What Computer Games are, and might not be (the game ontology) Miguel Sicart Computer Game Theory Spring 2005 Miguel Sicart Computer Game Theory Spring 2005

So, what is a game? or the question you will learn to hate Computer games are something that has been around for a while (50 years, more or less) Games propel IT technology, from chips to graphic cards They are big money And polemic entertainment Computer games are something that has been around for a while (50 years, more or less) Games propel IT technology, from chips to graphic cards They are big money And polemic entertainment

that’s easy!!

A Game is “an activity engaged in for diversion or amusement” Play is “the conduct, course, or action of a game” A player is “a person who plays a game” Merriam-Webster Online A Game is “an activity engaged in for diversion or amusement” Play is “the conduct, course, or action of a game” A player is “a person who plays a game” Merriam-Webster Online

Class Dismissed

... or not So Sex is a Game, right? And Sex is Play And the players... well, you know what I mean. So Sex is a Game, right? And Sex is Play And the players... well, you know what I mean.

furthermore what about frustrating games: they are not games. And professional players might not be playing a game. And what about edutainment, or serious games? what about frustrating games: they are not games. And professional players might not be playing a game. And what about edutainment, or serious games?

We need to define this categories... because they are theoretically unclear, thus our research object is unclear, thus our research might be compromised. If we are game critics, we need to know what we are criticizing If we want to make games, we need to know what we are making because they are theoretically unclear, thus our research object is unclear, thus our research might be compromised. If we are game critics, we need to know what we are criticizing If we want to make games, we need to know what we are making

what do we, academics, think games are? The new Hollywood - best and improved cinema-alike entertainment A new narrative tool A medium Storytelling devices Virtual economies Social environments Games are games The new Hollywood - best and improved cinema-alike entertainment A new narrative tool A medium Storytelling devices Virtual economies Social environments Games are games

Games as (interactive) Films Not a bad idea, but what about Tetris, Katamari Damacy, WarioWare Inc., Project Gotham Important: visual aspects of games; visual storytelling Not a bad idea, but what about Tetris, Katamari Damacy, WarioWare Inc., Project Gotham Important: visual aspects of games; visual storytelling

Games as media From Adventure to World of Warcraft ; from Sim City to San Andreas, are games really a medium? Important: family trees, genetic resemblances, what games can do From Adventure to World of Warcraft ; from Sim City to San Andreas, are games really a medium? Important: family trees, genetic resemblances, what games can do

Do Games tell stories? So what is the story told by Super Monkey Ball? Important: games seem to tell stories; importance of backstories; narratology So what is the story told by Super Monkey Ball? Important: games seem to tell stories; importance of backstories; narratology

Virtual Economies in Virtual Communities? After the fuzz with MMOGs, what is wrong with single player games (which actually sell more: GTA, The Sims ) Important: social games; economy of games After the fuzz with MMOGs, what is wrong with single player games (which actually sell more: GTA, The Sims ) Important: social games; economy of games

... and so on

Some definitions of Games I particularly like or the charm of the one-liners A game is a series of interesting choices - Sid Meier A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome - Salen & Zimmermann Games as conflicts in which the players directly interact in such a way as to foil each other’s goals - Chris Crawford A game is a form of art in which participants, termed players, make decisions in order to manage resources through game tokens in the pursuit of a goal - Greg Costikyan Games played in virtual environments - Espen Aarseth A game is a series of interesting choices - Sid Meier A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome - Salen & Zimmermann Games as conflicts in which the players directly interact in such a way as to foil each other’s goals - Chris Crawford A game is a form of art in which participants, termed players, make decisions in order to manage resources through game tokens in the pursuit of a goal - Greg Costikyan Games played in virtual environments - Espen Aarseth

Different approaches to understanding games Playing - or how the users interact with the system The Rules - or we all fight the law (and the law wins) The representation/simulation/fabrication of virtual environments - the world, the worlds Playing - or how the users interact with the system The Rules - or we all fight the law (and the law wins) The representation/simulation/fabrication of virtual environments - the world, the worlds

From playing (leg) to playing (spille) Is it the same activity we engage in when we use... Doom 3 Half Life 2 The Sims 2 GTA: San Andreas What are the differences? Structured and ruled based activity that tends to perfectionism and control Free, open, social and undefined leisure activity that tends to socialization Is it the same activity we engage in when we use... Doom 3 Half Life 2 The Sims 2 GTA: San Andreas What are the differences? Structured and ruled based activity that tends to perfectionism and control Free, open, social and undefined leisure activity that tends to socialization

Before the Rules Actually, behind the rules there is a hidden topic... are games storytelling “devices” (top-down, secuential, static systems)... or simulations (bottom- up, emergent systems)? or both and none at the same time: Deus Ex Actually, behind the rules there is a hidden topic... are games storytelling “devices” (top-down, secuential, static systems)... or simulations (bottom- up, emergent systems)? or both and none at the same time: Deus Ex

The World, The Worlds The world of Half Life 2 is essentially different to that of Neverwinter Nights : how? From labyrinths (several routes, few correct, tendent to abstraction) to charts (words that form a continuum of almost infinite combinations, and realistic) The world of Half Life 2 is essentially different to that of Neverwinter Nights : how? From labyrinths (several routes, few correct, tendent to abstraction) to charts (words that form a continuum of almost infinite combinations, and realistic)

So what are games, anyway?

Maybe we cannot say what games are, but we can define the tools to describe them, or to make typologies Maybe we cannot say what games are, but we can define the tools to describe them, or to make typologies

Exercise: in groups, define what a game is. Next week: discussion in plenum

but before that... time to play!

remember Office 2D27 phone number... still forgotten (available soon) Office 2D27 phone number... still forgotten (available soon)