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© Hakan Uzer
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What if physics could explain user behavior?
Physics of Gamification connects classic physics laws with modern gamification mechanics — to reveal how people engage, act, and stay motivated.
Hosted by Hakan Uzer, this is where science meets behavior design.
Physics of Gamification connects classic physics laws with modern gamification mechanics — to reveal how people engage, act, and stay motivated.
Hosted by Hakan Uzer, this is where science meets behavior design.
23 Episodes
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In physics, quantum tunneling describes the improbable — particles breaking through barriers they shouldn’t be able to cross.In gamification, the same phenomenon can happen with people. Users who seem stuck, blocked, or disengaged can still find surprising ways forward if the system creates rare, meaningful moments of breakthrough.In this season finale, we explore:How to design tunneling moments that unlock progress when players plateau.Why shortcuts must feel rare to preserve fairness and meaning.Practical strategies for creating breakthrough experiences in onboarding, progression, and long-term engagement.This episode also wraps up Season One of Physics of Gamification. We’ll be back in late-October with Season Two — deeper dives, new formats, and for the first time, a video edition of the podcast.
Phase transitions aren’t just for physics — they happen in behavior too.In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we explore how systems don’t always change gradually… sometimes they reorganize all at once. Just like ice snaps into water or water flips into vapor, gamified systems can push players into new states that completely reshape how they engage.You’ll learn:Why engagement isn’t linear, but state-based.How to design thresholds that transform players from learners into leaders.Where sudden shifts can backfire — and how to prepare the system so they feel natural and exciting.Practical ways to create those “I’ll never forget when…” moments that keep motivation alive.If you’ve ever wondered how to make your system feel less like a flat ladder and more like a living, evolving experience, this one’s for you.
In physics, a black hole’s pull comes from its mass — and once that gravity becomes overwhelming, nothing escapes.Gamification systems can fall into the same trap. Add too many mechanics, too many rules, and too many layers… and you create an engagement singularity.In this episode, we explore:How overcomplexity collapses user motivationThe “event horizon” where features start to hurt, not helpPractical ways to strip away weight and restore momentumBecause the best-designed systems aren’t always the ones with the most features — they’re the ones with the clearest pull.
In physics, mechanical resonance occurs when elements vibrate at a shared frequency, amplifying energy far beyond what any one part could achieve.In gamification? It’s when every feature — missions, rewards, leaderboards, and feedback — align so perfectly that engagement flows effortlessly.This episode dives into what resonance looks like in behavior systems:Why dissonance kills momentum, how emotional rhythm matters, and what happens when mechanics sing in harmony.If you’ve ever felt like your system has all the right parts but still isn’t clicking — this one’s for you.
In physics, thermodynamic equilibrium is a perfectly balanced state — no more energy flows, no more reactions happen. It’s stable. Still. And kind of dead.In this episode, we explore what happens when gamified systems reach that same point — when everything runs “just fine,” but nothing meaningful happens anymore. From flat leaderboards to predictable feedback, we break down how challenge decay leads to disengagement… and how to reignite interest with purposeful disruption.Because when your system stops changing, it starts fading.
In physics, traveling near the speed of light leads to distortion — things blur, time stretches, and clarity breaks down. In gamified systems, the same thing can happen when we accelerate too quickly.In this episode, we explore how speed in design—rapid feedback, escalating missions, and overloaded interfaces—can overwhelm users instead of engaging them. You’ll learn how to slow things down with intentional pacing, emotional rhythm, and meaningful pauses that create flow, not fatigue.Because in gamification, clarity always beats velocity.
Some gamified systems don’t motivate users — they trap them. In this episode, we explore how common mechanics like streaks, point ladders, and status roles can slowly form behavioral gravity wells: systems that pull people in, but make it difficult to step away. Drawing from physics and behavioral theory, we examine how to design systems with graceful exits, re-entry points, and healthier engagement over time. Because true loyalty comes from freedom — not force.
In this episode, we explore how Einstein’s theory of relativity translates into user motivation. Because in gamified systems, it’s not about how long something takes—it’s how long it feels.We unpack how to compress perceived time using structure, feedback, and momentum, with real examples from onboarding flows and sales gamification.
Are your users logical goal-seekers or emotional human beings? The answer is: yes. In this episode, we explore how users — like quantum particles — exhibit dual behavior. Sometimes they act with clear objectives. Other times, they’re swayed by emotion, environment, or instinct.Just like light can be both a wave and a particle, users can be both players in a system and people with stories. We break down what that means for gamification design — with fresh examples, surprising science, and a few nudges on how to stop designing for just one side of the user. Because the best systems don’t force a choice — they embrace the duality.
What if your users aren’t disengaged… just unmeasured? In this episode, we explore Schrödinger’s Cat — one of the weirdest and most insightful thought experiments in physics — and what it teaches us about user engagement. Until we act, observe, or ask… our users live in multiple states at once: curious or indifferent, motivated or lost.We’ll break down how measurement, observation, and even attention can shape behavior — for better or worse.Featuring examples from onboarding systems, sales platforms, and loyalty programs, this episode dives into the psychology of uncertainty, the risks of passive design, and how to build systems that bring users into focus.
In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we explore how timing and speed shape the way users interpret your system — just like the Doppler Effect shifts sound depending on relative motion. Whether you’re giving feedback too early, too late, too often, or not at all — perception changes. And perception is everything.We’ll dive into real-life design scenarios, reflect on how player movement alters feedback clarity, and offer practical ways to tune your system’s signals. Because gamification isn’t just what you say — it’s when and how fast you say it.
Why do some users never return — even after one missed click? In this episode, we explore what disengagement really is, and how to overcome it using the physics of escape velocity. Not with nudges… but with force.
What if a single word in your platform’s copy… turned users off without you ever realizing? That’s not fiction — that’s the butterfly effect in action.In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we explore how tiny design choices — from microcopy to notification timing — can trigger massive behavioral shifts. Using chaos theory and cognitive science, we unpack how these micro-moments shape user motivation, often before the task even begins.🎧 You’ll learn:Why tone, wording, and even reward sounds carry emotional weightHow small design tweaks can sabotage or supercharge engagementThe neuroscience behind how users “feel” your systemReal-world stories of unintended ripple effects — both bad and brilliantHow to design with subtlety, awareness, and narrative precisionThis episode is for designers, product managers, and anyone building systems where humans are the variable. Listener challenge: Identify one overlooked detail in your system and change it — then watch what happens.
Great systems don’t just reward. They build tension. Explore how progression mechanics store motivation like energy waiting to be released.
In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we explore the quantum phenomenon of entanglement — and how a user’s sense of identity can become deeply linked to the systems they interact with. When users define their roles, choose missions, and see themselves reflected in the experience, something profound happens: emotional entanglement.You’ll hear real-world examples, contrast cases, and design tactics to help your system go beyond surface-level interaction — and start building meaningful, identity-driven engagement.Whether you’re designing gamification systems or building anything meant to last, this episode will challenge how you think about personalization, progression, and belonging.Topics include:– What quantum entanglement really is — and how it maps to human behavior– The difference between personalization and emotional resonance– How systems can reflect identity in subtle but powerful ways– A listener challenge to audit your own product or platform
You can’t see a magnetic field. But it shapes everything in its reach.In this episode, we explore how great gamification systems create the same kind of pull — through structure, rhythm, and design that quietly guides behavior.From mission arcs to visual cues, from progression paths to emotional proximity — this is where motivation becomes momentum.Featuring: physics, psychology, real-world systems, and one sharp challenge to rethink the way your platform pulls people in.🎧 Ideal for: product leads, gamification designers, behavioral strategists.
Every gamification mechanic creates a reaction — but what happens when you stack them? In this episode, we explore Newton’s Third Law to reveal how layered mechanics can either build momentum or backfire entirely. From points to badges to leaderboards, it’s all connected. Design wisely — because every action has a reaction.
In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we take a closer look at how measuring behavior can quietly shift it — sometimes in ways we don’t intend.Drawing on the quantum observer effect, we explore why well-meaning metrics can lead to distorted outcomes, and how small changes in what we track can have a big impact on engagement.From productivity dashboards to recognition systems, we’ll share practical ways to design feedback that supports motivation — not undermines it.
Why do systems that once energized people suddenly fall silent? In this episode of Physics of Gamification, we dive into feedback decay — how even functioning reward systems lose emotional power over time if not actively renewed. Learn how to design contrast, surprise, and real identity-building moments into your feedback loops… and why without them, motivation doesn’t disappear — it quietly decays.
In this episode, we explore how Newton’s Second Law explains user momentum — and why poor wording in UX is the biggest friction point. From onboarding disasters to copy that kills flow, Hakan breaks down how better language keeps users moving.
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