badges for achievements (Read 680 times)

 

I like badges in that they motivates users and keep them addicted to the site.  Many websites employ this technique (join date, post count, stars, thumb ups, badges) so from a business standpoint, it makes sense.  From a skeptical view point, it's gimmicky.

On the few sites I can think of that do this kind of stuff, I find it kinda gimmicky.  But, I'm on board the make Eric Smiley Face rich train, so I would join MegRuns and channel my inner Girl Scout.

I'm on board as long as we call them pieces of Flair.

+1

• The amount of processing needed to determine the earned badge is computationally complex.  What happens if you recorded a marathon and subsequently issued a first marathon badge, then changed the workout to a 5k instead?  Every time a workout is modified, the system has to recheck all badges, which could get very expensive.

I don't think you need to would need to recheck the badges each time.  You could tie the badge to one (or a number of workouts).  Then if any one of the dependent workouts was changed, the badge would become invalid.  I don't really see a foolproof way to do it so people can't cheat though.  Any time you are basing medals on user entered data, you are opening up the opportunity to cheat.  All I would need to do is make a workout that says I ran a 2:00:00 marathon, and I would get a badge.  Anybody who actually did that is a jackass though, and wouldn't last on the site long.

Is there a national database of running times that you could tie into?  I don't know if such a thing exists, but if it does it could hold a treasure trove of data.  Basing medals off of that list would be totally cheat free and probably easy to do.  Just have the user enter some sort of identifying info in options and then download their data.  That data could be used for all sorts of other things as well.

I've been thinking about this feature a lot (a hectare?) lately.  There are 3 challenges in adding this feature:

• The amount of processing needed to determine the earned badge is computationally complex.  What happens if you recorded a marathon and subsequently issued a first marathon badge, then changed the workout to a 5k instead?  Every time a workout is modified, the system has to recheck all badges, which could get very expensive.
• Coming up with badge worthy achievements.  As npaden said, where do you draw the line?
• Coming up with badges.  I'm not a graphic designer.  Creating icons and images take me much longer than writing code.

I like badges in that they motivates users and keep them addicted to the site.¹  Many websites employ this technique (join date, post count, stars, thumb ups, badges) so from a business standpoint, it makes sense.  From a skeptical view point, it's gimmicky.²

1. Too late. Who's not already addicted?

2.  Very.

 

"Badges?  We don't need no stinkin' badges...."

 

It is kind of gimmicky.  And I'm sure some subset of people would like/be motivated by them.  Perhaps you'd need a poll to gauge how seriously people are interested in this.

The original version (slightly altered by Mel Brooks)

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges."

Now get off my lawn.

I am overdue for my Lurker Badge... wait... crap!

Nature called when I was running, so I had to go number two in the woods badge.

I think this one is actually for making paper from trees, but I see it differently.