Play is a pretty complicated word, the sort of word that causes those of us who struggle with automatic indexing no end of trouble. Dictionary.com lists 94 definitions.
The first, a dramatic composition or piece, is not really the sort of ‘play’ that I’m talking about - although it does make you wonder what an information architecture-themed drama would be like. If comics, why not plays?
I’m more interested in “exercise or activity for amusement or recreation”. Pretty broad, huh?
Game is a bit more specific - only 10 definitions - with the most useful definition being “a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators”.
The rules distinguish ‘games’ from just any old ‘play’. Games are also considered more goal orientated. I started getting interested in this area by considering how games could help in our work environment. This goal orientation means you can make a clear case for how the games will help you professionally. What is much more complicated is justifying plain-old undirected play…
Alessandro Piana | 01-May-07 at 6:41 am | Permalink
If only I could find the notes I took when I attended my Master on Game Design… Well, forget that.
I remember attending a lesson, of the above Master, where the meaning of play VS game was discussed. Also, since the Master was in Italian, focus was on the etymology of the word and on differences among different languages. For example the Italian word for to play is giocare, the main difference with english is giocare does not apply to playing a musical instrument, or acting, while instead its intended to be used on the play as taking part in a game only.
Also, I don’t agree with the two or more persons part of the definition (think of solitaire card game, or video games) neither I agree with the competitive part (how many games are collaboration based and non winning but building oriented nowadays?) or the chance attribute assigned (too boraden and allowing the casino games to be part of the ehm, play).
In the end there’s no plain-old undirected play as such, playing should always be considered as an active experience, involving one or more senses, allowing interaction with a determined system (of physical rules, acting rules, scoring rules, spacial ruels, time rules, etc.).
There’s a lot more to say, and way more well argumented than what I tried to do here.
If only I could find those notes…