theory of fun

  • A Model of Play

    Hours Categories Game talk
    Comments 4 Comments

    A Model of Play is a fascinating poster (available as a PDF or as images) that takes what seems like a very game-grammar point of view on the concept of play — even freeform play.

    In play, one of the primary goals is to have fun — to continue engaging in the conversation that creates fun. Individuals choose the means for achieving that goal; they choose the topic of conversation, for example, which game to play. Within a topic, they choose different strategies and pursue a series of sub-goals, adjusting means according to their effectiveness. Goals and sub-goals and associated means form a tree (or web) of possibilities for action.

    Among the grammar principles that are mentioned is the notion that play always requires two, even if the second person is a “virtual person.” The notion that interactivity is inherently a conversation can be traced back to at least Chris Crawford, of course.

    Also cool is the “step by step” logic version found here, which builds the poster argument by argument.

  • New Theory: People Need to Play More

    Hours Categories Game talk
    Comments 11 Comments

    Did you know there is an American Journal of Play? Me neither. Anyway, apparently there’s a new theory published there that boils down to “play more!” And specifically, engage in free-form social play, non-competitive stuff, because (the theory says) it’s how hunter-gatherer societies tended to play.

    Gray figures hunter-gatherer children in early human history developed into cooperative adults with the help of a type of play similar to that which once characterized American children’s summers and after-school hours in contemporary culture. This play is freely chosen, age-mixed, and, because it is not adult-organized, non-competitive, he explained. This “free play” is distinct from leisure pursuits such as video games, watching TV, or structured extracurricular activities and sports.

    Of course, plenty of video games do in fact provide this style of play, though it can be drowned out by the constant emphasis on numerical achievements.

  • Neuroscience of gambling

    Hours Categories Game talk
    Comments 8 Comments

    I mentioned in Theory of Fun that humans kinda suck as odds estimation and that this is one reason why games of chance persist. But maybe there’s more!

    It turns out that the reward system that lights up when we get a near-miss in a game of skill (which makes sense) gives us the same reward when we have a near-miss in a game of chance (but only if we get to make a choice in the game, such as picking our lotto numbers, even though this has no influence over the outcome of the game).

    via Neuroscience of gambling – Boing Boing.

    It’s a radio segment from Quirks & Quarks available here.

  • ATOF Tetris variant comes true

    Hours Categories Game talk, Writing
    Comments 26 Comments

    logo_jogo1Those of you who have read Theory of Fun for Game Design may recall this passage:

    Let’s picture a game wherein there is a gas chamber shaped like a well. You the player are dropping innocent Jews down into the gas chamber, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are old ones and young ones, fat ones and tall ones. As they fall to the bottom, they grab onto each other and try to form human pyramids to get to the top of the well. Should they manage to get out, the game is over and you lose. But if you pack them in tightly enough, the ones on the bottom succumb to the gas and die.

    I do not want to play this game. Do you? Yet it is Tetris. You could have well-proven, stellar game design mechanics applied towards a quite repugnant premise.

    We don’t need to wonder anymore. A comment in the last thread by the felicitously named Raphael Aleixo (my brother’s name is Alex!) tells us that the Brazilian game design club Loodo has made it, with a slight tweak to the theme: I give you Calabouço Tétrico. Read on for my thoughts!

    Read More “ATOF Tetris variant comes true”

  • Theory of Fun shipping & available

    Hours Categories Game talk, Writing
    Comments 6 Comments

    Several folks have emailed me to let me know they got shipping notices from Amazon for the huge backlog of orders of Theory of Fun for Game Design, and now I got one too!

    What’s more, it shows as available (sales rank 6225, and #2 in the game programming category!), so if you have been waiting, go grab it now…!

    It could use fresh reviews too, so once you get it, please do post reviews. 🙂