Gasification is the industry’s latest catchphrase that’s doing the rounds. Take a look around you – be it your favorite shopping app or your work, wellness, or entertainment applications – gasification is almost everywhere. The core aspects of gamification are being applied in various sectors, and the fitness market is no exception.
With the fitness app development market getting saturated by the day, attracting and engaging customers is becoming challenging. Gamification is an effective technique that can enhance engagement, amplify customer retention and reach. Gamification doesn’t necessarily turn the fitness application into a game but brings core elements of a game that makes it feel like a game!
The gamification market is expected to see a CAGR of 30% growth between the forecast periods of 2020 and 2025. According to Apple’s 2014 App Store review of more than 100 health apps, it was found that there was a direct relation between gamification in the app and high ratings from users.
Before we go further into the game concepts used by fitness app development services companies, let’s briefly get to know about gamification.
What is Gamification?
The term ‘gamification’ was coined by Nick Pelling way back in 2002; however, it didn’t gain much popularity until 2010. Although there are varying definitions of the term, the consensus is that gamification is the implementation of game-like elements in non-gaming solutions – applicable even to apps.
Gamification could be anything – like providing progress bars to rewards – that encourage users to complete their tasks.
Techniques Used in Developing Fitness Apps Gamification
Numerous game components can be used in fitness apps. Let’s look at some methods that are quite popular among fitness enthusiasts and fitness tracking app development companies.
Rewards
Rewards create instant gratification for users. While it might not always be the best strategy for pursuing long-term life goals, it spells success when used in fitness apps. When every fitness goal achieved or every target reached is appreciated or rewarded, users would be more motivated and determined to do more.
Several fitness apps have their marketplaces, where users can gain both virtual and real-world prizes. JustMove is a fitness application that helps users stay in shape while giving them coupons and discounts and free fitness products.
Storytelling
Who doesn’t like a good story? Storytelling is an age-old, time-tested concept that can enthrall the audience and engage them for more extended periods. The visual medium of storytelling can be an excellent motivator for fitness enthusiasts.
The developer has to maintain the delicate balance between the fitness task’s seriousness and the game’s entertainment value. Fitness apps based on stories have elements such as sounds, checkpoints, rewards as the story progresses.
A few famous fitness apps engaging in gamification are The Walk, Zombies, Run! and the energetic Superhero Workout.
Challenges
Games without challenges are no one’s favorites. Fitness enthusiasts enjoy the thrill of acing challenges. Challenges provoke peer pressure and human being’s need to stay ahead of the race. Fitness app development companies draw on this aspect of human nature to include numerous challenges. Also, they have leaderboards that display the winner and also award virtual rewards.
Badges
Certain fitness tracking app development companies include badges for users on achieving fitness goals or moving up levels. Many apps allow users to share their badges with the community to boost the confidence of others. Charity Miles is an excellent fitness app that helps you raise money for charity every time you walk, run and cycle.
Avatars
Getting a visual representation of self is, interestingly, another feature in fitness gamification. It allows users to engage with their fictional self while making sure their fitness regimes don’t take a hit.
Levels
Acing levels with friends makes even the excruciating fitness regimen super easy. And that’s precisely the logic behind having levels in a fitness and wellness application. It creates a strong sense of togetherness and bonding and makes achieving goals even more rewarding.
It can help build motivation for partners to keep working by supporting each other’s goals. A good example is FitBit, with its leaderboard where the best performer will get the top spot. Nike+ Run club allows users to add custom levels too.
A Few Examples of Popular Apps That are Using Gamification
We saw the kind of gamification concepts used by popular fitness app development services companies that are among the favorites for fitness enthusiasts. Now, let’s look at some of the popular fitness apps that incorporate gamification.
- Zombies, Run!
- Strava
- Fitocracy
- Fitbit
- Skimble
- ShapeUp
- MyFitnessPal
Wrapping Up
Gamification has a huge potential that is yet to be fully utilized by the health and fitness industry. More innovation and investment pouring into fitness app development can certainly bring more value to the market. Gamification in fitness has everything most people crave for the chance to compete and win, the thrill of competition, the motivation from rewards and recognition while keeping the fitness regime intact. Even the most excruciating fitness sequences are a bit easy and fun when played like a game.
Any fitness app development services company should focus on balancing the entertainment levels of the game while offering fitness solutions. It is crucial not to lose focus on the app design as it needs to attract and engage with the users.
If you have a great app idea, you should start your fitness tracking app development journey first by deciding the gamification elements you would add in your app. Too many games and it wouldn’t be recognized as a fitness app. Too few games and it would look just like the many run-of-the-mill fitness solutions. Keep the balance perfect, and you can have the best fitness application enhanced by gamification.
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Author bio: Robert Jackson is content cum digital marketer at Solution Analyst, a leading mHealth Development Services. He is an avid reader and likes to remain updated for technological advancements in the domains of web, mobility, IoT, and emerging technologies. His articles are informative and interesting at the same time as he expresses insightful thoughts clearly.