Comments on: Thoughts (pt 1) on Rules of Play – defining games http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/ Academia and Technology and Environment and Games and Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:42:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Linnaeus http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-136 Linnaeus Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:40:14 +0000 http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-136 <blockquote>Then there’s the whole realm of social stature and putting one’s ego on the table.</blockquote> Tell me about it. People who think they are proving how intelligent they are by winning a game (and, as a result, get huffy when they lose), are one of the major downsides of organized game play in conventions and tournaments.

Then there’s the whole realm of social stature and putting one’s ego on the table.

Tell me about it. People who think they are proving how intelligent they are by winning a game (and, as a result, get huffy when they lose), are one of the major downsides of organized game play in conventions and tournaments.

]]> By: ficial http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-135 ficial Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:10:18 +0000 http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-135 I agree that 'game' is a pretty fuzzy term, which is a large part of why I lean towards a functional, user-centric definition. It's awfully easy to get bogged down in trying to strictly, objectively define 'game' and forget that to the players it doesn't really matter. Great other examples of games with real-life consequence. Then there's the whole realm of social stature and putting one's ego on the table. I agree that ‘game’ is a pretty fuzzy term, which is a large part of why I lean towards a functional, user-centric definition. It’s awfully easy to get bogged down in trying to strictly, objectively define ‘game’ and forget that to the players it doesn’t really matter.

Great other examples of games with real-life consequence. Then there’s the whole realm of social stature and putting one’s ego on the table.

]]> By: Linnaeus http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-132 Linnaeus Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:00:19 +0000 http://ficial.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/thoughts-pt-1-on-rules-of-play-defining-games/#comment-132 The definition of game is rather notoriously difficult to nail down.I'm inclined to say that this may be because games lie at the intersection of several continua, rather than being a category that is relatively distant from other pastimes. As a result, the lines get blurry, and you end up with edge cases like role-playing games (there's actually something of a variety of approaches to competition, running form full collaboration to explicit win conditions). Regarding your observation of poker leaking over into real life, I think the same factors are equally true of any game that can be played professionally (like Chess or Go) or even semi-professionally (like some collectible card games, most notably Magic: the Gathering). Any of these can be played with the intent of, at the very least, upgrading your financial situation, which is a real effect on your non-gaming life. The definition of game is rather notoriously difficult to nail down.I’m inclined to say that this may be because games lie at the intersection of several continua, rather than being a category that is relatively distant from other pastimes. As a result, the lines get blurry, and you end up with edge cases like role-playing games (there’s actually something of a variety of approaches to competition, running form full collaboration to explicit win conditions).

Regarding your observation of poker leaking over into real life, I think the same factors are equally true of any game that can be played professionally (like Chess or Go) or even semi-professionally (like some collectible card games, most notably Magic: the Gathering). Any of these can be played with the intent of, at the very least, upgrading your financial situation, which is a real effect on your non-gaming life.

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