What is a Game?

[RusticMonkey]

Somebody once asked me a simple question. "Why do you play games, what's so fun about them?". You would think that a question easily answered. "Well...I..like being someone I can't be in real-life?", I replied. To which she nodded somewhat hesitantly. My reply wasn't entirely truthful, not out of unsincerity but out of lack of understanding on my part. Because that very simple question made me think about what games even were, if I could ever hope to answer it truthfully.

I can imagine this kind of discussion to have gone on before, concerning interactivity vs. story. That's not what I am secretly hinting at, that horse has been beaten to death. I also think that a game has to be somewhat interactive anyway, for it to be even named as such.

Sooo, what are they, games? And to make this more interesting, why are they fun, or do they even have to be...fun?

 

[cas]

a miserable pile of secrets?

 

[Peace Frog]

Well, I think your answer to her was along the right lines... games seem to be an alternative to RL. The difference between escapism via games and other media is the interactivity. You're more in control. I find immersion important sometimes, in RPGs or FPSs
Games like guitar hero show thats not entirely the case. You could learn to play the guitar in real life, but when you play Guitar Hero, you become just that - a hero. And the possibility for high scores and competition between friends also makes it "a game". Fun comes from games that make you feel like you're awesome enough to accomplish something in them, or even if they just give you a chance to challenge others.

Well, those are my thoughts anyway ^^

Games, it's simple they're computer programs >.>

well, is photoshop a game?

 

[ChocoFace]

Games, it's simple they're computer programs >.>

well, is photoshop a game?

It is if you want it to be.

 

[xxnightlawxx]

a game is a simple form of enjoyment and nothing more and i mean nothing more P

 

[Abedeus]

a game is a simple form of enjoyment and nothing more and i mean nothing more P

Yeah, games crossing into the realm of art > fun are really not computer GAMES...

But photoshop? I find it fun, but it's not really a game. Most of the people use it for professional stuff. I use it for wallpapers.

 

[Peace Frog]

Games, it's simple they're computer programs >.>

well, is photoshop a game?

It is if you want it to be.

Thank you, you answered my answer >.>

If you find it fun, and try to achieve things with it, then arguably it is... But it's pretty clear not all computer programmes are, e.g. task manager.

 

[Legion]

Games, it's simple they're computer programs >.>

Off-topic, I like the new skin of the website >.>

I don't remember 'tag' or 'hide and seek' being programs...

 

[SardonicKyle]

Games are another world, somewhere to escape, to lead a differnt life'
thats what i think they are

 

[Frybird]

It would be the same question as "What is so fun about movies"

There is no general answer, although, like good movies, good games entertain.

But it's various reasons depending on the game really. I'd say there is a difference between Civilisation 2 and Serious Sam and what makes each of them "fun"

 

[Anachronism]

From the dictionary:

Game: noun: a pursuit or activity with rules performed either alone or with others, for the purpose of entertainment.

This clearly applies to video games as well, which is clearly what you're getting at here.

 

[Ultress]

a miserable pile of secrets?

But enough Talk Have at You


OT: Cause they give me something to do and they're fun.

 

[RusticMonkey]

From the dictionary:

Game: noun: a pursuit or activity with rules performed either alone or with others, for the purpose of entertainment.

This clearly applies to video games as well, which is clearly what you're getting at here.

I played (?) Flower once. It was advertised as a game. Though I encountered no Rules that I could speak of. No apparent Goal whatsoever. It was entertaining, that I admit.

 

[DrDeath3191]

A game is an interactive object, real or virtual, with a set goal to achieve.

 

[sadpolice]

They pass the time in this slow world, they give a small dot of entertainment and acheivment in our small lives.

 

[Vrex360]

I... don't...know.......

ARRRRRGGGGHHHH BY GOD I THINK MY BRAIN IS COLLAPSING FROM SHEER DEEP THOUGHT!!

okay seriously you raie a few good points, I've always wondered when people talk about games they'll always either say 'it's cool' or 'it's fun' which makes me wonder if this means they are two seperate things. These days I don't think anyone really KNOWS what they want in a game they just sort of like whatever's popular. The people who stick with particular games though are the people who are true fans.