Response to Defining Play, Game, and Gaming

June 11, 2017 by in Hobby Heedings, Playstates Theory tags: ,

Over at DavidMullich.com I shared a couple of comments relating to his definitions on Games.

#1

Hi David!

I appreciate your definition “a playful activity with rules and goals.” but do think it does not go deep enough.

A jigsaw puzzle has rules and a goal, but its not a game (which is why its called a puzzle). A role-playing game also has a rules and goals, but its not a game like chess is.

I’ve come up with a definition to games that satisfies my mind and I would like to share it.

“Games are about the Play of Measurement”. The measurement can be physics (3D shooters), grid (board games), tractable (CRPGs), etc.

I’ve included a link to my theory blog post so would welcome your thoughts.

Best regards,

Chris

#2

I agree with you. A Jigsaw puzzle is not a game, but could be made a game by adding a time limit (complete the puzzle in x amount of time). I believe you would say that this is an example of conflict (race vs the clock) while I would see it as a Puzzle made into a Game by the addition of the Play of Measurement (time being the measurable).

Some of the most popular games (The Sims, Sim City) have almost no conflict but are wonderful to play. Also Conway’s Game of Life is another example of how playful measurement makes it a Game with no conflict.

 

About The Author:

Chris Billows is a knowledge seeker, a libertarian who believes in social responsibility, a health care bureaucrat, and a business dabbler. The Journals of Doc Surge is his personal blog. Doc Surge (a cool synonym for Billows) is inspired by Doc Brass from the Planetary Comic series who in turn was inspired by the 1930s pulp hero Doc Savage.

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