This Thursday readers of eTNW attending SA’s first virtual travel expo, the Into Africa Travel Show, will experience a ‘gamified’ event.
Gamification works on the principle of rewards, explains event services company, Hubilio. In this case instead of rescuing a princess, or destroying an evil giant, delegates will improve their chances of winning big cash prizes by engaging virtually (from their desk) with the speakers and exhibitors at the show. The successful completion of these tasks results in a reward.
The Into Africa Travel Show runs from 09h00 to 13h00 on Thursday, September 13. Just by logging in to the event, attendees immediately get three entries into the main cash draw. Watching a speaker in the auditorium, or chatting to an exhibitor wins the attendee a further six and four entries respectively (see full details below).
Click here for free registration
What exactly goes on in a person’s brain while playing a game?
Hubilio explains that, with every task done correctly, a person experiences pleasure, which, in turn, releases a substance called dopamine. It’s your brain’s way of telling you that something good is about to happen.
According to psychologist, Jamie Madigan: “This is an evolutionary advantage that causes us to obsess over unexpected pleasures and try to predict them so that we can get more of them.”
Just like the famous psychologist and author B.F. Skinner’s conditional learning theory, positive rewards lead to better behaviour.
That is how gamification works. Task after task, positive incentive leads a player to move on further.
