Gamification books: Become a Gamification expert step by step!
Here's a list I wanted to share with you all on (almost) all the books that you should read if you are to become a gamification expert (still a long way for me, want to join?)
So what should I read and is there any order I have to follow? YES! Just follow the list!
Introduction to Gamification: The very basics
-
For the win: How game thinking can revolutionize you business (2012)
Written by: Prof. Kevin Werbach
Reasons why: A great and inspiring book to get started in
Gamification. Expect not only the basics but also some more advanced knowledge
that can be very useful. A must-read. There is a second part coming soon.
Check it out
-
Gamification: A simple introduction (2013)
Written by: Andrzej Marczewski
Reasons why: A book written by an epic win blog´s friend, Andrzej
Marczewski, that will answer you questions like: “What is Gamification”, “Why
does it work” or “Where to start”. Updated in its second edition with more
content, it is a nice and easy option to get into Gamification.
Chek it out
Also recommended…
-
Game-based
marketing: Inspire customer loyalty through rewards, challenges and contests
(2010) by Gabe Zichermann
-
Business
Gamification for dummies (2013) by Kris Duggan
-
Loyalty
3.0: How to revolutionize customer and employee engagement with big data and
Gamification (2013) by Rajat Paharia
-
Gamification
and game mechanics made simple (2013) by Patrick
Chapman
- Reality is broken (2011) by Jane Mcgonigal
- Reality is broken (2011) by Jane Mcgonigal
Before designing,
understand why: Happiness & Motivation
- Drive: the
surprising truth about what motivates us (2011)
Written by: Daniel H. Pink
Reasons why: One of the bibles of human motivation, explained in a
fascinating way. A book that gives an extended version of the
Self-Determination Theory of Deci and Ryan with awesome results. A must-read
Check it out
- Flourish: A visionary
new understanding of Happiness and Well-being (2012)
Written by: Dr. Martin Seligman
Reasons why: The perfect complement for “Drive”. A fantastic,
brilliant and truly inspiring book about the core elements of Happiness. If you
want to be an expert of Gamification, this is just necessary.
Check it out
- Why we do what we do:
understanding self-motivation (1996)
Written by: Edward L. Deci
Reasons why: Where it all started updated to 1996. A nice way to
understand the Self-Determination theory and why Gamification works. Start
here, go for drive, and finish with flourish.
Check it out
Also recommended…
-
Delivering
Happiness: A path to profits, passion and purpose (2010) by
Tony Hsieh
- Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (2008) by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (2008) by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
-
Authentic
Happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for
lasting fullfillment (2003) by Dr. Martin Seligman
-
To
sell is human: The surprising truth about moving others (2013) by Daniel
Pink
-
Intrinsic
motivation and Self-Determination in human behaviour (1985) by
Edward L. Deci and M. Ryan
Now you are ready to play: Go for it!
- A Theory of Fun for
Game Design (2004)
Written by: Raph Koster
Reasons why:
Fun is our goal, and Raph Koster knows a lot about it. It will not teach you
how to become a designer, but it gives you some great insights about fun. Quick
and with a lot of drawings!
Check it out
- The art of Game
Design: A book of lenses (2008)
Written by: Jesse Schell
Reasons why: The
holy bible of game design. Gamification is all about design and this is the
starting point. A book to have read again and again. Don’t even hesitate about it;
you are going to love this book.
Check it out
- Level up!: The guide
to great video game design (2010)
Written by: Scott Rogers
Reasons why:
Now you’ve read “The art of game design” and “A theory of Fun” it’s time to get
further on it. This is a really nice and funny way to start designing and the
perfect complement for those two. Read it!
Check it out
- Rules of play (2003)
Written by: Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen
Reasons why: Another
amazing book about game design that you´ll read once, and come back to it again
so many times. More complex but also really insightful! Use with caution!
Check it out
- Game Feel: A Game Designer's Guide to Virtual Sensation (2008)
Written by: Steve Swink
Reasons why: Really great book that I recommend to anyone that wants to become both a game or gamification designers.
Check it out
- Challenges for Game Designers (2008)
Written by: Brenda Brathwaite & Ian Schreiber
Reasons why: Knowing what game design is one thing, but being a great game designer is way more complicated. Games and gamification are not the same but they are definitely alike, so don't miss it out!
Check it out
Getting more specific...
Gamification for External Business
- Game on: Energize your business with social media games (2011) by Jon Radoff
- Gamification by design (2011) by Gabe Zichermann
- Changing the game: How video games are transforming the future of business (2008) by David Edery
- Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Mechanics (2012) by Ernest Adams and Joris Dormans
- Game on: Energize your business with social media games (2011) by Jon Radoff
- Gamification by design (2011) by Gabe Zichermann
- Changing the game: How video games are transforming the future of business (2008) by David Edery
- Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Mechanics (2012) by Ernest Adams and Joris Dormans
Gamification for Education
- The Gamification of learning and instruction: Game-based methods and strategies for training and education (2012) by Karl M. Kapp
- The Multiplayer Classroom: Designing coursework as a game (2011) by Lee Sheldon
- Gamestorming: A playbook for innovators, rulebreakers and changemakers (2010) by Dave Gray et al
- Video Games and Learning (2011) by Kurt Squire
- Good Video Games and Good Learning (2007) by James Paul Gee
- Digital Game-based Learning (2007) by Marc Prensky
- How Computer Games Help Children Learn (2008) by David Shaffer and James Paul Gee
- Engaging Learning: Designing E-learning Simulations and Games (2005) by Clark Quinn
- The Gamification of learning and instruction: Game-based methods and strategies for training and education (2012) by Karl M. Kapp
- The Multiplayer Classroom: Designing coursework as a game (2011) by Lee Sheldon
- Gamestorming: A playbook for innovators, rulebreakers and changemakers (2010) by Dave Gray et al
- Video Games and Learning (2011) by Kurt Squire
- Good Video Games and Good Learning (2007) by James Paul Gee
- Digital Game-based Learning (2007) by Marc Prensky
- How Computer Games Help Children Learn (2008) by David Shaffer and James Paul Gee
- Engaging Learning: Designing E-learning Simulations and Games (2005) by Clark Quinn
Enterprise Gamification
- Gamification at Work: Designing Engaging Business Software (2013) by Mario Herger
- Total Engagement: How games and virtual worlds are changing the way people work and businesses compete (2009) by Byron Reeves
- Enterprise Games: Using game mechanics to build a better business (2012)
- Managing to have fun (1996) by Matt Weinstein
- Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences (2010) by Nancy Duarte
- Gamification at Work: Designing Engaging Business Software (2013) by Mario Herger
- Total Engagement: How games and virtual worlds are changing the way people work and businesses compete (2009) by Byron Reeves
- Enterprise Games: Using game mechanics to build a better business (2012)
- Managing to have fun (1996) by Matt Weinstein
- Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences (2010) by Nancy Duarte
If you have any suggestions, let me know by leaving a comment and i´ll add it ASAP! ;)
Sidney Lopez