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Home ›› Archives for Montgomery Singman

Montgomery Singman

Montgomery (Monte) Singman is Managing Partner at Radiance Strategic Solutions, specializing in connecting developers with Chinese publishers and bringing celebrity licenses to Asian markets. With 39 years in gaming, he has generated over $100M in revenue, licensing 50+ major titles, including Monument Valley, Toy Blast, GardenScapes, and Sonic the Hedgehog into China. Monte’s career includes iconic roles as lead programmer on EA’s John Madden Football, technical lead on Capcom’s Street Fighter series, and studio director on Atari’s Test Drive franchise. As a serial entrepreneur, he founded Zona Inc. (acquired by Shanda Games in 2003) and Radiance Digital Entertainment (acquired by iDreamSky in 2013). Fluent in English and Mandarin, he serves as an honorary professor at Shanghai Theatre Academy and founded the IGDA Shanghai Chapter.

Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 2: The Solution

  • Behavioral Design, Game Design, Gamification Series, Player Engagement, Product Design, User Psychology, UX Design

Find out why slapping badges and points into your app doesn’t work and what six principles from real game design actually drive long-term engagement.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 2: The Solution
  • The piece argues that gamification fails when game aesthetics are borrowed, but game logic is not. Real game designers use six principles to bring real engagement: authentic mastery, meaningful choice, flow-calibrated challenge, rewarded exploration, self-expressed identity, and real social interdependence. The fix isn’t more mechanics; it’s making the experience itself worth repeating.
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5 min read

Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 1: The Problem

  • Behavioral Design, Game Design, Gamification Series, Player Engagement, Product Design, Psychology and Human Behavior, User Psychology, UX Design

Discover why the points, badges, and streaks in your favorite apps aren’t really gamification.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 1: The Problem
  • The piece claims that most apps misuse gamification, copying superficial mechanics like points and badges that trick rather than motivate people, and that the experience itself is what truly drives engagement, just like good games do.
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4 min read

Flow State Design: Applying Game Psychology to Productivity Apps

  • Design Psychology, Design Thinking, Game Design, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, User Experience

What if your productivity app could keep you as focused as your favorite game? This article explores how game design psychology can transform everyday tools into experiences that spark flow, focus, and real engagement.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Flow State Design: Applying Game Psychology to Productivity Apps
  • The article shows how principles from game design can help productivity tools create and sustain a flow state.
  • It explains that games succeed by balancing challenge and skill, providing clear goals, and offering immediate feedback — elements most productivity apps lack.
  • The piece argues that applying these psychological insights could make work tools more engaging, adaptive, and motivating.
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12 min read

The Psychology of Hot Streak Game Design: How to Keep Players Coming Back Every Day Without Shame

  • Game Design, Hot Streaks, Player Engagement, Psychology, User Retention

What makes players keep coming back? This piece explores the psychology of hot streaks — how momentum, perception, and smart design can turn short wins into lasting engagement.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Psychology of Hot Streak Game Design: How to Keep Players Coming Back Every Day Without Shame
  • The article shows how hot streaks tap into players’ psychology, turning momentum into motivation.
  • It highlights the hot-hand fallacy, where players overestimate their chances of continued success.
  • The piece argues that ethical streak design should enhance engagement without exploiting addictive behavior.
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26 min read
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