The document provides guidance on using gamification to encourage a 7-year-old son to eat his lunch. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Set a clear target of having him eat all his meat. 2) Reframe this as a game by having him guess how many bites it takes to uncover a car on his plate. 3) Make the bites an appropriate size. 4) Support his progress through feedback. 5) Praise and reinforce his success to encourage continuing with future lunches.

1. GAMIFICATION
>for beginners<
by Zsombor Fekete & Andrea Buzás

2. What you should really know about
gamification...
but only if you clearly know what you want!
>> It works

3. Set a clear target!
> I’d like my 7 year old son to eat all his lunch on Sunday.
> Hint:
- Ask yourself the following question:
WHAT WOULD I LIKE IN REALITY?
If you don’t know what your aim with gamification is, you’d better go and design a video
game instead.
1

4. Reframing
I could just jell at him till he eats up all the meat, but I
don’t. Instead, I put all the meat on his favorite plate and
ask him whether he could guess how many bites it takes
to uncover the car on the bottom.
> Hints:
-A game is never obligatory.
- The task should be clear and exciting.
(and not more than 3 sentences)
- Hide your real aim. Set an appealing task
instead.
2

5. Ergonomics
> I slice up the meat to bites.
I try to make each slice small enough for a good bite to
have, and at the same time big enough for uncovering a
significant area from the image on the plate.
> Hints:
-Eliminate all obstacles on the playfield.
- If the game is too difficult, then it gets
frustrating; it if is too simple, it will be
boring.
- Progress should be clear and visible.
3

6. Flow support
> „I guess it takes a good 20 bites to uncover the red car on
the bottom.
My son reacts: „Oh no! 10 is enough…”
Now we count all the bites, and if necessary, we modify the
original bids.
> Hints:
- All challenges should lead to the real aim.
- To err is human, to try is fun.
- Continuous feedback makes the player confident
in reaching his aim.
4

7. Conversion
> After he won, I tell him how good he was. I reassure him
about the great job he did eating up all the meat.
„Did you like it?” – and with this question I try to pave the
way for the success of the next Sunday lunch.
> Hints:
- Celebrate success.
- Reflect on his real achievement beyond the
game.
- Consolidate the new skills and knowledge.
5

8. That’s all folks!
Keep on gamifying and you’ll see the world
around you turning a lot happier.
Gamification in 5 steps:
> Target-setting
> Reframing
> Ergonomics
> Flow support
> Conversion
!