[game_edu] Definition of a Game
Darius Kazemi
darius.kazemi at gmail.com
Mon Dec 7 16:34:37 EST 2009
Ah okay, I've heard people try to use language games to define games in
general. That's a much more reasonable PI reference then :)
On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 4:30 PM, Roberts, Scott <sroberts at cim.depaul.edu>wrote:
> In P.I., he demonstrated that an all-encompassing definition of “game” is
> impossible. It wasn’t a language-game, but an example of the limitations of
> language. If you want to seriously define “game,” it’s going to come up.
>
>
>
> Scott
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* game_edu-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_edu-bounces at igda.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Darius Kazemi
> *Sent:* Monday, December 07, 2009 2:57 PM
>
> *To:* IGDA Game Education Listserv
> *Subject:* Re: [game_edu] Definition of a Game
>
>
>
> I have yet to see a reasonable defense of what Wittgensteinian
> language-games have to do with video games, except that they both use the
> word "game." It seems like a false equivocation, like thinking game theory
> in the mathematical sense has anything to do with game design in any sense
> larger than "sometimes you can design a game based around a situation that
> can be described by game theory."
>
>
>
> -Darius
>
> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 3:51 PM, Roberts, Scott <sroberts at cim.depaul.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Or see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_Investigations
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* game_edu-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_edu-bounces at igda.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Susan Gold
> *Sent:* Monday, December 07, 2009 2:50 PM
> *To:* IGDA Game Education Listserv
> *Subject:* Re: [game_edu] Definition of a Game
>
>
>
> In the IGDA Curriculum Framework (v3.2):
>
>
>
> 2.1 What are Games
>
> This document thinks of games in the broadest possible sense and any one
> definition would be
>
> limiting, giving preference to one discipline or perspective. Common to
> most definitions is the
>
> notion that games are systems that involve a player who makes choices that
> change the state of
>
> the system, leading to an outcome.
>
>
>
> For the sake of having a working definition that is “good enough,” we offer
> the following definition:
>
> A game is an activity with rules. It is a form of play often but not always
> involving conflict, either
>
> with other players, with the game system itself, or with
> randomness/fate/luck.
>
>
>
> Most games have goals, but not all (e.g. The Sims, SimCity). Most games
> have defined start
>
> and end points, but not all (e.g. World of Warcraft, Dungeons & Dragons).
> Most games involve
>
> decision-making on the part of the players, but not all (e.g. Candyland,
> Chutes & Ladders).
>
> A videogame is a game (as defined above) that uses a digital video screen
> of some kind, in
>
> some way.
>
>
>
> The definition above is not meant to exclude any type of game, but is
> included as a “working
>
> definition.” Readers should refer to the reference materials for additional
> definitions and
>
> perspectives on what constitutes a game.
>
>
>
> Studying games involves understanding the many factors that impact the
> workings of this complex
>
> system. The three overlapping areas in studying games are:
>
>
>
> Game Design – concerned primarily with interaction and interface design
>
> Game design is the process of crafting a system of play in which players’
> actions have
>
> meaning in the context of the game environment [Salen and Zimmerman, Rules
> of Play,
>
> 2004]. Game design encompasses the set of principles, concepts, and
> practices that lead
>
> to the development of high-quality product. Implicit in the process of game
> design is the
>
> consideration of design trade-offs to allow the implementation of a game in
> some human
>
> playable interactive environment.
>
> IGDA Curriculum Framework, v3.2beta, Released February 2008
>
> Game Development – concerned primarily with the production of games,
> especially
>
> technologies used in creating a game
>
> Game development is a process that involves the interdisciplinary
> cooperation of technical
>
> disciplines like software engineering and creative disciplines like art and
> music to
>
> implement a game design in a playable real-world format [Rabin,
> Introduction to Game
>
> Development, 2005]. Game development often involves implementing and
> incrementally
>
> testing potential game elements without knowing in advance which will
> succeed and which
>
> will fail. Game development also requires knowledge of project management
> to ensure that
>
> a game is completed with the available resources and within acceptable time
> constraints.
>
>
>
> Game Studies – concerned primarily with examining games as cultural
> artifacts, as pieces
>
> of media and exploring theories of play
>
> Game studies deals with the conceptual basis and vocabulary used to study
> and analyze
>
> games. Related to game audiences, game history and videogame history,
>
> technology/platform history, game criticism, games for educational and
> instructional
>
> purposes.
>
>
>
> The definitions given above are intended as guidelines for reading this
> document; they are not
>
> meant to be final, definitive, or universally accepted. For each area,
> multiple definitions can be
>
> found in literature, and there are of course many different ways of
> dividing and studying games.
>
> While each of the core topics described in the next section can be attached
> to multiple areas, it is
>
> conceptually helpful to think of a core topic belonging mostly to one
> area.
>
>
>
> On Dec 7, 2009, at 12:24 PM, Nic Colley wrote:
>
>
>
> I am curious to see what everyone's definition of a game. Also is there a
> one that the igda has?
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>
>
> --
> *Susan Gold*
>
> In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom!
> - J. G. Ballard
>
>
>
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>
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