Milestone Unlocks: The Game Design Technique That Turns Achievement into Addiction (GT #19)
Every game designer knows the problem: your player hits a goal, feels satisfied — and quits. The session…
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The Blog
Ideas on motivation, behavior & design.
Deep dives on the psychology behind why people do what they do — from Yu-kai Chou, creator of the Octalysis Framework. Pick the topic that matters to you.
High-Five vs Crowning: Match Your Emotional Reward to the Achievement [GT #17 & #18]
Every gamification system has Win-States, the moments when users complete a Desired Action and receive feedback. But most…
Game Design Technique: Collection Sets
Why do people spend hundreds of hours chasing the last missing piece of a set they could buy…
Why Octalysis Prime Is the Best Investment in Gamification Skills
Most people spend more on streaming subscriptions they barely use than on upgrading the one asset that compounds…
Game Design Technique #14: Mastering the Boss Fight
Think about a game you played years ago. The moment you remember probably isn’t the tutorial or the…
Dynamic Feedback, Real-Time Control, & Refreshing Content
⚡ Speed Run Notes Dynamic feedback is the difference between a product that responds and a product that…
Virtual Goods Design: Why Digital Items Drive Real Motivation (Game Technique #8)
In Fortnite, a rare skin has zero gameplay advantage. It doesn’t make you shoot straighter or build faster.…