Games as a System

SYSTEM - A group of interacting, interrelated, or independent elements forming a complete whole.

Framing systems:

-Formal system - a formal system of rules.

-Experiential system - Either opened or closed.

Chess as a Formal System

Objects - Pieces on a board and board itself.

Attributes -   Characteristics given to objects.

Experiential System

Objects - Players themselves.

Attributes - The pieces each player controls and the current state of the game.

Cultural System

Objects - The game itself in its broadest cultural sense.

Attributes - Designed elements of the game and by whom was the game made and used.

GTAIV as a Formal System

Objects - Digital assets eg: Avatars.

Attributes - Ways of acting/moving allowed by sets of rules.

Experiential system

Objects - The player.

Attributes - The character avatar as the players attributes. The current game state.

Cultural system

Objects - The whole game of GTA IV and its location within wider culture.

Attributes - Designed elements of the game, who made them? Why? How?

Uses of framing games as systems

-Focussing on specific framings can be useful when attempting to conduct critique.

Jesper Juul's Definition Half-Real (2005)

Rules - Rules based system

Variable, quantifiable outcome.

Jesper Juul's + K. Salen, Zimmerman.

Similarities.

Rule based system.

-Player effort, Player participation.

-Quantifiable outcome.

Differences.

No mention of conflict.

Conclusions

-There is a long history of attempts to define 'play' and 'games' and separates

them.

-Definitions are constantly being renegotiated but provide framework.