A Point-Based Gamification Framework

Abstract

This blog post presents a gamification framework designed for ETHDO.ME: The Regenerate Superhero Hideout, a collaborative makerspace at ETHDenver 2025. The framework leverages a point-based reward system to incentivize and recognize a wide spectrum of participant activities, from hands-on maker missions to community-driven quests and interactive mini-games. Seven categories of points are introduced, each with distinct eligibility criteria and verification protocols. Our approach aims to transparently and equitably distribute a community-sourced prize pool among participating builders, thereby fostering collaboration, creativity, and sustained engagement.

1. Introduction

Gamification has evolved as an essential strategy in educational and community-driven settings to motivate individuals, boost active participation, and enhance overall user experience [1]. By embedding game mechanics—such as points, badges, and challenges—into real-world activities, gamification has proven effective in maintaining engagement and fostering a sense of communal achievement [2].

ETHDO.ME: The Regenerate Superhero Hideout at ETHDenver 2025 is an experimental makerspace committed to co-creation and regenerative solutions. This environment brings together developers, artists, and innovators under a unifying vision. The introduction of a point-based system is intended to create playful incentives, acknowledge accomplishments, and fairly allocate prizes donated by the community.

2. Methodology

The proposed gamification system is grounded in seven categories of points, each representing a unique dimension of engagement.

2.1 Maker Missions

Description: Practical, ESP32-based maker projects conducted at the ETHDO.ME Makerspace.

Verification: Each project is evaluated and verified by ETHDO.ME team members or qualified mentors to ensure successful completion before awarding points.

Rationale: Encourages the active development of technical and creative skills while fostering mentorship and collaboration.

2.2 ETHDO.ME Quests

Description: Adventure-style quests that send participants on exploratory missions across ETHDenver.

Verification: Completion is confirmed through quest logs and on-site checkpoints.

Rationale: By integrating location-based tasks and knowledge-focused puzzles, ETHDO.ME Quests promote engagement with the broader ETHDenver event ecosystem.

2.3 Participation Points

Description: General involvement points for attending meetups, volunteering, performing, or otherwise contributing to the collective ETHDO.ME experience.

Verification: Attendance records, sign-in sheets, and peer validation.

Rationale: Encourages community involvement and recognizes less quantifiable contributions, such as creativity and social support.

2.4 Challenges

Description: On-site, real-time games or skill-based competitions offering immediate point rewards.

Verification: Live adjudication by referees or automated scoring systems.

Rationale: Adds excitement and opportunities for spontaneous engagement, driving friendly competition and social interaction.

2.5 Multipliers

Description: Passive point boosts awarded to individuals who hold $SPORK tokens, Bufficorn NFTs, or Sporkwhale assets.

Verification: On-chain ownership verification through wallet connections.

Rationale: Rewards consistent support and long-term commitment to the ETHDenver ecosystem by offering incremental boosts in point accrual.

2.6 The Ethereal Crystal Mini-Games

Description: Interactive mini-games involving the Ethereal Crystal, a special artifact at ETHDO.ME. Players who engage with these mini-games gain additional points for demonstrating curiosity, creativity, and skill.

Verification: Digital logs of successful interactions with the Ethereal Crystal’s mini-games.

Rationale: Fosters a sense of wonder and discovery while providing a fun, accessible entry point for participants of all skill levels. These mini-games can also act as icebreakers, encouraging social interaction within the community.

2.7 CC Points (Community Created Points)

Description: Points issued by third-party builders, projects, or community members using the open ETHDO.ME gaming engine.

Verification: Allocated by the respective builders’ criteria, displayed in the player dashboard.

Prize Qualification: CC Points do not count toward the final prize pool.

Rationale: Facilitates experimentation and extensibility, enabling community members to design their own mini-competitions and recognition systems without impacting the official prize distribution.

3. Prize Pool Distribution

The ETHDO.ME Builder Prize Pool is a community-driven fund sourced from individual and organizational donations. Distribution is determined by the point holdings of each participant across the first six categories (Maker Missions, Quests, Participation, Challenges, Multipliers, and Ethereal Crystal Mini-Games). This ensures an equitable and transparent method for rewarding top contributors in a way that reflects both the quantity and quality of their involvement.

• Fairness: Weighted scoring aligns with various forms of engagement, from hands-on building to broader community support.
• Transparency: Live updates on each participant’s point tally enhance trust in the system.
• Sustainability: The open architecture and CC Points encourage a continuous influx of new activities, games, and ideas, ensuring the system evolves with community needs.

4. Discussion

By incentivizing practical work (Maker Missions), playful exploration (Quests), communal involvement (Participation Points), dynamic challenges (Challenges), interactions with the Ethereal Crystal (Mini-Games), and long-term ecosystem investment (Multipliers), the ETHDO.ME gamification framework covers a broad spectrum of activities. The CC Points mechanism allows community builders to extend these capabilities, creating new opportunities for experimentation without affecting the official prize pool.

This structure not only motivates action but also fosters a sense of collective ownership. Participants can engage at their own pace and explore diverse experiences, from hardware hacking to social mini-games, all while contributing to a communal prize pool that celebrates and rewards their achievements.

5. Conclusion

The point-based gamification framework at ETHDO.ME: The Regenerate Superhero Hideout represents a holistic approach to community building at ETHDenver 2025. By combining mission-driven tasks, interactive mini-games, community engagement, and reward transparency, we aim to cultivate a nurturing environment that accelerates learning, collaboration, and regenerative solutions.

We invite all attendees, makers, and builders to contribute, experiment, and engage with the ETHDO.ME gaming engine. Donations to the prize pool are welcomed, reinforcing the open-source spirit and collective ethos that characterize both ETHDenver and the broader Ethereum community.

References

1. Deterding, S., et al. (2011). From game design elements to gamefulness: Defining gamification. Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference.
2. Hamari, J., Koivisto, J., & Sarsa, H. (2014). Does gamification work?—A literature review of empirical studies on gamification. 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.