I’ve updated and enhanced my Playstates Definition below. My plan is to continue to develop this theory and eventually establish a website dedicated to demonstrating how the theory works.
Playstates is a theory that explains how different types of play coexist, combine together, and are recursive. The different types of play are each defined by a singular core trait that acts as a both a distinguishing and complementing characteristic. At present there are five different kinds or states of play.
- Toygrounds
- Role-Plays
- Puzzles
- Games
- Sports
Each of the five Playstates can be defined as βThe Play of β¦β which represents the core characteristic. These are as follows:
- Toygrounds β The Play of Exploration.
- Toys β objects that are played with freely and with transient rules
- Playgrounds β spaces that are played with freely and with transient rules
- Role-Plays β The Play of Behavior.
- Conventional β behavior that comes naturally
- Subtle β behavior that contains hidden meaning
- Subversive β behavior that challenges conventions
- Fresh – a mix of characteristics that acts in harmony
- Campy – exaggeration of characteristics for effect
- Mirroring – mimicking behaviors of others
- Puzzles β The Play of Matching.
- Symbols β letters or numbers as basis for matches
- Shapes β objects that represent non-language as basis for matches
- Colors β spectrum of light as basis for matches
- Sounds β range of pitch and duration as basis for matches
- Patterns β repeating using memory
- Maths β using deduction to solve incomplete logic
- Games β The Play of Measurement.
- Time β race against the clock
- Space β movement between locations
- Countingβ measuring tokens, traits, and points
- Achievements – an accumulation of measurables
- Sports β The Play of Competition.
- Pick-up β a single, non-cumulative match
- Series β win the majority of matches in a set
- Tournament β a changeable collection of competitors
- League β an exclusive collection of competitors
- Pan-Sport β competing via non-match outcomes
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