Defining Digital Games Presentation by Dustin Dannenhauer Dr. Héctor Muñoz-Avila Assigned readings: Chapter 8 (Rules of Play Book)

Definition of Game Reminder: Definition of a game (and elements). Notes: most of the definitions of games studied where made before computers existed The term “digital game”. Covers: PC Tablets Consoles cell phones All are formally modeled as Turing machines (video) Turing machines A game is a system In which players engaged in an artificial conflict defined by rules That results in a quantifiable outcome Automated Data Storing+ manipulation

Digital Games as Systems Reminder: Definition of System: Parts affect one another within an environment (next slide provides an example) – elements: Objects, Attributes (properties), Internal relationships, and the Environment – dimensions: formal, experiential, cultural Digital games tend to be confused with the medium they are taking place (e.g., “play Nintendo”) Our definitions of game and system provide the means to make these distinctions (see next slide)

Analysis of Tetris general narrow Cultural (third video) Experiential (second video) Formal (first video) Aspects A game designer creates experience not technology Says who? SCOPE Cultural identity Fan sites Impact on culture Emotions Players Medium where it is played Buttons to press Graphical Interface

Side-track: John Carmack II Creator of Doom game series ID Software Famous for creation of graphics engines that “pushed the envelope (video; 2006 game!) from a computer graphics perspective” envelope PC Gamer Interview 2006: Points that simplicity doesn’t mean lack of design Previous games created by himself Points that even in his company now he steps back and listen to designers If you are left alone in an Island, which game you wish they left with you? (anyone?) His answer: a compiler!

Back to lecture’s topic: What Can We do with digital media? Goal: use technology to create meaningful play What capabilities does digital media have? –Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity –Trait 2: Information manipulation –Trait 3: Automated complex systems –Trait 4: Networked communication

Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity The game responds to player input Other Examples? Why is it narrow? Despite this gameplay can be engaging: –Tactics in an RTS gameTactics in an RTS game –Alternatives to keyboardAlternatives to keyboard

Trait 2: Information manipulation Digital (Turing) machines: store/manipulate data DataSimple objects: soldier, mage InformationRelations: - soldier belongs to blue team - soldier is a unit Meta-relations: A region belongs to blue team if All units in the region belong to blue team Abstract Concrete Knowledge

Trait 2 of Digital games: Information manipulation Information TypeNon-Gaming ExampleGaming Example Meta-relations Relations Data Google Database Knowledge-based system Any digital game: score, locations,… Chess: piece threats Age of Empires uses a Rule based system

Trait 2: Information manipulation Digital (Turing) machines: store/manipulate data  knowledge Key characteristic: computers can learn while playing –User preferences/capabilities (We saw machine learning examples in previous lecture) Plus: Hiding information –Example (video)?Example –Although non digital games can also hide information. Example? text images audio logic

Trait 3: Automated complex systems Complex system: –Example of a game that would be difficult to play manuallyExample But some game theoreticians say this is a problem itself: People want to see the internal workings of the system

Trait 4: Networked communication Facilitate communication between players Evolution –2-4 players using the same console/computer –2-4 Players over a local network –2-4 Players over the internet –12 players over the internet –1000+ Players over the same instance of game world (video)1000+ Players over the same instance of game world Direct communication is not restricted to text (video)Direct communication is not restricted to text

Open Discussion Can non-digital games can exhibit traits such as “Information manipulation”? Yes; For example if another person plays as the dungeon master as in this videovideo What are the advantage of digital over non-digital games? What are the advantage of non-digital over digital games? See video for a cluevideo

Final Word These traits are not the only ones Even non digital games may exhibit some of these traits But they help our understanding of video game potential Analysis of Unreal Tournament:Unreal Tournament –Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity –Trait 2: Information manipulation –Trait 3: Automated complex systems –Trait 4: Networked communication