Wednesday 7 February 2007

gaming journal week 1- what are games?

Games are a distinctive cultural form, and they differ widely from say reading or television. Games tell us about human culture and are a part of human development. Games inform us of human culture and civilization. Theories are useful in relation to games and the concepts allow broad application, these applications allow us as people to understand other things. There are no characteristics that all games have. Copier suggests "In a very basic sense, the magic circle of a game is where the game takes place. To play a game means entering into a circle or perhaps creating one as the game begins. The circle of the game might have a physical component, like the board of a board game or the playing field of an athletic contestant. but many games have no physical boundaries- arm wrestling, for example doesn’t require much in the of special spaces or materials" (2003 p.17). Wittgenstein suggested that games don’t all have the same features but many have overlapping characteristics for example chess is very different to the lottery. Chess involves skill, no luck and is competitive. The lottery on the other hand is involves no skill, luck and is as well competitive. Although similarities are shared by both of the games they cannot be defined in the same way. He continues his argument by comparing games to a rope. He states that a rope is made of twisted fibres but no single thread. As well as this Wittgenstein uses family characteristics to compare games and also their definition. For example family members can share the same features like eyes, nose mouth and even the builds of their body. Similarly this is common within games like chess and the lottery both contain elements of competitiveness. Similarities are present but they are by no means identical. From this I have gathered that the actual concept of games has blurred edges and the meaning or definition is not entirely precise but saying this it is useful. I have decided to compare the brainteaser game spider solitaire to Doom II. Although they are both called games and have the similarity of skill and luck, there are individual traits that the two games include. Spider solitaire contains no competitive edge but it uses the skill of thought as well as luck. Without these factors there is no chance you could win. Within Doom II if playing against another player there is a high level of competitiveness and skill to kill the opposition before the other players or before you are shot yourself. There is eagerness within this game that is not in solitaire as it is a lot more laid back.

Although both games have similarities they are two completely different genre of game, the apparent similarities highlight the differences when playing the games.



Word count 466.

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