What is a Game?

So.

What exactly is a game? I define it as a series of rules that influence the achievement of a goal. In simpler terms a bunch of things you have to do that change how you make a thing happen.

Blech. That's still confusing. Perhaps an example will make it a bit more clear.

Consider, if you will, a man who needs to get to work. Right now, all he has is a goal. He can attain it in any way he desires. This is a task rather than a game.

BUT, what if we restrict his methods? He must get to work, but cannot use his car. Does this make it a game? Certainly we have influenced how he must achieve the goal. Our fair worker is forced to consider "how do I get to work now?" Perhaps he chooses to ride a bike or walk. Perhaps he chooses to catch the bus? The decision greatly impacts how our worker achieves the goal of arriving at work. By our definition, this is a game.

But is it a good game? With just that restriction, while we affect the worker's goal achievement, there is nothing marshalling or encouraging his engagement beyond that first decision. At current, while the worker is affected by the rule non-trivially, the rule doesn't encourage further strategy. But what if we add the rule "get there as fast as possible?"

Now the worker has a reason to increase their performance when achieving the goal. They can bike faster if they use their bike. They can optimize their routes if the use the bus. They have reason to run if they decide to go on foot.

In all of these scenarios, the worker can non-trivially affect the nature of their success and are encouraged to do so in creative ways. With this change we have (in my opinion) improved the game.

To get back to the main topic, a game is a series of rules that influence the way its players achieve a goal. A good game is a series of rules that encourage non-trivial engagement with its goal influencing

parameters.

...Well that's all I have to say for now. Maybe I'll say more later.