IAT 210 Chapter 2: IAT 210 Chapter 2
16 Jun 2018
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IAT 210 - Textbook - Chapter 2
Introducing Meaningful Play
● According to Huizinga, play & games are at center of what makes us human
● Huizinga’s vision of play - offers perfect point of departure for development of concept of
meaningful play
○ Emphasizes fact that all play means something
○ Play is significant function
○ There is some sense to play
○ In play there is something “at play”
○ “At play” quality of play transcends immediate needs of life
○ Same “at play” characteristic of play imparts meaning to action
○ All play means something
Meaning & Play
● Pong
○ Meaning of interaction b/w player & game mediated by play, from play of pixels
representing ball to play of mechanical knobs controlling digital paddles, to
competitive social force of play b/w opponents
● Learning to create game experiences for players is one of goals of successful game
design
○ Goal - design of meaningful play
● Variety of forms meaningful play can take
○ Intellectual dueling of 2 players in well-met game of Chess
○ Improvisational, team-based balletics of basketball
○ Dynamic shifting of individual & communal identities in EverQuest
○ Lifestyle-invading game Assassin played on college campus
● Play doesn’t just come from game itself but from way that players interact w/ game in
order to play it
● When player makes choice w/i game, action that results from choice has outcome
● Playing game means making choices & taking actions
Two Kinds of Meaningful Play
● Defined in 2 separated but related ways
○ Way game actions result in game outcomes to create meaning
■ Emerges from r/s b/w player action & system outcome - process by which
player takes action w/i designed system of game & system responds to
action
○ Goal of successful game design
■ Evaluative, helps us critically evaluate r/s b/w actions & outcomes, and
decide whether they are meaningful enough w/i designed system of game
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
According to huizinga, play & games are at center of what makes us human. Huizinga"s vision of play - offers perfect point of departure for development of concept of meaningful play. Emphasizes fact that all play means something. Same at play characteristic of play imparts meaning to action. At play quality of play transcends immediate needs of life. Meaning of interaction b/w player & game mediated by play, from play of pixels representing ball to play of mechanical knobs controlling digital paddles, to competitive social force of play b/w opponents. Learning to create game experiences for players is one of goals of successful game design. Variety of forms meaningful play can take. Intellectual dueling of 2 players in well-met game of chess. Dynamic shifting of individual & communal identities in everquest. Lifestyle-invading game assassin played on college campus. Play doesn"t just come from game itself but from way that players interact w/ game in order to play it.
