Down a short path on the right, you are drawn by some carvings on a small grove of Cedar Trees where quite a few people have gathered in small groups. Each group seems to be in the throws of a vigorous discussion as hands gesture very animatedly. "What, exactly, is a game?" you hear one person query as the discussion turns to a new person in one of the groups. You decide to go join in...
Cedar Trees:
Traits of a Game
McGonigal beings her book by discussing the different terms related to "player" and "game" and their different meanings. For example:
- "Gaming the systems" is generally interpreted as doing something to cheat the system for your benefit.
- "Get in the game" is understood that someone must do whatever it takes to get ahead.
- "Player" is often used to describe someone who manipulates others for their benefit. Generally, someone who is a "player" is not trustworthy person.
It is intriguing to see how language and context can change the meaning of words or phrases. McGonigal goes on to explain that the way these terms are used in metaphors do not accurately reflect the gaming world. She goes on to state that this manipulation of the words/phrases mirrors the fears people have about games: loosing track of the line between game and reality. McGonigal moves forward to outline four defining traits of a game:
- Goal
- The outcome that players will/hope to achieve. Goals gives players a sense of purpose and focuses their attention what they need to do to win.
- Rules
- These are limitations as to how players achieve their goal. In some cases, rules push the players to discover new ways of reaching their desired outcome.
- Feedback System
- This informs players on how far they have come/how far they need to go to reach their goal. This system takes many forms such as:
- points
- levels
- scores
- progress bar
- Voluntary Participation
- Everyone that is playing the game knowingly and willing accepts the rules and works toward the goal: whether that is an individual or a corporate goal; and the feedback system.
The traits McGonigal has outlined are different from the traits most outline which include: interactivity, graphics, narrative, rewards, competition, virtual environments, and the idea of "winning." These are all common features of a game but they are not what define the game; they are merely supporting characteristics that evolve from the four main traits.
McGonigal goes on to define playing a game as the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles. She further states that game play challenges us with voluntary obstacles that enhance our personal strengths. Finally, she spends the last pages of the chapter arguing that games promote positive emotions and to outline different types of work. McGonigal believes that games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose to complete.
Types of Work:
- High-stakes Work
- Busywork
- Mental Work
- Physical Work
- Discovery Work
- Teamwork
- Creative Work
Each of these areas of work provoke us in different ways. We respond differently to each type of work and our enjoyment varies based on how we handle and interact with these types of work. Additionally, each of these types of work can be found in a video game. Games manipulate these works to their benefit and the enjoyment of their users. They make these types of work thrilling and necessary to reach the users goal. They user does not think about the fact that what they are doing is high-stakes or busy work, but they know that what they are doing is necessary to reach their goal.
McGonigal concludes by stating that a good game is a unique way of structuring experience and provoking positive emotion. She further explains by noting good games possess an extremely powerful tool for inspiring participation and motivating hard work.
Review:
Yet again McGonigal has opened my eyes to the building blocks of the gaming world. It is astounding to read about the foundation of gaming and game strategies and compare them to the foundation and strategies that I am expected to teach as an educator. I truly believe that the game based learning model would be a blessing in the classroom.
Excellent!
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