Game On: Energize Your Business with Social Media Games

The introduction explains how to read the book, allowing the reader to take a 12-question test to determine their type (“artisan”. “impresario”, “otaku”, or a combination of any two) and then goes on to proscribe a path for each in reading through the book. Each chapter ends with suggestions for each of the types as to which chapters to read next. While there has been much written in recent years on game theory and how to apply it to your business, this is perhaps one of the most fun books to come along and bridge the gap between “gamers” and business people, with both theory and practical tools. The glossary is extensive and provides references and web addresses to every kind of business engaged in game and social media design. Loaded with illustrations and photo examples, the author is as comfortable describing design of World of Warcraft, League of Legends and other games as he is devoting chapters to understanding social game business models and viral marketing.

It would be useful to have references spread throughout the book, as opposed to putting them all in the glossary. Despite the references to game designers or gamers, we would categorize this as a book for business and marketing-minded professionals seeking to understand the application of gaming and social media to your business and customer experience.

A never-before published look at the many possibilities of social game development – As one of the few entrepreneurs in the world with expertise building both social media and games, author Jon Radoff brings a one-of-a-kind perspective to this unique book. He shows that games are more than a profitable form of entertainment – the techniques of social games can be used to enhance the quality of online applications, social media and a wide range of other consumer and business experiences. With this book, you’ll explore how social games can be put to work for any business and examine why they work at all. The first part of explains what makes games fun, while the second part reviews the process and details of game design.

This book is useful for:
– A marketer who wants to find and keep customers;
– A product designer who wants to create a memorable customer experience;
– A website designer who wants to keep visitors coming back;
– An executive who wants to make customers happy and boost profits;
– A game designer who wants to create a better social game.

If you want to delve deeper into gamification and how it works on practice, see Gamify (Senteo review).