Games

The word “game” holds many implications. Usually when a person hears the word “game” they have an automatic understanding of the general ideas that are behind the concept. Because games are so widely known and understood, rarely is a person put into the position where he or she is asked to define the concept. The dictionary defines a game as “a form of play or sport, esp. a competitive one played according to rule and decided by skill, strength, or luck.” As we discussed in class there are many different components to the concept of a game such as it must have at least one player, there needs to be rules, there is a general goal of having fun, etc. The definition found in the dictionary fails to mention a lot of these components that are common threads to most games, but instead mentions other components which could be questionable. The dictionary’s definition focuses on the assumption that a game is something which can be played. The specific word of “play” is not a very reliable component to the concept of games because although games are something to be played, there are other things which can be played which are not considered to be games. For example, musicians play instruments all of the time. When a person goes to a piano recital it is not perceived as a game even though there is playing involved. The dictionary’s definition also focuses on the idea of competition but many games played (such as the class example of house) do not have any form of competitive features to it. What is the most important component to games?