Games for men: How gamification shapes everyday life
“Press the button – get the result,
And your dream will come true”
Song by the band Tekhnologiya,
lyrics by Roman Ryabtsev
Dear Ms. N, did you remember to put on your mask?
No, the pandemic hasn’t returned. Another role-playing game in your life is about to begin. The man whose last name once adorned your passport will be home any minute now, proudly handing over his annual bonus. Or at least whatever is left of it after his trip to the store.
Smile and say thank you.
The hunter has brought home the spoils—there’s a celebration in the cave. Your face must be adorned with the mask of the ever-satisfied wife. Otherwise, next time, the bonus will stay entirely at the store’s register. Which store? Not a grocery store, unfortunately. A toy store—for gamers in their prime.
What is he playing? And why?
Step into his personal Children’s World. Surprised? Games for every occasion—work, family, home. Everywhere, there are bright buttons and instant launch keys.
Gamification has scattered its toys across the entire living space of the Modern Man. Clapping his hands with excitement, he collects points, hoards prizes. A hunter and gatherer of the new millennium, crowned with a laurel wreath of victory.
In fact, the thrill of the game itself is the inner motivator pushing him to earn money for the mortgage and raise his own Little Boy. Meanwhile, the portal to childhood remains wide open. Gaming technologies successfully take on the role of parents: they set rules, help with choices, bear the heavy burden of responsibility, and fulfill childhood dreams. Often, a simple click is enough to get the desired result.
Yes, speaking of clicks. Let’s take a look at the keyboard layout and all the buttons in the Life Game of the Modern Man.
The Alarm Clock Button – “Off.” The only way to escape the annoying buzz of the flying propeller. To greet the sunrise in silence, all you need to do is wake up before the alarm takes off and reach for it in time. Otherwise, you’ll have to get up and chase it like Carlson, who lives on the roof. But hey, a morning game of tag is a great way to start the day. Let’s keep playing.
The “Alt+Tab” Keys of the Office Computer. Let’s check the work desk. Career growth is quite the quest. A new high-priority task has just “popped up” in the employee chat. Be the first to hit the sales target? Why not? Sleep gadgets are in high demand. What’s in it for me? A bonus, a promotion, and a top spot on the corporate leaderboard? Fantastic! Happy to play along. The day is off to a great start.
Navigator, Take Me Home the Shortest Way! If I get there first, I’ll snag my neighbor’s parking spot.
The Intercom Button. “Well, hello, it’s me—with yellow tulips.”
All set for the wedding anniversary. Every single 100 bonus points I had on my loyalty card at the flower shop. The flowers here are just a metaphor. A game of meanings. I could have easily afforded roses with my hard-earned bonus—ten times over, one for each year of our marriage. But we’ll get to that later.
Yes, I’m that thoughtful. Thanks to the reminder on my phone.
Let me hammer a nail for the family photo collage — then hit the couch while you iron. We do have a classic division of household roles, right? Otherwise, why would you gift me a toolset in a promo package? Hint taken. I got it!
Smart Speaker, show off your intelligence and lighting — play a song with meaning. Valery Kipelov, “I Am Free”? Thanks, you got it right:
“I could have loved you,
But this is just a game.”
Yes, maybe it could have been someone else in your place. Or maybe it will be? It wasn’t fate but a dating app that brought us together under one last name. If things get boring, there’s always an option to rewind. The same way. No tough choices in dating apps. Swipe through an endless carousel of beautiful faces. Keep scrolling if something feels off—or just out of curiosity. Maybe it’s time to turn the page in real life, too? Moving to the next level sounds tempting. But not today. I’m not ready to drop out of the family matrix just like that. Slow and steady wins the happiness race.
The “Call Waiter” Button. A home-cooked candlelit dinner isn’t quite the kind of game where the winner gets a prize. But there’s still one more attempt left. Let’s try a restaurant date.
This is fun. Plenty to keep me entertained. Like winking at the robot waitress while my wife isn’t looking. A harmless flirt—no consequences. Or constructing a pizza from the suggested ingredients. With just a few clicks, I can add pineapples in champagne to duck with mandarins. A fail-proof option: I get creative, and the dish still turns out fine. What a wonderful evening!
The “Call Doctor” Button. Nothing serious. Just a routine check-up. A champion of healthy living always tests his health—virtually.
Opening the Calorie-Counting App. Who’s dropping out of the game of being the ideal-weight man? No arguing with the calculator—it says I overdid it with the pizza. The virtual doctor scolds me, boldly displaying a grim verdict on the screen about the risk of gaining extra pounds.
A sad emoji. But surely, there’s a way to replay the situation.
Alright, consider me scared straight. Got carried away with the pizza-builder ingredients. Won’t do it again. What’s next? How do I beat the calories? There must be a magic way to get back to my starting form.
Yes! My trusty app, the one I live with, has given me two whole recommendations. So helpful!
Fat-Burning Workout? Accepted.
A virtual cycling race with a sunset view over a pine forest—just what I need right now. Smart exercise machines can do it all. Display a picture of a deep forest on the TV screen. Simulate the wind blowing in my face with a built-in fan. Even add the sensation of rough terrain when switching from asphalt to gravel—thanks to an advanced inertia system that lets me literally feel the ground beneath me. Competing against remote opponents makes it all even more realistic. I’ll gladly pedal away!
Innovative Diet? Not so sure… But, okay, tell me the secret.
“Imaginary food”, huh? So I do get to eat something. Sounds promising! Let it be a pill that creates the illusion of a full meal. Tricking the body into digesting something that doesn’t turn into belly folds? Perfect. No need to starve myself. The main goal—making sure my jeans still button up on the first try.
Intercom Button – “Home.” Time for a family brainstorming session on dream vacations. Planning a romantic getaway (meaning: child staying with grandma) in the distant future. We’ve never been to Tahiti…
One wave of the ocean, two waves of expenses. The more often it waves under the airplane wing, the more affordable it gets. As a “silver” status passenger, I suggest we finally cash in the miles I’ve been collecting for years—outranking all my colleagues in points. No sense in hoarding them forever; otherwise, we won’t even make it to the nearest beach resort. Then again, there’s always a chance we won’t make it anyway. Every trip is a gamble.
A vacation for two is a chess match where timing is key. Choosing the right travel strategy is crucial. Otherwise, you’ll spend all five days, six nights collapsed in front of the hotel room’s low-budget TV, snacking on canned fruit and cheap champagne.
A repeat of International Women’s Day in March? No thanks, into the trash it goes. Vacation is serious business—no more playing around.
If the Flight Goes Well, I’d Love to Try Some Geocaching Quests.
Hunting for a sunken treasure chest on the ocean floor with scuba gear. Finding an uninhabited island using a map with clues. Travel agencies fully understand the adventurous fantasies of pirates who stay young at heart.
“Power” Button on the Desktop Computer. Yes, yes, I know tomorrow is almost here. But today, there’s an important let’s play stream. Can’t miss it. Only by staying in the game can I stay sharp. Take it from me, a titled eSports competitor. Dedication to training is the key to winning. Just like in real sports. Someone just leveled up. I’ll get there too—following in their footsteps. Or rather, through the tutorial videos of an elite let’s player.
The reality is that in real life, you barely catch a soccer ball in the goal anymore—age doesn’t spare anyone. But in cyber-football, the odds of winning are much higher.
Even if you don’t visit friends who live in buildings without elevators anymore.
Gained gaming experience? Mastered sports strategies? Go for it! Entry into online qualifiers is free. And participating in interactive tournaments can actually bring in some decent cash. Climb the rankings. A competitive game—for adults (and) kids alike.
Can’t Sleep…
My wife and son are in bed strictly on schedule. Such a boring life! But I cling to every minute like it’s the feather of the Firebird. I haven’t played enough for the day.
Speaking of the Firebird. Adding to my phone notes: make a fairy-tale gift for my mother-in-law with my own hands. Let’s play artist. A gifted one, of course. Paint-by-numbers masterpiece – and you’re the birthday girl’s favorite. Minimal effort, maximum applause. Any masterpiece will “come to life” on a numbered canvas. All I, the Maestro, need to do is skillfully splash the pre-mixed paints onto the right spots.
“Unlock Screen” Button. The “My Library” app cozily opens its doors to the world of digital reading.
What’s my new digital bedside novel about? Honestly, I have no idea yet. Improvisation. The interactive platform allows for everything. Let’s start by choosing a hero and a location. How about a billionaire on vacation? In Guatemala, for instance. Panoramic video of the dream resort on screen, please. A yacht, a beach.
Should I integrate a music track? Of course. La-la-laa – that jingle from the candy bar commercial with a deck chair on the wrapper would fit perfectly.
Munching on popcorn. Come on, Author, create some intrigue. I’m READING.
“The sea ripples, foaming generously with coconut shavings. Golden sand crunches underfoot, evoking warm associations with gold bars in a bank vault. Alas, boundless happiness was not meant to last the entire vacation. There was one ‘but.’ Suddenly, our hero started feeling unwell.”
Wait, let’s dive into that. I frantically rub the screen, and a hidden plotline appears. Turns out, the hero’s wife spiked his champagne with a dangerous poison. Petty revenge for his little experiment with the Mysterious Stranger from a mobile app.
Do the rich cry too? Don’t crush a childhood dream, cruel Author!
We’ll fix this. Back to the panoramic beach view, zoom in on the cocktail table. Blow on the screen. Harder. It worked! A sudden gust of wind carries the poisoned drink away into the open sea. Problem solved.
The corrected version of events loads. I zoom in on the most thrilling parts, and the lines expand, letting new details into the story. A dramatic shootout with competitors in a 90s gangster style, an infographic of soaring stock prices—who says books can’t be thrilling entertainment before meeting the propeller?
Am I reading or watching? Or playing again?
Will I be able to retell this tomorrow? Unlikely. And I’ll never reread it. A one-day game. The software will soon stop supporting the current version of the book.
“Game over” Button. Pressed by accident. We’ll play the final game later. Not today, for sure. An astrologer from the star app promised a decade of active longevity. With a premium subscription, it’s easier to make long-term plans. I should take time to digitally preserve myself for my Boy. Can’t have him talking to a tombstone, can I? A digital dad will do just fine.
I can transfer my digitized self onto a flash drive as a whole “package”: memories, values, achievements. My entire game library.
A “non-man-made monument,” worthy of Alexander Pushkin himself.
The Eternity platform, for example, offers such an option. Answer a couple of thousand test questions, and you can consider yourself immortal for your descendant. If he wants, he can assemble a full puzzle of my personality from these memoir fragments. Much more interesting than arranging artificial carnations.
Alarm clock button—”Off.” Yes, I’ve turned my life into a game. It’s not me running from reality; it’s reality running from me. As elusive as that other sock playing hide-and-seek after laundry. Yes, I’m a gamer, filling the void of existence with diverse content. Not an addict whose obsession ruins his life. Quite the opposite—my hobby is my way of surviving.
To completely exit all games into offline mode, I lack:
- Memory space for family celebration dates;
- A salary big enough for a Bounty vacation packed with experiences;
- The courage to build a solo career;
- The real desire to build said career to afford that Bounty vacation for my second half, whom I can’t quite bring myself to trade for a third;
- Something else… forgot.
An open list of voids in real life. Niches to be filled with games. Just press the right button to enhance the reality I believe in—and don’t believe in. That’s the essence of the game.
A grown-up child who should have left his fantasies behind long ago? Please. Go ahead, throw a stone at me—if you’ve truly given up on your game.
You still accept the New Year’s imitation of red caviar on sandwiches as a symbol of nonexistent wealth, don’t you? In fact, the entire New Year’s Eve is just a night quest with fireworks at the finish line. A roadmap designed for motivated players: dressing up as optimists, competing in culinary skills, and receiving gifts as prizes for good behavior.
I play the same way every day. I press the buttons that simulate real life and create a better version of myself. I model success. No need to bother Santa—I make my childhood dreams come true myself.
But it’s late now. In-SOM-nia. NIA—like target audience. Just a play on words. Couldn’t resist…
The propeller’s in my hands! Caught it midair. Hooray, alarm clock, I win again! Happy new day! My personal “Toy Store” is open 24/7…
“When I grow up, I’ll play all day!” the Boy once promised his parents. And he didn’t lie. Grew up. Got a job. Built a family. Playing. Playing from morning till night.
And you, dear Mrs. N, don’t forget your masks. Your man shouldn’t be playing alone.
Is there life on Mars, or is there no life on Mars? Join the eternal debate on paradoxes!
Thank you!
