Gamification: The Latest Buzzword and the Next Fad

The term gamification seems to be the latest buzzword in the learning realm. The term describing the use of game mechanics in non-game contexts, has rapidly been hijacked by the industry as a marketing term. In a field where buzzwords seem to define the latest approaches, can we expect gamification to deliver the miracles the industry promises. When we look at the previous learning fads that were Virtual Environments and Web 2.0 we can sincerely doubt it.