Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design

Brunella Botte; Giada Marinensi; Henk Aarts; Sander Bakkes; Remco Veltkamp

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13

Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design

Brunella Botte^*, Giada Marinensi, Henk Aarts, Sander Bakkes, Remco Veltkamp

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study evaluates the relevance of Phillips' reward taxonomy in the context of contemporary video game design, with implications for modern gamification strategies. Phillips' taxonomy categorizes game rewards into six types based on their functions within game systems. Given the rapid evolution of video games, this research investigates whether this taxonomy remains applicable to current gaming landscapes. The study consisted of two main steps: firstly, a detailed analysis of rewards in seven video games from various genres was performed and secondly, a card sorting activity with expert players was conducted. Results shown that while Phillips' taxonomy resulted to be still applicable, the need for two additional categories, rewards of currency and rewards of self-expression, emerged, reflecting the evolving dynamics in game design and player preferences. Future research will explore the relationship between these reward categories and the fulfilment of basic psychological needs as outlined by Self-Determination Theory, to enhance the motivational impact of gamification.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Games and Learning Alliance
Subtitle of host publication	13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings
Editors	Avo Schönbohm, Francesco Bellotti, Antonio Bucchiarone, Francesca de Rosa, Manuel Ninaus, Alf Wang, Vanissa Wanick, Pierpaolo Dondio
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Pages	133-141
Number of pages	9
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-78268-8
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-78269-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13
Publication status	Published - 2025

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	15348
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

Keywords

Game design
gamification
motivation
reward taxonomy
Self-Determination Theory
video games

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13

Cite this

Botte, B., Marinensi, G., Aarts, H., Bakkes, S., & Veltkamp, R. (2025). Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design. In A. Schönbohm, F. Bellotti, A. Bucchiarone, F. de Rosa, M. Ninaus, A. Wang, V. Wanick, & P. Dondio (Eds.), Games and Learning Alliance: 13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings (1 ed., pp. 133-141). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; Vol. 15348). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13

Botte, Brunella ; Marinensi, Giada ; Aarts, Henk et al. / Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy : Implications for the Gamification Design. Games and Learning Alliance: 13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings. editor / Avo Schönbohm ; Francesco Bellotti ; Antonio Bucchiarone ; Francesca de Rosa ; Manuel Ninaus ; Alf Wang ; Vanissa Wanick ; Pierpaolo Dondio. 1. ed. Cham : Springer, 2025. pp. 133-141 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ).

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abstract = "This study evaluates the relevance of Phillips' reward taxonomy in the context of contemporary video game design, with implications for modern gamification strategies. Phillips' taxonomy categorizes game rewards into six types based on their functions within game systems. Given the rapid evolution of video games, this research investigates whether this taxonomy remains applicable to current gaming landscapes. The study consisted of two main steps: firstly, a detailed analysis of rewards in seven video games from various genres was performed and secondly, a card sorting activity with expert players was conducted. Results shown that while Phillips' taxonomy resulted to be still applicable, the need for two additional categories, rewards of currency and rewards of self-expression, emerged, reflecting the evolving dynamics in game design and player preferences. Future research will explore the relationship between these reward categories and the fulfilment of basic psychological needs as outlined by Self-Determination Theory, to enhance the motivational impact of gamification.",

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Botte, B, Marinensi, G, Aarts, H , Bakkes, S & Veltkamp, R 2025, Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design. in A Schönbohm, F Bellotti, A Bucchiarone, F de Rosa, M Ninaus, A Wang, V Wanick & P Dondio (eds), Games and Learning Alliance: 13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings. 1 edn, Lecture Notes in Computer Science , vol. 15348, Springer, Cham, pp. 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13

Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design. / Botte, Brunella; Marinensi, Giada; Aarts, Henk et al.
Games and Learning Alliance: 13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings. ed. / Avo Schönbohm; Francesco Bellotti; Antonio Bucchiarone; Francesca de Rosa; Manuel Ninaus; Alf Wang; Vanissa Wanick; Pierpaolo Dondio. 1. ed. Cham: Springer, 2025. p. 133-141 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; Vol. 15348).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Aarts, Henk

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PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

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AB - This study evaluates the relevance of Phillips' reward taxonomy in the context of contemporary video game design, with implications for modern gamification strategies. Phillips' taxonomy categorizes game rewards into six types based on their functions within game systems. Given the rapid evolution of video games, this research investigates whether this taxonomy remains applicable to current gaming landscapes. The study consisted of two main steps: firstly, a detailed analysis of rewards in seven video games from various genres was performed and secondly, a card sorting activity with expert players was conducted. Results shown that while Phillips' taxonomy resulted to be still applicable, the need for two additional categories, rewards of currency and rewards of self-expression, emerged, reflecting the evolving dynamics in game design and player preferences. Future research will explore the relationship between these reward categories and the fulfilment of basic psychological needs as outlined by Self-Determination Theory, to enhance the motivational impact of gamification.

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Botte B, Marinensi G, Aarts H , Bakkes S , Veltkamp R. Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design. In Schönbohm A, Bellotti F, Bucchiarone A, de Rosa F, Ninaus M, Wang A, Wanick V, Dondio P, editors, Games and Learning Alliance: 13th International Conference, GALA 2024, Berlin, Germany, November 20–22, 2024, Proceedings. 1 ed. Cham: Springer. 2025. p. 133-141. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ). Epub 2024 Dec 18. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_13

Evaluating Phillips' Game Rewards Taxonomy: Implications for the Gamification Design

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