Today, I leaned into ChatGPT to assist with my app. How wonderful AI truly is; while not the best for reporting 100% factual information, it certainly delivers in the realm of creativity and delivering new insight. I used ChatGPT to help me determine what the current weaknesses are with strength training apps. One of the many points it listed included "gamification", or the methodology of making something into a game of sorts.
I think we can all agree that strength training apps are somewhat of a godsend. They provide personalized and effective workout routines for all levels of fitness enthusiasts. While prompting ChatGPT today, I delved into the different aspects of creating a successful strength training app to keep users motivated and engaged.
One crucial feature is gamification, which involves incorporating gaming elements such as leveling up, rewards, and achievements into the app. By doing so, users are encouraged to continue working out, as they see progress and earn recognition for their efforts.
To make the app more interesting and engaging, we explored how to add gamification. My mind immediately led me to the idea of having a "main villain" for the user to defeat. I asked ChatGPT to create a sample storyline that would fit well with the strength training narrative.
It presented me with the villain "Goliath" who rules a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I do like a good post-apocalypse story -- however, the name "Goliath" seemed bland to me. I want something more .... unique. Naturally, I turned to my anime influences -- who doesn't love some Demon Slayer?
Thus, I delved into the idea of incorporating Japanese folklore into the app's storyline, with the user being the protagonist and defeating villains in an MMORPG-style game. This adds an exciting and immersive aspect to the app, making it more than just a workout tool.
Examples of Japanese villains that ChatGPT spun-out include:
Oni Hunter: "Oni" is a type of ogre or demon in Japanese folklore, and the app could position the user as a "hunter" of these creatures.
Yokai Slayer: "Yokai" is a term that refers to supernatural monsters or spirits in Japanese folklore, and the app could position the user as a "slayer" of these entities.
Tengu Tamer: "Tengu" is a type of mythical creature in Japanese folklore that is often depicted as a bird-man with long nose. The app could position the user as a "tamer" of these creatures.
Kappa Kombat: "Kappa" is a type of water sprite or imp in Japanese folklore, and the app could position the user as a warrior fighting against these mischievous creatures.
Dragon Hunter: While dragons are found in folklore all around the world, they are an important part of Japanese mythology as well. The app could position the user as a "hunter" of these powerful and mythical creatures.
I'm immediately ruling out Dragon Hunter, since dragons have been done to death at this point. A sad state of affairs, but that is the world we live in. As for the others, I'm going to think about which once to select. So far, Yokai Slayer stands out as a good option. I love the supernatural, and Yokai is still a term I am unfamiliar with. It may just be unique enough to introduce something new while fitting the objective of being a compelling villain.
In conclusion, building a successful strength training app requires a combination of effective workout progressions, gamification, modern trends, and engaging storylines. By catering to users' needs and interests, I'm hoping to provide an immersive and enjoyable experience that promotes fitness and healthy living.