Week 1

Games become an important part in the world, and they are very popular nowadays. There are many kinds of definition of ‘game’. For example, it needs to have rules, kinds of goals, competitions; or it should include many exciting and interesting challenges. However, all of these features do not stay in one game perfectly. Similarly, it is difficult to contain all of them in only one game. A better description one is concluded by Salen K. and Zimmerman E. (2004, p80). They defined a game as ‘a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome’.

Pitcher G. (1968, p188-189, cited from Wittgenstein) spoke the family resemblances with the elaborate account of the similarities and differences between various games. He said “we see a complicated network of similarities of similarities overlapping and crisscrossing: sometimes overall similarities, sometimes similarities of detail.” It means different games contain different characteristics, and they work out the family resemblances. Otherwise, there is not any precise boundaries of them.

Games: DOOM II, Civilization II and Samorost 2

Doom II is a shooting game. There are some health, guns and space limited. The mission is to shoot the monsters and find the way for next level. Try to be survival in the end is the main goal.

Civilization II is a constructing game. Players have limited material at the beginning, and the goal is to build a strong country with exploration, colonization, scientific research and diplomacy to the 21st century.

Samorost 2 is a puzzle game. The main goal is to save the dog. Players need to click everywhere in the screen by the mouse to find out the ways to continue.

Three of them have goals and players need to use the mouse, but the rules, goals and play methods are all different.

References:
1. Salen, Katie and Zimmerman, Eric (2004, p71-83). Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals, Cambridge, Ma: MIT
2. George Pitcher (1968, p186-230). Wittgenstein: the Philosophical investigations, London: Macmillan