Alan Mattiassi, PhD
Alan is a psychologist and researcher specializing in the intersection of games and human behavior. His work focuses on using games to enhance learning and promote positive behaviors while exploring how players approach and solve the challenges that games present. With a background that blends different areas of psychology with game design, cognitive science, and behavioral research, Alan has been a postdoctoral researcher at multiple universities and research groups, as well as a consultant and Game Science Lead in the private sector. He currently focuses on game-based learning and gamification, designing and adapting games and systems to foster engagement and learning. Alan is also actively involved in academic research and collaborations, including with the GAME Science Research Center (Italy).
Un-Learning Games and Gamification
The concepts of "games" and "gamification" have become both ubiquitous and misunderstood. For many, these terms are locked into the concept of fun. But what if the real potential of games lies in evolutionary spaces? What if gamification happens to only be a byproduct of what we evolved to do in games? What if we challenged our way of thinking such that we could re-conceptualize what playing is for and how to gamify with full awareness of what is going on?
In this session, you will embark on a journey of un-learning to break free from the conventional and reductionist views of games and gamification. We’ll question what games are for and what it means to “gamify” an experience from an evolutionary perspective, considering what has been lost in the process of co-opting these concepts by business and education. Through critical examination, we’ll deconstruct the assumptions that underlie game mechanics and behaviors, revealing their deeper psychological and cultural significance.
