and weekly meetings are examples of typical rituals. What rituals do you perform that keep the game running smoothly? How do you celebrate failure, success and milestones?
When you’ve written down your answers on paper, lay them down on a table or floor so you can see them all – for more fun, you can start to think about designing a fit-for-purpose game with your fellow game players
You can read more about our Isivivane Game Model on Game Theory and Change Management and Big Games, Serious Games and Gamifying and Gamification
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