genegames.org: High-Throughput Access to Biological Knowledge and Reasoning through Online Games

Abstract

Games are emerging as a powerful organizational and motivational tactic throughout many areas of society. Wherever people have a goal that they are having trouble reaching, be it getting their chores done [1], learning all the functions of Microsoft Visual studio [2], or finishing a 10K [3], many are finding success by posing the required tasks as elements of games. Games can turn small units of work, that alone might seem boring, into fun steps taken towards a meaningful success. In doing so, they can sometimes dramatically increase individuals' chances of reaching their objectives. The process of translating elements of non-game contexts (e.g. science, most traditional work, learning, exercise, etc.) into aspects of games is now known as `gamification'.