Creating Not a Game

1
Creating Not a Game
2
Understanding Play

• Johann Huizinga Homo Ludens
• Man as Player
• Man is naturally involved in play
• Games are play
• Art can be play
• Civilized warfare can be play

3
What is Play

• Defined by rules
• Specific length of time
• Has boundaries
• Beyond every day life
• In-game actions are outside of moral guidelines
• Creates external effects pride, top scorer,
  contest winner

4
Differences of Play

• Multiple forms of play
• Grand Master Bridge player involves high level
  study and hours of game play
• World of Warcraft requires learning complex
  movement and understanding of computer
• The Ground Is Fire - childs game, immediately
  fun

5
Video Games

• Brought wide scale profit to games
• Large industries are now involved in developing
  games
• Ability to play has not only pervaded our entire
  lives, but is a major factor in thinking about
  new devices.

6
Alternate Reality

• Deliberately breaks many of the rules of play
• Boundaries are loose if existent
• Attempts to confuse player that it is in fact a
  game at all

7
Collective Intelligence

• I Love Bees
• Various members of the ARG community receive a
  jar of Honey which has a strange problem with it.
• http//ilovebees.com/
• Problems were impossible without cooperation
• Involved players driving hours to answer
  payphones
• Lead players invited to special Halo 2 game
  events.

8
ARG Community

• ARG Network
• Elements of ARGs
• Everyday tech - websites, phone calls, fax
  machines
• Puzzles helps propel searching through clues