Gaming Me

Gamification has become such a buzz-laden word nowadays it’s lost all meaning. But its original origins, in games, enticing people to keep on playing, is still around. And Forza Horizon 2 has got me wrapped around its little finger.

It’s a tiny thing really. Just a little popup. Two names. Two numbers. But it’s driven me to play in the morning before I go to work and at night when I should be sorting out my washing. It’s playing against my competitive nature, because the developers know, they’re counting on the fact, that I can’t stop.

Pass a speed camera and your speed pops up. Along with the faster speed of whoever’s closest in your friends list. Smash a bonus board and the number of bonus boards your friends have smashed pops up.

It’s a simple thing. With all data now living in the cloud, it’s becoming more and more commonplace. I remember in Forza 2 racing against the time trials. An arbitrary score posted by the developers. But now, now I can play against a friend, see what line they took around a corner and play and play until I beat them.

Gone are the days of everyone being online, getting together for group games. Co-op, my favourite game mode, is dead. Asynchronous play has taken it’s place for me. And it’s going to be the death of me.