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.


                                      Pong                                   Pro Evolution Soccer 2013              Stronghold
1. It must have rules                 The rule is to hit the ball into the   The rules apply to the international   The only rule is to kill all the other
                                      other players goal                     football association board rules.      opponents there is no time limit



2. There are variable and             The longer the rally the quicker the   The player can score a goal to         You either win or lose
quantifiable outcomes                 ball moves and the score               change the outcome of the match or
                                                                             concede to lose or draw



3. There will be positive/negative    Score a point towards winning the      Winning a game will result in 3        Being killed ends the game unless
values assigned to the outcomes       game. Opponent scores point to         points for your team and draw will     you are with allies then the game is
                                      them winning                           result in 1 point shared between the   other until all of one side is dead
                                                                             teams and losing you gain nothing
                                                                             and the opponent gains three points


4. The desired outcome requires       No real effort required moving         Needing to understand the laws of      Starting from scratch you have to
effort                                paddle up and down                     the game and to understand the         acquire all the goods and make sure
                                                                             buttons to pass, move shoot and        people are happy it means sorting
                                                                             many other tricks and skills that      taxes to make sure people are
                                                                             require more than one button           unhappy and to control the army to
                                                                                                                    kill
5. Player has an emotional            Enjoyment of beating an opponent.      Winning the game can lead to           Commanding an army and building
attachment to the outcome                                                    winning trophy’s and also gaining      a stronghold to victory
                                                                             gamer points online
6. Negotiable consequences for   Nothing   Just to enjoy the game and not to get   N/A
real life                                  to serious

What is a_game

  • 1.
    What is agame? 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. Pong Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 Stronghold 1. It must have rules The rule is to hit the ball into the The rules apply to the international The only rule is to kill all the other other players goal football association board rules. opponents there is no time limit 2. There are variable and The longer the rally the quicker the The player can score a goal to You either win or lose quantifiable outcomes ball moves and the score change the outcome of the match or concede to lose or draw 3. There will be positive/negative Score a point towards winning the Winning a game will result in 3 Being killed ends the game unless values assigned to the outcomes game. Opponent scores point to points for your team and draw will you are with allies then the game is them winning result in 1 point shared between the other until all of one side is dead teams and losing you gain nothing and the opponent gains three points 4. The desired outcome requires No real effort required moving Needing to understand the laws of Starting from scratch you have to effort paddle up and down the game and to understand the acquire all the goods and make sure buttons to pass, move shoot and people are happy it means sorting many other tricks and skills that taxes to make sure people are require more than one button unhappy and to control the army to kill 5. Player has an emotional Enjoyment of beating an opponent. Winning the game can lead to Commanding an army and building attachment to the outcome winning trophy’s and also gaining a stronghold to victory gamer points online
  • 2.
    6. Negotiable consequencesfor Nothing Just to enjoy the game and not to get N/A real life to serious