Home

How to Use the Competitive Pyramid Framework in Gamification

Updated
2016-03-26 15:08:16
Share
Brand Licensing For Dummies
Brand Licensing For Dummies book cover
Explore Book
Subscribe on Perlego
Brand Licensing For Dummies
Brand Licensing For Dummies book coverExplore Book
Subscribe on Perlego

The goal of the competitive pyramid framework is to supercharge an already-competitive user experience by tracking player skill levels and presenting challenge opportunities for players to level-up and win. In essence, you’re offering a game within a game, giving players new ways to compete.

image0.jpg

The competitive pyramid framework also works well for gamified sites that involve prediction — think stock prediction, sports prediction (such as Fantasy Football), gambling, and the like.

So, what’s with the pyramid analogy? Think of it like this: At the pinnacle of the pyramid is whoever has the most points on the gamified site. One level down is the player with the most points in a particular category. The base of the pyramid is where players demonstrate mastery of individual skills.

For example, consider a poker site. At the top of the pyramid will be the player with the most points overall. The middle level might be the top player in Five-Card Stud (as opposed to, say, the top Texas Hold ‘Em player). And the bottom level would display the specific gameplay accomplishments, like winning a certain number of hands with bluffs or going all-in and winning.

In that example, players might earn achievements by, say, hitting a flush in spades or four kings. Even if someone isn’t terribly good at Five-Card Stud, he might still do well on the achievement front — thereby increasing his engagement in the game.

image1.jpg

The competitive pyramid framework is effective only in competitive gamified environments. Most typical sites are not a good fit.

Here are some of the mechanisms that make the competitive pyramid framework work:

  • Competition: Users in a gamified environment naturally enjoy winning. Given more opportunities to compete, players meet the challenge in a variety of competitions.

  • Specialization: Specific expertise enables a user to focus his efforts on winning against a broad base of competition. Winning creates a desire for more victory and leads players to grow into other specializations, in a cycle of winning and engagement.

  • Challenges: Adding game layers to a gamified experience, with chances to level up, motivates players. Multiple game layers maintains user interest and involvement.

About This Article

This article is from the book: 

About the book author:

Kris Duggan is a thought leader of innovative ways to incorporate game mechanics and real-time loyalty programs into web and mobile experiences.

Kate Shoup is the author of numerous crafting books, including Not Your Mama's Beading, and Rubbish: Reuse Your Refuse.