[dwd]

Gamification doesn't work where the mechanics for point accumulation takes time away from getting things done. Which is why incentive/reward schemes where the point accumulation is calculated from business metrics (sales is a favourite) are more popular in corporate situations. They have been around for years, they just didn't have the cool buzzword and association with game mechanics.

I built the initial (could still be the same code for all I know) reward calculation engine of accumulate.com.au back in 2002/03 and sites like Red Balloon work much the same.