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Game

A game is a structured or semi-structured, contrived , usually undertaken for enjoyment Happiness

Happiness is an emotion [i]al or affective state that feels good or pleasing. ... 

, though sports or training simulation may be done for other purpose. A goal that the players try to reach and a set of concerning what the players can or cannot do create the , structure and interactivity in a game, and are thus central to its definition. Known to have been played as far back as prehistoric Prehistory

Prehistory is a term often used to describe the period before written history [i] became available. ... 

 times, games are generally distinct from work, which is usually carried out for , and from art, which is more concerned with the expression of ideas.

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A game is a structured or semi-structured, contrived , usually undertaken for enjoyment Happiness

Happiness is an emotion [i]al or affective state that feels good or pleasing. ... 

, though sports or training simulation may be done for other purpose. A goal that the players try to reach and a set of concerning what the players can or cannot do create the , structure and interactivity in a game, and are thus central to its definition.

Known to have been played as far back as prehistoric Prehistory

Prehistory is a term often used to describe the period before written history [i] became available. ... 

 times, games are generally distinct from work, which is usually carried out for , and from art, which is more concerned with the expression of ideas.

Games generally involve mental and/or physical stimulation. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise Physical exercise

Physical exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain physical fitness [i]... 

, or perform an education Education

Education is the process by which an individual is encouraged and enabled to develop fully his or her in... 

al, simulation Simulation

A simulation is an imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or process.... 

al or psychological Psychology

Psychology is an academic [i] and applied [i] field involving the study [i] of the human... 

 role.

Definitions

Ludwig Wittgenstein Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austria [i]n philosopher [i] who contributed several ground-br ... 

 was probably the first to give serious thought to the definition of the word. In his Philosophical Investigations Philosophical Investigations

Philosophical Investigations is, along with the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [i], one of the ... 

, Wittgenstein demonstrated that elements of games, such as play Play

A play is a form [i] of literature [i], usually consisting chiefly of dialog between characters, and usu... 

, rule and competition Competition

Competition is the act of striving against another force for the purpose of achieving dominance or attai... 

 all fail to adequately define what game is. He subsequently argued that the concept "game" could not be contained by any single definition, but that games must be looked at as a series of definitions that share a "family resemblance" to one another.

Computer Computer and video games

A computer game is a computer [i]-controlled game. ... 

 game designer Game designer

A game designer is a person who designs games [i]. ... 

 Chris Crawford attempted to defines the term game using a series of dichotomies:
  1. Creative expression is art Art

    By its original and broadest definition, art is the product or process of the effective application... 

    if made for its own beauty, and entertainment Entertainment

    Entertainment is an event, performance, or activity designed to give pleasure to an audience .... 

    if made for money Money

    Economics [i] offers various definitions for money, though it is now commonly considered to be any good ... 

    .
  2. A piece of entertainment is a plaything if it is interactive. Movies Film

    Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general.... 

     and book Book

    A book is a collection of sheets of paper [i], parchment [i] or other material with a piece of text writ ... 

    s are cited as examples of non-interactive entertainment.
  3. If no goals are associated with a plaything, it is a toy Toy

    A toy is something used in play [i] by child [i]ren, adult [i]s or pets [i]. ... 

    . If it has goals, a plaything is a challenge.
  4. If a challenge has no “active agent against whom you compete,” it is a puzzle Puzzle

    A puzzle is a problem [i] or enigma [i] that challenges ingenuity [i]. ... 

    ; if there is one, it is a conflict.
  5. Finally, if the player can only outperform the opponent, but not attack them to interfere with their performance, the conflict is a competition. However, if attacks are allowed, then the conflict qualifies as a game.


Crawford also notes these other definitions:
  • “A form of play with goals and structure.”
  • “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.”
  • “An activity with some rules engaged in for an outcome.”

Play

The game can be characterised by its element of interactivity. Gameplay includes all player experiences during the playing of game. Proper use is coupled with reference to "what the player does". The term, gameplay, arose along the development of computer game designers in the 1980s, and were used primarily within the context of video or computer games, though now its popularity has begun to see use in the description of other, more traditional, game forms. Major elements identified in this context are tools and rules which define overall context of game, which in turn produce skill, strategy and chance element of gameplay.

Tool of games

Games are often classified by the components required to play them . In the west, where use of leather was well established, the ball is a popular game tool, resulting in the current global popularity of ball game . Evolution of user interfaces from simple keyboard to mouse, joystick or joypad has been crucial to the development of computer games. Moreover, in computer games, virtual tools can be created within a computer generated simulation.

It is important to note that playing yoyo or playing tennis against a wall is not generally recognised as playing a game. However, this is not the case in a single player computer game where the computer is also the adversary. Difficulty arises in the case of solitaire Solitaire

Solitaire or Patience is any of a family of single-player card game [i]s of a generally similar ch ... 

 or some puzzles which is often recognised as games. Tetris for example is a classic puzzle game. Some argue that a puzzle becomes a game when, like other computer games, it simulates adversity and/or challenge by utilising a random element . Therefore, math questions or crosswords are puzzles but not games because there is no variability in the solution. Similarly, if someone discovers a fixed way to beat a computer game, the game is no longer interesting.

Rules

Ludwig Wittgenstein Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austria [i]n philosopher [i] who contributed several ground-br ... 

 went as far as arguing that language was itself a game consisting of tokens governed by rough-and-ready rules that arise by convention and are not strict.

Environment

Game such as hide and seek Hide and seek

Hide and seek is a popular tag [i] variant that is best played in areas with lots of potential hid ... 

 or tag does not utilise any obvious tool. Rather it interactivity is defined by the environment. Game with the same tool and rule can have different gameplay if the environment is altered. For example, hide and seek in school building and outside field, tennis and table tennis, soccer and indoor soccer, racing with different tracks. Go game with different size of board.

Skill, strategy, and chance

Major elements identified in this context are skill, strategy, or chance. Game of skill includes games of physical skill, such as wrestling, tag of war, hopscotch Hopscotch

Hopscotch originated in Britain [i] during the early Roman Empire [i]. ... 

 and target shooting Shooting sports

The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency using various types... 

, and games of mental skill such as checkers Draughts

Draughts or checkers is a group of abstract strategy [i] board game [i]s between two players w ... 

 and chess Chess

Chess is an abstract strategy [i] board game [i] and mental sport [i] for two pl ... 

. However, certain competitive sports such as marathon, 100m track or gymnastic are often not recognised as games because idea of testing pure physical attribute does not contain interactivity. Games of strategy include checkers, go, arimaa, and tic-tac-toe Tic-tac-toe

Tic-tac-toe, also called noughts and crosses, hugs and kisses, and many other names, is a pen-and-paper game [i] ... 

. They, as in games of chance, often require special equipment to be played. Game of chance include various form of gambling games and snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders

Snakes and Ladders is a classic children's board game [i] played between 2 or more player [i]s on a play ... 

 as well as rock-scissor-paper. However, flipping a coin is not consider to be a game because pure chance determines the outcome. In most cases, games contain various degrees of all above elements. For example, football American football

American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

 and baseball Baseball

Baseball is a team sport [i] popular in North America [i], parts of Latin America [i], the Caribbean [i] ... 

 involve both skill and strategy while poker Poker

Poker is a card game [i], the most popular of a class of games called vying games, in which players ... 

 involves strategy and chance.

Anthropology of Game

Game is intimately conected to culture. For example, tag is associated with hunting. Historical popuraity of ballgame in Europe is associated with their familiarity with leather. Many martial culture practiced wrestling. Golf originated by a shepard in Scotish highland. Moreover, the game always have some social aspect. For example, the game can be analysed in term of intended occasion of play

Field Game



Sports is arguably the most popular form of game, which is highly structured activities of group entertainment. Defining characteristic of sport is that it is a competition against opponent which involve various physical or mental skill. It is important to note that sport does not have to be athletic sport. Chess, for example, is a sport.

Sports often require special equipment and playing fields or prepared grounds dedicated to their practice, a fact that often makes necessary the involvement of a community beyond the players themselves. Popularity sports are often to the such extent that it could have spectators who are entertained by just watching it. Communities often align themselves with players of sports, who in a sense represent that community; they often align themselves against their opponents or have traditional rivalries. The concept of fandom began with sports fans. Games amuse the players, and sports amuse a broader public. When games like chess and go or even video games Electronic sports

Electronic sports, abbreviated e-sports or eSports, is used as a general term used to descri... 

 are played professionally, they take on many of the characteristics of a sport.

Stanley Fish cited the balls and strikes of baseball as a clear example of social construction. While the strike zone Strike zone

In baseball [i], the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular [i] area over home plate [i] which defines ... 

 target is governed by the rules of the game, it epitomizes the category of things that exist only because people have agreed to treat them as real. No pitch is a ball Strike zone

In baseball [i], the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular [i] area over home plate [i] which defines ... 

 or a strike Strike zone

In baseball [i], the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular [i] area over home plate [i] which defines ... 

 until it has been labeled as such by an appropriate authority, the plate umpire, whose judgment on this matter cannot be challenged within the current game.

Board, Card and Table Game


Computer Game

A computer game is a computer Computer

A computer is a machine [i] for manipulating data [i] according to a list of instructions [i] ... 

-controlled game. There always must also be some sort of input device, usually in the form of button/joystick Button

A button is small disc- or knob-shaped object attached to cloth [i] or an article of clothing [i] in ord ... 

 combinations , a keyboard Computer keyboard

A computer keyboard is a peripheral [i] modeled after the typewriter keyboard [i]. ... 

 & mouse Mouse (computing)

In the context of computing [i], a mouse consists of a hand-held pointing device [i], designed to sit u ... 

/trackball Trackball

A trackball is a pointing device [i] consisting of a ball [i] housed in a socket containing sensors to d ... 

 combination , or a controller Game controller

A game controller is an input device used to control a video game [i].... 

 , or a combination of any of the above. Also, more esoteric devices have been used for input .

What set computer games apart from all other games is a fact that every game can be simulated as a computer game. Because computer games are simulation, every conceviable tool, environment or rules can be created. In more open-ended computer games the player may be free to do whatever they like within the confines of the virtual universe.

Single-player games

Single-player games are unique in respect to the type of challenges a player faces. Unlike a game with multiple players competing with or against each other to reach the game's goal at the appropriate time, a one-player game is a battle solely against an artificially-created and controlled opponent, against oneself's own skills, or against chance.

Most puzzles, and some card games Solitaire

Solitaire or Patience is any of a family of single-player card game [i]s of a generally similar ch ... 

, are designed for one player. As well, most computer and video games have single-player modes or are designed for only one player to play per game.

Single-player games are sometimes called solitaire games, but this term may be misinterpreted as referring specifically to Peg solitaire Peg solitaire

Peg Solitaire is a board game [i] for one player involving movement of pegs on a board with holes. ... 

, Spider solitaire Spider

Spiders are predator [i]y invertebrate [i] animal [i]s with two body segments [i], eight legs, no ... 

 or Klondike.

Trivia

  • Domestic animals have been observed playing simpler games such as tag, tug-of-war Tug of war

    Tug of war, tug o' war, or tug war, also known as rope pulling, is a sport [i] that di ... 

    , and fetch. It is debated if whether this is due to instinct Instinct

    Instinct is the inherent disposition of a living [i] organism [i] toward a particular behavior [i]. ... 

     or conscious choice.

Types of games

  • Alternate reality games
  • Ball games
  • Board game Board game

    A board game is a game [i] played with counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved acr ... 

    s
  • Business games
  • Car games
  • Card games
    • Collectible card games
  • Casino games
  • Children's games
  • Clapping games
  • Computer and video game Computer and video games

    A computer game is a computer [i]-controlled game. ... 

    s
    • Computer board games
    • Computer puzzle game Computer puzzle game

      Computer puzzle game is a genre of computer game [i]s that emphasize puzzle [i] solving. ... 

      s
    • Online game Online game

      Online games refer to video games [i] that are played over some form of computer network [i] ... 

      s
      • Online skill-based games
      • MUD MUD

        In computer gaming [i], a MUD is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games [i] ... 

        s
      • MMORPG MMORPG

        A Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game is an online [i] computer role-playing game [i] ... 

        s
  • Conversation games
  • Counting-out games
  • Creative games
  • Dice games
  • Drinking game Drinking game

    Drinking games are game [i]s which involve drinking beer [i] or other alcoholic beverage [i]s. ... 

    s
  • Educational games
  • Economics games
  • Game show Game show

    A game show involves members of the public or celebrities [i], sometimes as part of a team, pl ... 

    s
  • Games of chance
  • Games of dare
  • Games of logic
  • Games of mental skill
  • Games of physical skill
  • Games of strategy
  • Games of status Simulation game

    A simulation game, or sim game, is a game [i] that contains a mixture of skill [i], chance [i] ... 

  • Global Positioning System-based games
  • Group-dynamic games
  • Guessing games
  • Letter games
  • Locative games
  • Mathematical games
  • Open gaming
  • Party game Party game

    Party games are game [i]s which share several features suitable to entertaining a social gathering of mo... 

    s
  • Parlor games
  • Pencil and paper games
  • Penis games
  • Play-by-mail games
  • Playground games
  • Political games
  • PowerPoint game PowerPoint animation

    PowerPoint animation is a form of animation [i] which involves in using Microsoft PowerPoint [i] and sim ... 

    s
  • Pub game Pub games

    Pub games are games which are or were played in pubs [i], bars [i], inn [i]s, and tavern [i]s, particula ... 

    s
  • Puzzle Puzzle

    A puzzle is a problem [i] or enigma [i] that challenges ingenuity [i]. ... 

    s
  • Quizzes
  • Ritual games
  • Role-playing games
  • Singing games
  • Spoken games
  • Street games
  • String game String figure

    A string figure is a pattern formed by weaving string [i] around one's finger [i]s and manipulating the ... 

    s
  • Table-top games
  • Tile-based game Tile-based game

    A tile-based game is a game [i] that uses tile [i]s as one of the fundamental elements of play. ... 

    s
  • Theatre games
  • Traditional games
  • Travel games
  • Wargames
  • Win-win games
  • Word games

See also

  • List of game manufacturers
  • List of game topics
  • Ludology
  • Game club
  • Game semantics
  • Game theory Game theory

    Game theory is a branch of applied mathematics [i] and economics [i] that studies situations where playe ... 

  • Play Play

    A play is a form [i] of literature [i], usually consisting chiefly of dialog between characters, and usu... 

  • Puzzle Puzzle

    A puzzle is a problem [i] or enigma [i] that challenges ingenuity [i]. ... 

  • Toy Toy

    A toy is something used in play [i] by child [i]ren, adult [i]s or pets [i]. ... 

  • Sport
  • Vacation School Lipnice Games Vacation School Lipnice Games

    What is a "Vacation school Lipnice game"

... 


Notes and references

  • Avedon, Elliot; Sutton-Smith, Brian, The Study of Games. , reprinted Krieger, 1979. ISBN 0-89874-045-2


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