The document discusses Jesper Juul's definition of characteristics that define a game, known as "gamesness". It asks the reader to analyze three games - Tetris, Skyrim, and Tomb Raider - based on six criteria: having rules, variable and quantifiable outcomes, positive and negative values assigned to outcomes, requiring effort to achieve the desired outcome, causing an emotional attachment to the outcome, and having negotiable consequences for real life. Tetris and Tomb Raider satisfy all six criteria. Skyrim satisfies five of the criteria but has no real rules governing gameplay.

1. What is a game?
Jesper Juul in The Game, the Player, the World: Looking for a Heart of Gamesness identifies six characteristics that that games have – what he
calls ‘gamesness’: Choose three games and see if they fit into these characteristics. Try and find at least one game that doesn’t fit the criteria.
Tetris Skyrim
Tomb Raider
1. It must have rules
The rule is to make complete rows
with different shaped bricks that fall
constantly into the playing area.
The world is open for the player to
explore and make decisions as they
see fit so there are no real rules.
The player must reach the end of the
level without dying
2. There are variable and
quantifiable outcomes
The bricks may line up perfectly, or
create blockages that will create
problems for the player later on.
The player can make a good decision
or a bad decision
The player can either win and
progress on with the story or lose
and die.
3. There will be positive/negative
values assigned to the outcomes
If the blocks line up and create a
row, they disappear to create room
for more blocks
If they stack up to the top, the player
will lose.
If the player makes a bad decision,
they can either live with it or go
back to their last saved place to
make the right one
If the player makes a good decision,
they are satisfied, but another
choice will come later on.
If the player wins, they continue
with the story and are allowed to
see what happens next.
4. The desired outcome requires
effort
The player must react quickly to
figure out whether a particular piece
will fit perfectly before it falls.
Sometimes the player must
complete challenging tasks in order
to achieve power, fortune or other
perks based on whatever decision
they make.
The player must fight enemies and
solve puzzles in order to progress
within the level which is sometimes
quite challenging

2.
5. Player has an emotional
attachment to the outcome
Player can become frustrated at
losing or satisfied with winning and
want to continue playing
Players can become frustrated when
they die or satisfied when they level
up or achieve the outcome that they
wanted.
The player is frustrated if killed but
satisfied if allowed to progress
6. Negotiable consequences for
real life
N/A
Whatever decision the player makes
in real life will affect everything.
If the player falls from a high ledge
or bitten by a wild animal in real life,
they stay dead permanently