In retrospect, I probably should have talked about entertainment and interactivity first, move on to goals and rules, then end with agents and agency. However, I can't go back now and fix it, so I'm stuck with moving on from that beginning.
So, why do we play games? Why do we spend time on something that does not directly correlate to our survival?
Most people would say that they play games because they are fun, and provide entertainment. Games can definitely provide entertainment. Sometimes, however, things that are definitely games, like baseball or League of Legends are played professionally, not for entertainment. Are they less games when played professionally? I believe that entertainment is a core part of the identity of games, and therefore, when played professionally, and not for entertainment, it is no longer entirely a game.
So, beyond fun, why would someone play a game? In the case of the Saw movies, they are under threat, and I don't really think we can call them games. But what about tag, or other similar games of chase? Hundreds of years ago, those games helped with survival skills, allowing the players to survive in situations that they would not have been able to otherwise. Games of tactics and strategy such as Age of Empires or any of the various Sim games help train resource management and planning. Here, the intent of the creator, and the way they were designed were for entertainment. Additionally, their value as simulations is limited, because they are not realistic. If someone is playing RollerCoaster Tycoon, they are most likely not playing it for the resource management training. There are easier, more effective, more available methods to practice resource management, so while the primary purpose may be for gaining skills, it is being played because it is a more enjoyable experience.
Games are also used for educational or social purposes. Many teachers use games to aid in teaching. While games are not primarily for education, they are chosen because they are fun, and the entertainment value can help keep the attention of the students. Many schools and business use games to help introduce new members of their community. Again, games are chosen because they are more enticing than memorizing names off a list.
Games, when not being used purely for entertainment purposes, are used because they are fun. This constant funness is why I believe that entertainment and fun are an integral part of games. Now while for a given activity, one person might find it fun and another not, the activity can still be a game, but it is reliant on the perspective of the person. This means that while we can say that fun is a part of games, we cannot point at a particular activity and say whether or not it is a game, because it might not be fun for someone else.
Games Mentioned in this Post
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