I thought Salen and Zimmerman's (2003) definition helped bring me clarity about what a game entails. I also thought Kramer's (2000) point about games being unpredictable due to chance was true.
Using these thoughts and premises, I would define a game as: any activity that consists of rules to be followed by the player or players in reaching an unpredictable outcome through the resolution of imaginary conflict.
I like to think a game is something that is taken on by choice for pure enjoyment; however, as a teacher and parent there are times when game play is required.
PLAY:
This idea of choice carries over into part of the definition of play. Gray's (2008) article discusses this idea of enjoyment by stating that play should be stress-free because this is when the brain is primed for "creativity and the learning of new skills." Another important part of his ideas on play is that they focus on the means and not the end goal of the play. How someone gets there and what they learn along the way is what is essential.
To me a definition of play could be: a stress-free activity that leads the player through a process that produces an increase in knowledge, skills, or creativity. Games can be part of play or controlling the play (Salen & Zimmerman, 2003).
Using these thoughts and premises, I would define a game as: any activity that consists of rules to be followed by the player or players in reaching an unpredictable outcome through the resolution of imaginary conflict.
I like to think a game is something that is taken on by choice for pure enjoyment; however, as a teacher and parent there are times when game play is required.
PLAY:
This idea of choice carries over into part of the definition of play. Gray's (2008) article discusses this idea of enjoyment by stating that play should be stress-free because this is when the brain is primed for "creativity and the learning of new skills." Another important part of his ideas on play is that they focus on the means and not the end goal of the play. How someone gets there and what they learn along the way is what is essential.
To me a definition of play could be: a stress-free activity that leads the player through a process that produces an increase in knowledge, skills, or creativity. Games can be part of play or controlling the play (Salen & Zimmerman, 2003).
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