Sunday, January 12, 2025

Chapter 1 - What is a Game?

 Game

A game is an activity or form of play that involves rules, objectives, and interaction, often undertaken for entertainment, education, or competition. Here are some definitions by prominent scholars:

  • Roger Caillois: Inspired by Johan Huizinga, Caillois defined a game as "a fictional, unpredictable, and unproductive activity with rules, with time and space limits, and without obligation"[1].
  • Jesper Juul: A game is "a rule-based system with a variable and quantifiable outcome, where different outcomes are assigned different values, the player exerts effort in order to influence the outcome, the player feels emotionally attached to the outcome, and the consequences of the activity are optional and negotiable"[2].

Digital Games

Digital games, also known as video games, are interactive electronic games that use computers or other digital platforms to create engaging experiences for players. Here are some definitions by prominent scholars:

  • Nicolas Esposito: "A videogame is a game which we play thanks to an audiovisual apparatus and which can be based on a story"[1].
  • James Newman: Emphasizes the importance of human-computer interaction in defining video games, highlighting their role in culture and technology[1].

These definitions provide a comprehensive understanding of games and digital games, reflecting their complexity and the various perspectives of scholars in the field. If you have any specific questions or need more details on any aspect, feel free to ask!


References