Administrative

• Schedule presentations• Test # 1: Feb. 20

– Covers: up to what we cover in Thursday September 15th

Defining Digital Games

Dr. Héctor Muñoz-Avila

Assigned readings:Chapter 8 (Rules of Play Book)

Definition of GameReminder: Definition of a game (and

elements).

Notes: •most of the definitions of games studied where made before computers existed•The term “digital game”. Covers:

•PC•PDA•Consoles•Even cell phones

All are formally modeled as Turing machines

• A game is a system• In which players• engaged in an artificial conflict• defined by rules•That results in a quantifiable outcome

Stores + manipulates data

Digital Games as Systems

Reminder: Definition of System:

• Parts affect one another within an environment– elements: Objects, Attributes (properties), Internal relationships, and the Environment– dimensions: formal, experiential, cultural

• Digital games tend to be confused with the medium they are taking place•Our definitions of game and system provide the means to make these distinctions

Analysis of Tetris

general

narrow

Cultural

Experiential

Formal

Environment

A game designer creates experience not technology

Says who?

SCOPE

John Carmack

• Creator of Doom game series• ID Software• Famous for creation of graphics engines that “pushed

the envelope from a computer graphics perspective”

PC Gamer Interview 2006:

•Points that simplicity doesn’t mean lack of design•Previous games created by himself•Points that even in his company now he steps back and listen to designers

If you are left alone in an Island, which game you wish they left with you?

What Can We do? (with digital media)

• Goal: use technology to create meaningful play• What capabilities does digital media have?

–Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity

–Trait 2: Information manipulation

–Trait 3: Automated complex systems

–Trait 4: Networked communication

Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity

• The game responds to player input– Examples other than digital games?

• Why is it narrow?– Examples?

• Can technology overcome this?

–Player tactics in an RTS game –Alternatives to keyboard

Trait 2: Information manipulation• Digital (Turing) machines: store/manipulate information

• Key characteristic: computers can learn while playing– User preferences/capabilities

• Plus: Hiding information– Example?

• Some games have too much information to be played in a board game– Example?

• text• images• audio• logic

Trait 3: Automated complex systems

• Complicated procedures:– Chess, Civ

• But some say that is a problem: War games– People want to see the internal workings of the

system

• Examples of complex, non-digital games?

Trait 4: Networked communication

• Facilitate communication between players

• Evolution– 2-4 players using the same console/computer– 2-4 Players over a local network– 2-4 Players over the internet– 12 players over the internet– 1000+ Players over the same instance of game world

• Direct communication is not restricted to text

Final Word

• These traits are not the only ones• Even non digital games may exhibit some of these traits• But they help our understanding of video game potential• Analysis of Unreal Tournament:

– Trait 1 : immediate but narrow interactivity– Trait 2: Information manipulation– Trait 3: Automated complex systems– Trait 4: Networked communication