Media Watch: Turning Computer Applications into Games

“Imagine Microsoft Office turned into a video game. One where learning a productivity app is a delight. One where the core loop of gameplay involves using and gaining skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

It sounds a bit unlikely doesn’t it?”

That’s how game designer Danc – yes, that’s the only name given – introduces Ribbon Hero, an application he helped design that can now be downloaded from Microsoft to turn Office into a game. Here’s how Ribbon Hero came about:

Ribbon Hero, in part, was born from a speech I gave back in October 2007 on applying the design lessons of Super Mario Bros. to application design. I made the following bet:

• If an activity can be learned…
• If the player’s performance can be measured…
• If the player can be rewarded or punished in a timely fashion…
• Then any activity that meets these criteria can be turned into a game.

Not only can you make a game out of the activity, but you can turn tasks traditionally seen as a rote or frustrating into compelling experiences that users find delightful.

Of course many game designers and publishers take this same approach for educational subjects like mathematics and spelling, and the games produced tend not to be enjoyable. What’s the secret of designing a successful and fun game that is also educational?

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