Swag Drop: The Arcade Magnets

Google Cloud Community News & Announcements
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Yeah you are right

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Design of program , whoever completed particular skill by learning properly , system should identify so that they need not do again , again and waste time. System design should be in such a way at least most of participants learn new things by participating in challenges. In this season itself labs are repeated so many times. Why should system alllow to complete 84 skill badges in 1 to 4 days. Coming out of new Gmail ID for every new season concept is also important.

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@Yugali @akshitj @google_staff Ah yes… “Small in size but full of meaning.” :magnet:
So meaningful that after pushing 25+ points, we unlock stickers, magnets, and plastic décor — a true milestone for 18+ learners and working professionals.

Earlier Arcade seasons (2024 S1 & S2) genuinely felt like “swags that grow with your skills.”
Now it feels more like “points that grow while swags quietly shrink.”

Let’s talk ground reality :backhand_index_pointing_down:

:chart_decreasing: Tier Value Degradation (Compared to Previous Cohorts)

Earlier:

  • Novice (~20 pts): badges, mug, laptop stand, T-shirt

  • Trooper (~45 pts): bag, foldable lamp, full-sleeve T-shirt, stickers
    These were consumable, daily-use, student-friendly rewards — genuinely appreciated.

Now:

  • Novice (25 pts):

    • Stickers (no practical use)

    • Magnet badges (we’re learners, not kids assembling toys)

    • Bottle (useful — appreciated)

    • T-shirt (new color, same story)

So yes, points increased, but utility decreased.

  • Trooper: same Novice kit + “one more swag to be revealed”
    → That’s not progression, that’s suspense marketing.

  • Ranger (65 pts): no wearable, no bag — nothing that reflects effort

  • Bag: now locked behind Legend tier only, which earlier was available much sooner

This directly contradicts the idea of “swags growing with skills.”

:repeat_button: Learning Repetition Fatigue

Another uncomfortable truth:
Most labs completed during the Facilitator phase (Aug–Oct) are being repackaged and repeated post-October with new names and 1–2 minor additions.

Same labs.
Same games.
Same trivia.
Different season caption.

Repetition doesn’t deepen learning — it only stretches timelines.
At some point, it feels less like structured progression and more like content recycling.

:seedling: Sustainability Irony

We promote “Say No to Plastic” globally (UNEP exists for a reason),
yet reward dedicated learners with:

  • plastic logo kits

  • plastic magnets

  • plastic décor items (400+ pieces in some kits)

We already carry Google Cloud in our skills, resumes, and careers —
not on desks as plastic collectibles.

What actually helps learners:
:hot_beverage: mugs
:potable_water: bottles
:backpack: bags
:light_bulb: lamps
:desktop_computer: practical desk accessories

These support productivity. Plastic puzzles don’t.

:brain: Missed Opportunity

If physical swags are becoming difficult:

  • Offer free certifications instead

    • Ranger: 1

    • Champion: 2

    • Legend: 3
      These would be far more motivating, valuable, and aligned with learning outcomes.

Even reducing swag quantity but increasing utility and sustainability would be a win.

:loudspeaker: Feedback Loop Gap

One constant request across seasons:

  • feedback forms per cohort

  • visible timelines

  • clear game start/end announcements

Yet implementation never seems to arrive.

I know programs like this usually move in one direction only.
Still, this feedback comes from learners who genuinely loved earlier Arcade seasons and want to see it improve — not decline.

So yes… Winter Wins are quiet.
Right now, the disappointment is even quieter. :cloud:

Still hoping the “meaning” becomes as practical as it once was.

Share your reviews here : Arcade feedback: A call for better learner value

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Is more swags will be added in Novice after this…?

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Please add quality swag in novice tier..:pensive_face:

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NOVICE tier feels cheated

RANGER tier feels disappointed

LEGEND tier feels embarassing

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I suggest that we get rid of those useless swags for good and instead award the Arcade participants with Certificate of Recognition. Sorry Google and @yugali, we don’t want to harm our planet Earth anymore. Deeply appreciate that.

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Lets understand truth of Arcade program recognition. We have completed So any Skill badges over period of seasons, Arcade Games, Courses , Lab free certifications, We never get recognition on our name any where , not even in final prize counter email they will mention our name, one common email sent to all with their own points , Let’s take Gen AI 1.0 or 2.0 conducted by Hack2Skill and Google , participants has to complete may be 1 to 2 % of Trooper tier still Google and Hack2Skill award certifications. We have do same skill badges again with different Gmail ID if we want certification. We gave suggested combining Gmail ID’s and creating common Dashboard , so that participants can learn step by step constructively. Most probably participants invest six months of valuable time , but in the end , we do not have one place to show achievements except by showing “Google branded swags” and Arcade participants are “Google cloud” brand ambassadors through Google swags. In my experience I have seen most of promotions by google facilitators only through “Google swags” and not by skills/achievements. Google certification itself is another business entity. So lets not expect certificate of recognition and certification vouchers (reason when Google is not ready to create single dashboard of Arcade achievements of different seasons and not even mentioning our names in Arcade prize counter mails also) . Arcade program is pure Google branding program and its important for students and professionals to spend time on constructive learning than spending time on Arcade program.

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You have down the level of google swags BT this :face_with_steam_from_nose:

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@Yugali plese at this point the swags are really really disappointing at least make an exclusive swag for legend tier or something i mean we have seen earlier swags that were released in 2024 and 23 both seasons which were really good and actually fight like a trophy that can be shown to others or a milestone that can be shown as our own to people as we have accomplished some thing about how are we going to show these things to anyone nobody would actually care I would be interested and knowing how we got it or actually given toys that can be bought anywhere and built really easily at least give us something that is actually useful like that many printer or self steering mug or digital clock or phone stabilizer anything that is actually useful for us I am expecting something on Christmas as well as New year please do not disappointment as this is really frustrating

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People will complain no matter what.

This program is about skill-building, not swags. Instead of nitpicking, appreciate that they’re offering valuable learning resources while also rewarding participants along the way.

Instead of greed, choose appreciation.

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totally disappointed

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please please at least add one backpack in trooper this is very cool and useful item for all students @Yugali

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That could be the case if they gave the same quality of swags as before, but this year they reduced the quality of swags but made us put more effort.

Swags are not the primary motivation, but it is one of the most desired one along with skills.

They made us put more effort for lower quality swags.

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@Yugali Please remove the laptop sleeve from legend tier and replace it with something useful. Since we can store our laptops in our bags itself, we don’t need the laptop sleeve!

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i also wanna join it so coud u please share the code with so that i can join it to pls share it

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So no bagpack for champions??
Very good initiative :clap::clap:

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what a heavy swag ever :joy:

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add backpack add in the ranger or champion

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