Community Engagement News From PUG PHARM

Advanced community engagement, loyalty, and gamification strategies—brought to you by puppies and wizards at Pug Pharm! www.pugpharm.com Tags

[pugpharm]

Pug Pharm’s Steve Bocska to Speak at European Conference

(2018/09/03)

(Vancouver, BC) -- Gamification Europe 2018 has announced that Pug Pharm president & CEO Steve Bocska will be speaking at the conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands November 26-27, 2018.

The session, entitled “Getting the ‘Game’ Back Into Gamification,” draws on Steve’s extensive experience producing and designing blockbuster video games for Disney, Electronic Arts, Sega, and Ubisoft -- games that tens of millions of people have paid their own money to play. He highlights the most common gamification misconceptions, mistakes, and breakdowns while offering a glimpse into a secret toolkit of proven mechanics and powerful new analytics.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://gamification-europe.com/.

[pugpharm]

Pug Pharm Receives BCIP Award

@pugpharm received a #BCIP contract today! Its #CdnInnovation, the Picnic™ Community Platform, allows organizations to create digital gamified experiences! https://t.co/gFWdtkJr0L pic.twitter.com/ALWuxn3Rkh

— Public Services (@PSPC_SPAC) December 8, 2017

[pugpharm]

PUG PHARM CALLS AUDIBLE ON “1st&5″!

(2017/05/16)

(Vancouver, BC) Former Florida Gator and Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Alexander Willis has partnered with Pug Pharm to launch “1st&5,” a first-of-its-kind gamified corporate coaching activity/contesting platform.

Dedicated to working with organizations to improve their leadership culture, Alex Willis is a nationally recognized expert on leadership development and keynote speaker. He has motivated thousands to pursue greatness in their professional and personal lives. 

"1st&5″ brings his knowledge and sage advice to life like never before through an engaging and rewarding activity, with insightful collectable tips, rewards, bonuses, surprises, and more.

Supporting the project is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engine, a loyalty activity platform built over the past 7+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a box of fidget spinners. 

[pugpharm]

GOLD RUSH CHALLENGE EXPANDED!

2017/04/15

(Vancouver, BC) – Pug Pharm Productions Inc., a world leader in applying gameplay design & technology to engage visitor communities and make life in general more fun, is bringing a major expansion to the one-of-a-kind digital visitor activity Gold Rush Challenge.

With new collections, quests, challenges, and prizes, the online game allows visitors to the region to play a fun, online activity where they can earn chances to play by visiting locations along the trail, stopping in at visitor centres, and following social media, to win fantastic prizes from local partners and sponsors along the trail – before, during and even after their visit.

Supporting the activity is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engagement Engine, a state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 6+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a dozen deep fried Twinkies.

[pugpharm]

“WHO NEW” PUG PHARM COULD MAKE PROCUREMENT FUN? WE DID!

2017/03/25

(Vancouver, BC) When the Government of Canada approached Pug Pharm to add a bit of pizzazz to their online content focusing on helping businesses seeking government contracts, our canine teeth were chomping at the bit!

Dubbed “Who Knew?”, the activity makes it easy and fun to collect fascinating factoids from some of the country’s top advisers around doing business with the government and get directed to even more useful information online. Build your collections, learn stuff you didn’t know, rank on the leaderboard... and get contracts with the Government of Canada. Plus, you can win really great prizes just for playing!

Supporting the project is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engine, a loyalty activity platform built over the past 7+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and something stuck to the bottom of our chair.

[pugpharm]

PUG PHARM POWERS WINE TOUR PASSPORT

2017/02/15

(Vancouver, BC) This summer, Pug Pharm in partnership with British Columbia Wine Tour will launch an innovative new take on visitor engagement.

Powered by our Picnic™ community engagement engine, “Wine Tour Passport” will engage visitors before, during, and after their visit with an ongoing, fun, flexible scavenger hunt for promo codes spanning both digital & real worlds that unlocks a themed “virtual postcard” collection game. 

This unique platform drives desired behaviour, connects visitors with attractions & partners, generates rich behavioural data, and creates moments of surprise, prestige, and appreciation.

The  Picnic™ Engagement Engine is an award-winning, state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 7+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a handful of midi-chlorians.

[pugpharm]

Government of Canada Invests $700,000 into “Game-Changing” Pug Pharm

2016/12/09

An innovative British Columbia interactive marketing company will get its product to market faster and more efficiently with the Government of Canada’s investment of $700,000.

The Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, made the announcement today during a visit to Pug Pharm Productions Inc. in Vancouver, B.C.

Pug Pharm Productions, a technology leader in the gamification industry, has developed an online platform called Picnic™. This Canadian technology innovation is the world's most advanced online platform that supports sophisticated gameplay and “gamification” features to deliver proven engagement models that keep customer communities doing more, staying longer, spending more money – and becoming more loyal over time.

As a marketing tool, Picnic™ attracts users to engage with an organization’s product or service throughgame play design and technologies. The model also works in businesses to engage employees in strategy and planning processes. Gamification strengthens customer loyalty and employee productivity and has gone from novelty to mainstream over the past few decades.

This investment is one of several successful projects to be announced under the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative. The program provides $100 million in repayable contributions to small- and medium-sized enterprises in Western Canada. Eligible companies can apply for funding to support activities that move ideas to market more quickly.

"Canadian companies like Pug Pharm Productions are working hard to bring the next generation of their innovative services to market. The Government of Canada is proud to support this project that will develop and commercialize enhanced technology for the customer loyalty industry. It is organizations like Pug Pharm that promote economic growth and create high-quality jobs in Canada."

"I want to thank the Government of Canada for its investment in Pug Pharm and our Picnic platform. Support through WD's Western Innovation Initiative enables us to continue to be a leader in bringing innovative and cutting-edge community engagement solutions to the world."

[pugpharm]

Janartha Garage Shatters Performance Records

2016/09/15 

(Vancouver, BC) Pug Pharm Productions Inc., a leader in premium community engagement solutions and busting sweet dance moves, has shattered platform performance records with Pycker’s “Janartha Garage” project.

During a 2-week span, Pug Pharm’s Picnic™ Engagement Engine SaaS platform processed over 4 million API calls -- that’s 40 lahk! -- for the Janartha Garage contesting activity with peak loads pushing over 25,000 requests per minute to our otherwise under-worked servers.

According to Pug Pharm President Steve Bocska, “That’s a lot of traffic.”

The  Picnic™ Engagement Engine is an award-winning, state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 7+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a mystic Gaelic Wizard.

[pugpharm]

Pug Pharm Goes Wild for Bollywood with Pycker

2016/08/1

(Vancouver, BC) Pug Pharm Productions, experts in using gameplay design to make the world a more joyful planet, is oh-so-excited to announce a partnership with Pycker to “do the needful” in delivering a super-cool digital fan activity to the fanatic and fantastic Bollywood film audience.

‘Janatha Garage’ is an online contesting activity that allows fans to play trivia quizzes, treasure hunts and more, fans unlock exclusive movie content, win official merchandise, earn chances towards exciting grand prizes events, and just basically have tons of online Bolly-riffic fun.

Supporting the activity is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engagement Engine, a state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 7+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a something that crawled out of the HVAC duct.

[pugpharm]

VICTORIA ROYALS SET FAN ENGAGEMENT RECORD WITH PUG PHARM

2016/07/5

Pug Pharm Productions, experts in using gameplay design to make fans titter with delight, has just crunched the numbers on the second season metrics for the Victoria Royals hockey club’s True Blue Challenge fan engagement activity. 

This sequel to the original fan contest was chock full of refinements, improvements, and hidden secrets. Fans participated by playing a fun, interactive contesting activity available on mobile and online. They closely followed broadcast and social media to discover clues and earn special loyalty code words that granted them chances to play a fun contesting activity. Players then selected random "digital cards” items to build up collections of colourful and interesting themed virtual items to win great prizes.

And boy, talking about a winning record! A small sample of the astonishing metrics:

Repeat participation: 74% of active community

Deep engagement: over 20% participated more than 50 times

Increased audience reach: Facebook +79%, Twitter +85%, broadcast +206%

Average # fan on-site interations: 209 throughout the season

Seasons-over-season return: 28% 

Female demographic participation: 56% (+19%) 

Supporting the program is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engine, a loyalty activity platform built over the past 6+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a resounding chorus of tree frogs.

[pugpharm]

TOURISTS TO HIT IT BIG WITH GOLD RUSH CHALLENGE CONTEST

2016/06/5 

(Vancouver, BC) – Pug Pharm Productions Inc., a world leader in applying gameplay design & technology to engage visitor communities and make life in general more fun, has been selected to to deliver a one-of-a-kind digital visitor activity to the historic Gold Rush Trail in central British Columbia.

Launching in summer of 2016, the online game will allow visitors to the region to play a fun, online activity where they can earn chances to play by visiting locations along the trail, stopping in at visitor centres, and following social media, to win fantastic prizes from local partners and sponsors along the trail -- before, during and even after their visit.

Supporting the activity is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Engagement Engine, a state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 6+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a dozen deep fried Twinkies.

[pugpharm]

VICTORIA ROYALS LAUNCH v2.0 OF TRUE BLUE FAN LOYALTY ACTIVITY

2015/11/28

The Victoria Royals hockey club, powered by Pug Pharm, have launched a massive update to last season’s highly successful fan engagement contesting activity at GoRoyalsGo.com.

Called True Blue Challenge, this new edition promises a wider range of content, more sponsored prizes, and a variety of ways to play and win throughout the season. With this launch, the team establishes a new industry-wide standard for sponsorable sports fan engagement and contesting.

Try playing at www.goroyalsgo.com with welcome code “TRUEBLUE”.

[pugpharm]

3-PART SERIES FEATURING PUG PHARM ON GAMIFICATION.CO

2015/10/20

Leading community engagement webisite Gamification.co has published an in-depth 3-part feature highlighting Pug Pharm's recent success with the "Mis Momentos" program for Kimberley-Clark's flagship Kotex brand. The series highlights the history of the program, core philosophy, evolution of the design, challenges faced and their solutions, key metrics and outcomes.

Part I of the series can be found here.

[pugpharm]

PUG PHARM POWERS CRUCIAL YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAM

2015/09/14

Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ engine has been selected to power the launch of AgedOut.com, an online engagement platform with information, resources and links to services for young adults who are, or were, in government care in BC. The site aims to help these youth equip themselves with the skills and information they will need as they leave care.

AgedOut.com is an online engagement platform with information, resources and links to services for young adults who are, or were, in government care in BC. The site aims to help these youth equip themselves with the skills and information they will need as they leave care. With input from former youth in care, we built AgedOut.com as an interactive way to empower aged out youth to leave care and lead successful, independent lives.

Thanks to Pug Pharm’s Picnic™ platform, users aren't just presented with interactive learning experiences, they're rewarded for exploring them. As users complete quests and explore other aspects of the site, they can earn badges for their profile. For aged-out youth under 25, badges also have real-world value: collect enough, and you're entitled to a gift card to one of a selection of popular stores, including Ikea and Best Buy. The result is an interactive site that looks and feels approachable, accessible and fun.

For more about AgedOut.com, click here.

[pugpharm]

PUG PHARM ULTIMATE DIGITAL FAN EXPERIENCE TO DEBUT AT JON BON JOVI CONCERT

2015/06/12

(Vancouver, BC) – Pug Pharm Productions Inc., a leader in applying gameplay design & technology to engage fan communities and generally rocking out, has partnered with Urban Forest Concerts to deliver a one-of-a-kind digital fan activity at the upcoming An Evening With Jon Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia outdoor concert August 22nd in Vancouver’s historic Stanley Park. 

Full details are still hush-hush, but fans visiting UrbanForest.club in the lead-up to the concert will soon feel a personal ‘blaze-of-glory’ as they play a fun, online activity that rewards high-loyalty actions with chances to win fantastic prizes from partners and sponsors. And unlike other concerts, the fun won’t end after Bon Jovi’s 7th encore of “Livin’ On A Prayer”. In a unique twist, fans can continue to participate in the activity in the weeks following the concert to earn exclusive content, additional prizes, and special bonuses for future Urban Forest concerts. 

Supporting the activity is Pug Pharm’s award-winning Picnic™ Fan Engagement Engine, a state-of-the-art loyalty activity platform built over the past 6+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, software-as-a-service product managers, and a rusty old ’72 Pinto.

[pugpharm]

FANS HAPPY BEING BLUE IN LEADING-EDGE DIGITAL ACTIVITY

2015/06/2

Victoria Royals WHL hockey club in partnership with Pug Pharm Productions has concluded a pilot fan loyalty activity that has forever modernized the sports fan club into the digital age – setting a new standard for sponsored sports fan interaction in the process.

The “Be Royal Blue Challenge” is a themed, sponsorable online fan contesting activity that extended throughout the Royals’ team-fan touchpoints: in-bowl, on concourse, broadcast/radio, Facebook, Twitter, sponsors, and website. Fans who showed their passion for the team gained entry into the online activity, which was available on mobile and web at GoRoyalsGo.com. Fun activities earned fans colourful collectible virtual items, including their favorite players, coaches, Marty the Marmot, sponsors, and even special instant win sponsored prize tokens. Grand prizing events awarded valuable prize packs throughout the season, with the most loyal Royals fans having the best chances of winning.

Launched as a mid-season program, Be Royal Blue Challenge was able to deeply engage fans, both during and even between games. Fan participation in the program grew continuously, with over 76% of the total community participating repeatedly.

According to SVP Sales & Marketing Darren Parker, “Be Royal Blue helped our team boost sponsorship value while driving fan engagement, participation, and sentiment. It gave us another way to reach and entertain our fans, all while building a new revenue stream.”

Participating Be Royal Blue Sponsors included VictoriaHomes.com, The Zone @ 91.3 FM, 100.3 The Q!, and McKays Electronic Experts. Supporting the program was Pug Pharm’s award-winning FanGage™ Engine, a loyalty activity platform built over the past 6+ years by a team of veteran game designers, web technology experts, and a charismatic talking dolphin name Skip.

[pugpharm]

Board Game Fridays: Make Sure It FITS Without Throwing A Fit!

2015/05/22

FITS (Fill in the Spaces) is just like playing Tetris, but with 2-4 players. Now, although it's multiplayer, it's not like Tetris variations such as Tetris Friends where you battle with a friend online and send lines to your opponent by clearing combos of lines. It's not as fast-paced as the original Tetris either, but you'll be spending time trying to figure out the best way to place your blocks! 

Each player has their own board and set of 16 pieces of unique polyominoes made of three to five squares. Based on randomly drawn cards, each player plays a different starting piece to add more variety to the game. And then all players play the same subsequent pieces each turn, but how you play it is entirely up to you! You can rotate or flip your pieces, but you can't slide them horizontally to fill in a gap once they're dropped. You can set a piece aside as well if you don't want to place it, but you won't be able to play that piece for the rest of the round.  

Aside from the pure enjoyment of fitting pieces together perfectly and building rows of blocks, the main objective in FITS is to score the most points and be the winner among your friends! Though you'll quickly find that it's not easy at all to fit all your blocks together in a way that will give you more points, especially when the piece you want never comes at the right time! Each of the four rounds, however, has a slightly different scoring system, which means that you have to adapt your strategy to each round's rules to maximize points.  

The first round is probably closest to a traditional Tetris game, where you get a point for each row completed and are punished when you leave gaps (minus one point for each empty square). But the second and third rounds start messing with your mind – you no longer get points for completing rows. Instead, you should leave gaps open for where the board indicates a positive number of points to earn them. And of course, there are spots that would lead to points deduction if you don't cover them up!  

The fourth round doesn't have numbers on the board anymore. There are pairs of symbols where if you leave both of them visible at the end of the game, you get 3 points; but if you're only able to leave one of them visible, you get -3 points. Decisions, decisions! Do you try to go for this pair of diamonds, or do you cover it now and hope that you can cover it later without messing up your other plans?  

Despite having to adjust your strategy based on each round's rules, FITS is a very simple game that allows constant meaningful choice-making and brings back memories of playing Tetris!