Bonuses and promotions have become hugely important for the online gaming world in securing their player base. Not only is it about getting the players, but it is also about keeping them these days too. Especially, now when there is so much competition and the industry is saturated with competition. Many games and sites have different ways of going about their bonus commitments. By generating a concept of haste, and limited time spans i.e. early expiry, that usually implies urgency; that players need to act now or miss out! So, most bonuses operate this way, to entice the gaming community.
Even online casinos operate in the same manner, using bonuses as a way to express exclusivity within their gambling platforms. It has always proven to be a great incentive for new players to join and begin their gambling adventures with certain brands. There are many continuous bonuses too, that go beyond the initial ‘welcome bonus’, to ensure players do not get bored and things stay exciting. It is important that you know how a casino bonus works before you claim it.
There are many things to assess when considering the gaming gift system that exists across the market, to assess if they are good. They are as follows down below:
- Do the bonuses and gifts interchange on a weekly, monthly, or timely basis?
- Do you need to complete tasks to be able to receive their maximum involvement?
- Can you measure your progress when using them?
- Do players know what their rewards are?
Intrinsic or extrinsic?
Of course, beyond these listed above, players will always have their own set of reasons and motivations for joining a scheme within gaming such as these. Incentives often are built around goals that the player needs to achieve for themselves. It is the outcome that drives the motivation, rather than the goal of the rewards itself. This is called extrinsic motivation. Of course, the incentives are great for a play community, yet many players are often interested in completing the games and getting towards the end. When rewards are designed to help that process, it can be a win-win completely then.
Intrinsically motivated, is where the player wishes to spread the game outlet to friends and beyond. This derives satisfaction internally to the player and ultimately doesn’t need any other additional incentives to drive this ambition. The gaming rewards are great to these players of course, but it is not the reason for the motivation. However, the attention given from the gaming platform to fulfil ambitions, does steer the players into long term ambitions that give the self-satisfaction that players seek. Many gaming platforms have great ways of influencing behaviour and therefore are able to foster such motivations.
Extrinsic motivations within gamification
The term gamification has become so popular within the world of gaming. It is the process which engages users to solve problems and put their own identity and personality within gaming missions for example. It becomes more than gaming elements, and more personal motivation to succeed. If a task requires a player to muster the motivation to push forward, additional elements are added by the gaming platform to encourage that extra push of engagement. This is very particular for players who lack that intrinsic motivation and rather need a goal to see the end and finish line if you will.
The following points below show examples of the kind of incentives used to boost motivation of the extrinsically motivated:
Point system
A point system has of course been around for years within games. It is the most basic reward system that makes players motivated. Players can view it as a step by step process, rather than a long unachievable goal that seems so far and distant. It can also create competitive behaviour for players that wish to rank against others within the game. There will always be that motivation to keep coming back, just to maintain your points over friends and other players for example.
Badges systems
Badges are a great representation of achievements and also distinguish status within games too. Many players will often refer back to their badges as a means to proceed further within the game, or push them to attain that next level above. That in itself is great motivation for any player.
Leader boards
Again, this is another example for competitive pursuits. Just like the badge system and point system, it drives players to perform and play more, especially when you visually can see your competition and know where you stand against all other players. That certainly hits differently!
Rewarding the users and purchases
By providing users with rewards, yes it provides motivation, that we know. However, it also gives status and a long-term future. If players have built themselves up to a certain degree within the game, it may make it particularly hard to walk away from, giving players more reason to keep coming back and being loyal.
The incentives and rewards system can also provide a means for players to invest some of their own money to level up and progress. Many games will provide incentives, yet give the player an option to gain more from the game if they invest their own cash into the gaming platforms. Not only does this drive cash flow for the gaming platform, it always creates a scenario where if the player does not, they will be left behind in comparison to the other competition that they know of and compare too. The exclusivity of having access to things that free users may not, may also provide self-satisfaction and intrinsic motivation to continue even further, due to that feeling of being special. All the huge games online currently provide such features of exclusivity through purchases, we have Runescape, Minecraft and many more that keep their community through exclusivity and status.
It is very clear that the whole point of incentives and rewards is for the main purpose of keeping players loyal and committed to the gaming sites. While psychologically we all have our own reasons to pursue gaming, it all comes down to two factors within personality, that gaming schemes mould around-being intrinsically or extrinsically motivated.
If you enjoy games and gaming and want more NEWS from the Gaming World Click Here
