What Is a Game?

Whether you’re blasting through hordes of zombies or arranging your toys in the best possible way, a game is something that can be played. The word “game” itself has a long history, and it’s been used to describe everything from sports competitions to military exercises and even a type of legal dispute. Whether you’re a designer or player, it’s important to understand the origins of the term so that you can use it correctly.

The word “game” can be defined in many different ways, but all definitions share a number of common characteristics. These include:

A Game Has Rules

All games must have rules in order to be played. These rules help to create a consistent and fair environment for all players. They also encourage strategic thinking and creativity in the players. These rules can be adapted in a variety of ways to make the gameplay more enjoyable for the players. These adaptations are often referred to as house rules.

A Game Contains a Conflict with Unequal Outcomes

The game theory of Tracey Fullerton defines games as a closed formal system that involves structured conflict and leads to unequal outcomes for the participants. This definition emphasizes the role of conflict in a game and stresses that this is an inherent part of the nature of games. It also notes that the system is inefficient, requiring more time and effort than it would be without the limitations imposed by the rules of a game.

A Game Requires Skill, Strategy, or Luck

Almost all definitions of games consider the role of skill, strategy, and/or chance in the gameplay. Depending on the nature of a game, some require more skill than others, while some may require more luck. However, it is important to note that the ability to play a game does not necessarily depend on this fact. Some games can be played by people of all levels of ability, and some games are even designed to be as accessible as possible.

A Game Has a Meaningful Fictional Context

The games that are considered to be true games in the field of game studies must have some sort of meaningful context within which they are played. This context is what separates them from other types of entertainment. In the case of videogames, this means that they must have some sort of narrative or storyline that provides the motivation for the player to engage with the game. This is what differentiates a videogame from other forms of entertainment, and it’s this aspect that makes videogames truly unique as a form of entertainment.

A Game is a Fragile Concept