Learn to make software more engaging at GDC Online's Gamification Day

Over the past few years, gamification has become an increasingly popular topic in the tech industry, as more and more companies work to increase user engagement by adding game-like incentives to their non-game applications. There's plenty to discuss and lots of lessons to learn, and GDC Online will explore the issue in-depth with a full day event on the intersection between games and tech. This new Gamification Day will include lectures and panels for game developers and tech creators, allowing them to exchange ideas, discuss ideal practices, and learn how to improve engagement by making their software more akin to a traditional game. The event will take place alongside the rest of GDC Online, which will be held October 9-11, 2012 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin Texas, and will be open to all Summits & Tutorials and All-Access pass holders. The following are just a few of the notable sessions scheduled for GDC Online's Gamification Day: - In "Faster, Cheaper, Better: Deeply Integrated Game Mechanics," Wired.com's Shannon Perkins will discuss how to create games with educational, editorial, or persuasive goals. Perkins helped design Wired.com's Cutthroat Capitalism (pictured), and in this lecture he'll explain how developers can make these games more appealing without including leaderboards, badges, or crassly manipulative incentives. - Elsewhere, Immersyve president Scott Rigby will explain why many developers are misinterpreting gamification altogether. His talk, "Gamification: That Word Doesn't Mean What You Think..." will take a closer look at what the concept really entails, and why developers should be looking less at badges and contests, and more at how to encourage real learning and behavioral change. - Finally, Zynga's Ken Weber will discuss when and how to use gamification in "The True Value of Social Games for Social Good." Weber serves as the executive director of Zynga's philanthropic branch Zynga.org, and in this session he'll look at what it takes to deploy a "gamified" experience, covering the common mistakes, the essential metrics, the big-picture goals, and much more. These Gamification Day talks join a number of other sessions already announced for GDC Online, including a classic postmortem on Ultima Online, a look at Zynga's CastleVille, and an in-depth presentation from SOE president John Smedley. For more information on any of the sessions announced thus far, check out the main conference track pages on the show's official website. Keep an eye out for even more exciting keynotes and sessions, as GDC Online organizers have plenty more in store before the event opens its doors this October. Those interested in attending GDC Online can secure their pass now, as online registration is now open. (Discounted Early Bird registration will be available through August 24.) For more information on GDC Online, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.