Why we want to turn cycling tracking into a game
The cycling app we are developing, Paxira, is a game where your power comes from tracking your rides. In our previous posts, we discussed what the app will offer, and the story behind building the app. However, why did we want to turn cycling tracking into a game?
Because games are fun.
Duh.
But really, there are other reasons.
It will help you ride more often
Whether you are a casual cruiser, a commuter or a professional cyclist, there are days you just do not feel like riding. You are well-aware that you probably should go for a ride, but you just want to skip it. You would debate with yourself about whether to go for a ride, and time passed you still cannot make a decision.
You are not alone! We also have experienced frustrating moments like this. Battling against our own laziness requires strength and will, and we build Paxira to help. We use rewards, teamwork and challenges to motivate you to build the habit of cycling and encourage you to ride more often.
Why would these features work? Psychologists pointed out that setting specific, achievable and measurable goals can motivate individuals to reach their goals. Receiving rewards for achieving the goals further reinforces the behavior of cycling, and makes cycling even more intrinsically and extrinsically satisfying. Being in a committed team is like having workout buddies who motivate and inspire each other to become stronger together.
It will help you connect with other cyclists
We interviewed many cyclists as we are building the app. We asked them what do they like the most about existing cycling tracking apps in the market. Most of them told us what they enjoy the most is the social aspect of it. They get to ride and compete with friends and occasionally have the “bragging rights”.
Paxira is designed to elevate the social experience even more. For those who have played multiplayer games would agree that one thing that makes the game fun is, well, the multiplayer aspect of it. As a gamer myself, I have built friendships through games, both with people I know in real life and with strangers I met online. Retrospectively, I realize that the reason why we were able to forge the friendship was because we were working towards a common goal — league wars, boss fights, raids, collecting rare drops or completing challenges. And through these collective activities, we got to know each other better.
This kind of comradeship and friendship is exactly what riders will build through Paxira. Research found that working towards a common goal is one of the most effective ways to foster empathy among individuals. Through team structures, we want to connect cyclists at all levels around the world and build a supportive and close-knit community.
We are a team of cycling enthusiasts with backgrounds and expertise in psychology and game design. By turning cycling tracking into a game, we strive to make every cyclist’s rides even more fun and rewarding.
Paxira is currently in Alpha stage (i.e., early stage of development). Want to test out the app and track your rides with it? Please download the app here. Paxira is on Android only for now, but stay tuned for the iOS version.
As always, feel free to comment and recommend. We’d be thrilled to have you!
