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Game
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Agameisastructuredformofplay,usuallyundertakenforenjoymentand
sometimesusedasaneducationaltool.[1]Gamesaredistinctfromwork,
whichisusuallycarriedoutforremuneration,andfromart,whichismore
oftenanexpressionofaestheticorideologicalelements.However,the
distinctionisnotclearcut,andmanygamesarealsoconsideredtobework
(suchasprofessionalplayersofspectatorsportsorgames)orart(suchas
jigsawpuzzlesorgamesinvolvinganartisticlayoutsuchasMahjong,
solitaire,orsomevideogames).

Keycomponentsofgamesaregoals,rules,challenge,andinteraction.
Tugofwarisaneasilyorganized,
Gamesgenerallyinvolvementalorphysicalstimulation,andoftenboth.
impromptugamethatrequireslittle
Manygameshelpdeveloppracticalskills,serveasaformofexercise,or
equipment
otherwiseperformaneducational,simulational,orpsychologicalrole.

Attestedasearlyas2600BC,[2][3]gamesareauniversalpartofhuman
experienceandpresentinallcultures.TheRoyalGameofUr,Senet,and
Mancalaaresomeoftheoldestknowngames.[4]

Contents
1 Definitions
1.1 LudwigWittgenstein
1.2 RogerCaillois
TheCardPlayers,an1895painting
1.3 ChrisCrawford
byPaulCzannedepictingacard
1.4 Otherdefinitions
game.
2 Gameplayelementsandclassification
2.1 Tools
2.2 Rules
2.3 Skill,strategy,andchance
2.4 Singleplayergames
3 Types
3.1 Sports
3.1.1 Lawngames
3.2 Tabletopgames
3.2.1 Dexterityandcoordinationgames
3.2.2 Boardgames
3.2.3 Cardgames
3.2.4 Dicegames
3.2.5 Dominoandtilegames
3.2.6 Pencilandpapergames
3.2.7 Guessinggames
3.3 Videogames
3.3.1 Onlinegames
3.4 Roleplayinggames
3.5 Businessgames

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3.6 Simulation
4 Seealso
5 References
6 Furtherreading

Definitions
LudwigWittgenstein Lookupgamein
Wiktionary,thefree
LudwigWittgensteinwasprobablythefirstacademicphilosopherto dictionary.
addressthedefinitionofthewordgame.InhisPhilosophical
Investigations,[5]Wittgensteinarguedthattheelementsofgames,suchasplay,rules,andcompetition,allfailto
adequatelydefinewhatgamesare.Fromthis,Wittgensteinconcludedthatpeopleapplythetermgametoarange
ofdisparatehumanactivitiesthatbeartooneanotheronlywhatonemightcallfamilyresemblances.Asthe
followinggamedefinitionsshow,thisconclusionwasnotafinaloneandtodaymanyphilosophers,likeThomas
Hurka,thinkthatWittgensteinwaswrongandthatBernardSuits'definitionisagoodanswertotheproblem.[6]

RogerCaillois

FrenchsociologistRogerCaillois,inhisbookLesjeuxetleshommes
(GamesandMen),[7]definedagameasanactivitythatmusthavethe
followingcharacteristics:

fun:theactivityischosenforitslightheartedcharacter
separate:itiscircumscribedintimeandplace
uncertain:theoutcomeoftheactivityisunforeseeable
nonproductive:participationdoesnotaccomplishanythinguseful Children'sGames,1560,Pieter
governedbyrules:theactivityhasrulesthataredifferentfrom BruegeltheElder
everydaylife
fictitious:itisaccompaniedbytheawarenessofadifferentreality

ChrisCrawford

ComputergamedesignerChrisCrawford,founderofTheJournalofComputerGameDesign,hasattemptedto
definethetermgame[8]usingaseriesofdichotomies:

1.Creativeexpressionisartifmadeforitsownbeauty,andentertainmentifmadeformoney.
2.Apieceofentertainmentisaplaythingifitisinteractive.Moviesandbooksarecitedasexamplesofnon
interactiveentertainment.
3.Ifnogoalsareassociatedwithaplaything,itisatoy.(Crawfordnotesthatbyhisdefinition,(a)atoycan
becomeagameelementiftheplayermakesuprules,and(b)TheSimsandSimCityaretoys,notgames.)If
ithasgoals,aplaythingisachallenge.
4.Ifachallengehasno"activeagentagainstwhomyoucompete,"itisapuzzleifthereisone,itisaconflict.
(Crawfordadmitsthatthisisasubjectivetest.Videogameswithnoticeablyalgorithmicartificial
intelligencecanbeplayedaspuzzlestheseincludethepatternsusedtoevadeghostsinPacMan.)
5.Finally,iftheplayercanonlyoutperformtheopponent,butnotattackthemtointerferewiththeir
performance,theconflictisacompetition.(Competitionsincluderacingandfigureskating.)However,if
attacksareallowed,thentheconflictqualifiesasagame.

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Crawford'sdefinitionmaythusberenderedas:aninteractive,goalorientedactivitymadeformoney,withactive
agentstoplayagainst,inwhichplayers(includingactiveagents)caninterferewitheachother.

Otherdefinitions
"Agameisasysteminwhichplayersengageinanartificialconflict,definedbyrules,thatresultsina
quantifiableoutcome."(KatieSalenandEricZimmerman)[9]
"Agameisaformofartinwhichparticipants,termedplayers,makedecisionsinordertomanageresources
throughgametokensinthepursuitofagoal."(GregCostikyan)[10]Accordingtothisdefinition,some
"games"thatdonotinvolvechoices,suchasChutesandLadders,CandyLand,andWararenottechnically
gamesanymorethanaslotmachineis.
"Agameisanactivityamongtwoormoreindependentdecisionmakersseekingtoachievetheirobjectives
insomelimitingcontext."(ClarkC.Abt)[11]
"Atitsmostelementarylevelthenwecandefinegameasanexerciseofvoluntarycontrolsystemsinwhich
thereisanoppositionbetweenforces,confinedbyaprocedureandrulesinordertoproduceadisequilibrial
outcome."(ElliotAvedonandBrianSuttonSmith)[12]
"Agameisaformofplaywithgoalsandstructure."(KevinJ.Maroney)[13]
"toplayagameistoengageinactivitydirectedtowardbringingaboutaspecicstateofaffairs,usingonly
meanspermittedbyspecicrules,wherethemeanspermittedbytherulesaremorelimitedinscopethan
theywouldbeintheabsenceoftherules,andwherethesolereasonforacceptingsuchlimitationistomake
possiblesuchactivity."(BernardSuits)[14]
"Whenyoustripawaythegenredifferencesandthetechnologicalcomplexities,allgamessharefour
definingtraits:agoal,rules,afeedbacksystem,andvoluntaryparticipation."(JaneMcGonigal)[15]

Gameplayelementsandclassification
Gamescanbecharacterizedby"whattheplayerdoes."[8]Thisisoftenreferredtoasgameplay.Majorkey
elementsidentifiedinthiscontextaretoolsandrulesthatdefinetheoverallcontextofgame.

Tools

Gamesareoftenclassifiedbythecomponentsrequiredtoplaythem(e.g.miniatures,aball,cards,aboardand
pieces,oracomputer).Inplaceswheretheuseofleatheriswellestablished,theballhasbeenapopulargame
piecethroughoutrecordedhistory,resultinginaworldwidepopularityofballgamessuchasrugby,basketball,
football,cricket,tennis,andvolleyball.Othertoolsaremoreidiosyncratictoacertainregion.Manycountriesin
Europe,forinstance,haveuniquestandarddecksofplayingcards.Othergamessuchaschessmaybetraced
primarilythroughthedevelopmentandevolutionofitsgamepieces.

Manygametoolsaretokens,meanttorepresentotherthings.Atokenmaybeapawnonaboard,playmoney,or
anintangibleitemsuchasapointscored.

Gamessuchashideandseekortagdonotutiliseanyobvioustoolrather,theirinteractivityisdefinedbythe
environment.Gameswiththesameorsimilarrulesmayhavedifferentgameplayiftheenvironmentisaltered.For
example,hideandseekinaschoolbuildingdiffersfromthesamegameinaparkanautoracecanberadically
differentdependingonthetrackorstreetcourse,evenwiththesamecars.

Rules

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Whereasgamesareoftencharacterizedbytheirtools,theyareoften
definedbytheirrules.Whilerulesaresubjecttovariationsandchanges,
enoughchangeintherulesusuallyresultsina"new"game.Forinstance,
baseballcanbeplayedwith"real"baseballsorwithwiffleballs.However,
iftheplayersdecidetoplaywithonlythreebases,theyarearguably
playingadifferentgame.Thereareexceptionstothisinthatsomegames
deliberatelyinvolvethechangingoftheirownrules,buteventhenthereare
oftenimmutablemetarules.

Rulesgenerallydeterminethetimekeepingsystem,therightsand
responsibilitiesoftheplayers,andeachplayersgoals.Playerrightsmay
includewhentheymayspendresourcesormovetokens.Commonwin
conditionsarebeingfirsttoamassacertainquotaofpointsortokens(asin
SettlersofCatan),havingthegreatestnumberoftokensattheendofthe
game(asinMonopoly),orsomerelationshipofonesgametokenstothose
ofonesopponent(asinchess'scheckmate). Aselectionofpiecesfromdifferent
games.Fromtop:Chesspawns,
Skill,strategy,andchance marbles,Monopolytokens,
dominoes,Monopolyhotels,jacks
Agamestoolsandruleswillresultinitsrequiringskill,strategy,luck,ora anddraughtspieces.
combinationthereof,andareclassifiedaccordingly.

Gamesofskillincludegamesofphysicalskill,suchaswrestling,tugofwar,hopscotch,targetshooting,andstake,
andgamesofmentalskillsuchascheckersandchess.Gamesofstrategyincludecheckers,chess,go,arimaa,and
tictactoe,andoftenrequirespecialequipmenttoplaythem.Gamesofchanceincludegamblinggames
(blackjack,mahjongg,roulette,etc.),aswellassnakesandladdersandrock,paper,scissorsmostrequire
equipmentsuchascardsordice.However,mostgamescontaintwoorallthreeoftheseelements.Forexample,
Americanfootballandbaseballinvolvebothphysicalskillandstrategywhiletiddlywinks,poker,andMonopoly
combinestrategyandchance.Manycardandboardgamescombineallthreemosttricktakinggamesinvolve
mentalskill,strategy,andanelementofchance,asdomanystrategicboardgamessuchasRisk,SettlersofCatan,
andCarcassonne.

Singleplayergames

Mostgamesrequiremultipleplayers.However,singleplayergamesareuniqueinrespecttothetypeofchallenges
aplayerfaces.Unlikeagamewithmultipleplayerscompetingwithoragainsteachothertoreachthegame'sgoal,
aoneplayergameisabattlesolelyagainstanelementoftheenvironment(anartificialopponent),againstone's
ownskills,againsttime,oragainstchance.Playingwithayoyoorplayingtennisagainstawallisnotgenerally
recognizedasplayingagameduetothelackofanyformidableopposition.

Ifthecomputerismerelyrecordkeeping,thenthegamemaybevalidlysingleplayer.

Manygamesdescribedas"singleplayer"maybetermedactuallypuzzlesorrecreations.

Types
Gamescantakeavarietyofforms,fromcompetitivesportstoboardgamesandvideogames.

Sports

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Manysportsrequirespecialequipmentanddedicatedplayingfields,
leadingtotheinvolvementofacommunitymuchlargerthanthegroupof
players.Acityortownmaysetasidesuchresourcesfortheorganizationof
sportsleagues.

Popularsportsmayhavespectatorswhoareentertainedjustbywatching
games.Acommunitywilloftenalignitselfwithalocalsportsteamthat
supposedlyrepresentsit(eveniftheteamormostofitsplayersonly
recentlymovedin)theyoftenalignthemselvesagainsttheiropponentsor
havetraditionalrivalries.Theconceptoffandombeganwithsportsfans.
Associationfootballisapopularsport
StanleyFishcitedtheballsandstrikesofbaseballasaclearexampleof worldwide.
socialconstruction,theoperationofrulesonthegame'stools.Whilethe
strikezonetargetisgovernedbytherulesofthegame,itepitomizesthe
categoryofthingsthatexistonlybecausepeoplehaveagreedtotreatthemasreal.Nopitchisaballorastrike
untilithasbeenlabeledassuchbyanappropriateauthority,theplateumpire,whosejudgmentonthismatter
cannotbechallengedwithinthecurrentgame.

Certaincompetitivesports,suchasracingandgymnastics,arenotgamesbydefinitionssuchasCrawford's(see
above)despitetheinclusionofmanyintheOlympicGamesbecausecompetitorsdonotinteractwiththeir
opponentstheysimplychallengeeachotherinindirectways.

Lawngames

Lawngamesareoutdoorgamesthatcanbeplayedonalawnanareaofmowedgrass(oralternately,ongraded
soil)generallysmallerthana"field"orpitch.Variationsofmanygamesthataretraditionallyplayedonapitchare
marketedas"lawngames"forhomeuseinafrontorbackyard.Commonlawngamesincludehorseshoes,sholf,
croquet,bocce,lawnbowls,andstake.

Tabletopgames

Atabletopgamegenerallyreferstoanygamewheretheelementsofplayareconfinedtoasmallareaandthat
requirelittlephysicalexertion,usuallysimplyplacing,pickingupandmovinggamepieces.Mostofthesegames
are,thus,playedatatablearoundwhichtheplayersareseatedandonwhichthegame'selementsarelocated.A
varietyofmajorgametypesgenerallyfallundertheheadingoftabletopgames.Itisworthnotingthatmanygames
fallingintothiscategory,particularlypartygames,aremorefreeformintheirplayandcaninvolvephysical
activitysuchasmime,howeverthebasicpremiseisstillthatthegamedoesnotrequirealargeareainwhichto
playit,largeamountsofstrengthorstamina,orspecializedequipmentotherthanwhatcomesinthebox(games
sometimesrequireadditionalmaterialslikepencilandpaperthatareeasytoprocure).

Dexterityandcoordinationgames

Thisclassofgamesincludesanygameinwhichtheskillelementinvolvedrelatestomanualdexterityorhandeye
coordination,butexcludestheclassofvideogames(seebelow).Gamessuchasjacks,paperfootball,andJenga
requireonlyveryportableorimprovisedequipmentandcanbeplayedonanyflatlevelsurface,whileother
examples,suchaspinball,billiards,airhockey,foosball,andtablehockeyrequirespecializedtablesorotherself
containedmodulesonwhichthegameisplayed.Theadventofhomevideogamesystemslargelyreplacedsomeof
these,suchastablehockey,howeverairhockey,billiards,pinballandfoosballremainpopularfixturesinprivate
andpublicgamerooms.Thesegamesandothers,astheyrequirereflexesandcoordination,aregenerally

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performedmorepoorlybyintoxicatedpersonsbutareunlikelytoresultininjurybecauseofthisassuchthegames
arepopularasdrinkinggames.Inaddition,dedicateddrinkinggamessuchasquartersandbeerpongalsoinvolve
physicalcoordinationandarepopularforsimilarreasons.

Boardgames

Boardgamesuseasacentraltoolaboardonwhichtheplayers'status,
resources,andprogressaretrackedusingphysicaltokens.Manyalso
involvediceorcards.Mostgamesthatsimulatewarareboardgames
(thoughalargenumberofvideogameshavebeencreatedtosimulate
strategiccombat),andtheboardmaybeamaponwhichtheplayers'tokens
move.Virtuallyallboardgamesinvolve"turnbased"playoneplayer
contemplatesandthenmakesamove,thenthenextplayerdoesthesame,
andaplayercanonlyactontheirturn.Thisisopposedto"realtime"play
asisfoundinsomecardgames,mostsportsandmostvideogames.
ParcheesiisanAmericanadaptation
Somegames,suchaschessandGo,areentirelydeterministic,relyingonly ofaboardgameoriginatinginIndia.
onthestrategyelementfortheirinterest.Suchgamesareusuallydescribed
ashaving"perfectinformation"theonlyunknownistheexactthoughtprocessesofone'sopponent,notthe
outcomeofanyunknowneventinherentinthegame(suchasacarddrawordieroll).Children'sgames,onthe
otherhand,tendtobeveryluckbased,withgamessuchasCandyLandandChutesandLaddershavingvirtually
nodecisionstobemade.Bysomedefinitions,suchasthatbyGregCostikyan,theyarenotgamessincethereare
nodecisionstomakewhicheffecttheoutcome.[16]Manyothergamesinvolvingahighdegreeofluckdonotallow
directattacksbetweenopponentstherandomeventsimplydeterminesagainorlossinthestandingofthecurrent
playerwithinthegame,whichisindependentofanyotherplayerthe"game"thenisactuallya"race"by
definitionssuchasCrawford's.

Mostotherboardgamescombinestrategyandluckfactorsthegameofbackgammonrequiresplayerstodecide
thebeststrategicmovebasedontherolloftwodice.Triviagameshaveagreatdealofrandomnessbasedonthe
questionsapersongets.Germanstyleboardgamesarenotableforoftenhavingratherlessofaluckfactorthan
manyboardgames.

Boardgamegroupsincluderacegames,rollandmovegames,abstractstrategygames,wordgames,and
wargames,aswellastriviaandotherelements.Someboardgamesfallintomultiplegroupsorincorporate
elementsofothergenres:Craniumisonepopularexample,whereplayersmustsucceedineachoffourskills:
artistry,liveperformance,trivia,andlanguage.

Cardgames

Cardgamesuseadeckofcardsastheircentraltool.ThesecardsmaybeastandardAngloAmerican(52card)
deckofplayingcards(suchasforbridge,poker,Rummy,etc.),aregionaldeckusing32,36or40cardsand
differentsuitsigns(suchasforthepopularGermangameskat),atarotdeckof78cards(usedinEuropetoplaya
varietyoftricktakinggamescollectivelyknownasTarot,TarockorTarocchigames),oradeckspecifictothe
individualgame(suchasSetor1000BlankWhiteCards).UnoandRookareexamplesofgamesthatwere
originallyplayedwithastandarddeckandhavesincebeencommercializedwithcustomizeddecks.Some
collectiblecardgamessuchasMagic:TheGatheringareplayedwithasmallselectionofcardsthathavebeen
collectedorpurchasedindividuallyfromlargeavailablesets.

Someboardgamesincludeadeckofcardsasagameplayelement,normallyforrandomizationortokeeptrackof
gameprogress.Conversely,somecardgamessuchasCribbageuseaboardwithmovers,normallytokeepscore.
Thedifferentiationbetweenthetwogenresinsuchcasesdependsonwhichelementofthegameisforemostinits
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playaboardgameusingcardsforrandomactionscanusuallyusesome
othermethodofrandomization,whileCribbagecanjustaseasilybescored
onpaper.Theseelementsasusedaresimplythetraditionalandeasiest
methodstoachievetheirpurpose.

Dicegames

Dicegamesuseanumberofdiceastheircentralelement.Boardgames
oftenusediceforarandomizationelement,andthuseachrollofthedice
hasaprofoundimpactontheoutcomeofthegame,howeverdicegames PlayingCards,byTheodoor
aredifferentiatedinthatthedicedonotdeterminethesuccessorfailureof Rombouts,17thcentury
someotherelementofthegametheyinsteadarethecentralindicatorof
theperson'sstandinginthegame.PopulardicegamesincludeYahtzee,
Farkle,Bunco,Liar'sdice/Perudo,andPokerdice.Asdiceare,bytheir
verynature,designedtoproduceapparentlyrandomnumbers,thesegames
usuallyinvolveahighdegreeofluck,whichcanbedirectedtosomeextent
bytheplayerthroughmorestrategicelementsofplayandthroughtenetsof
probabilitytheory.Suchgamesarethuspopularasgamblinggamesthe
gameofCrapsisperhapsthemostfamousexample,thoughLiar'sdiceand
Pokerdicewereoriginallyconceivedofasgamblinggames.

Dominoandtilegames StudentsinLaosusedicetoimprove
numeracyskills.Theyrollthreedice,
Dominogamesaresimilarinmanyrespectstocardgames,butthegeneric thenusebasicmathoperationsto
deviceisinsteadasetoftilescalleddominoes,whichtraditionallyeach combinethoseintoanewnumber
havetwoends,eachwithagivennumberofdots,or"pips",andeach whichtheycoverontheboard.The
combinationoftwopossibleendvaluesasitappearsonatileisuniquein goalistocoverfoursquaresinthe
theset.Thegamesplayedwithdominoeslargelycenteraroundplayinga row.
dominofromtheplayer's"hand"ontothematchingendofanotherdomino,
andtheoverallobjectcouldbetoalwaysbeabletomakeaplay,tomakeallopenendpointssumtoagiven
numberormultiple,orsimplytoplayalldominoesfromone'shandontotheboard.Setsvaryinthenumberof
possibledotsononeend,andthusofthenumberofcombinationsandpiecesthemostcommonsethistoricallyis
doublesix,thoughinmorerecenttimes"extended"setssuchasdoubleninehavebeenintroducedtoincreasethe
numberofdominoesavailable,whichallowslargerhandsandmoreplayersinagame.Muggins,MexicanTrain,
andChickenFootareverypopulardominogames.Texas42isadominogamemoresimilarinitsplaytoa"trick
taking"cardgame.

Variationsoftraditionaldominoesabound:Triominoesaresimilarintheorybutaretriangularandthushavethree
valuespertile.Similarly,agameknownasQuadOminosusesfoursidedtiles.

SomeothergamesusetilesinplaceofcardsRummikubisavariantoftheRummycardgamefamilythatuses
tilesnumberedinascendingrankamongfourcolors,verysimilarinmakeuptoa2deck"pack"ofAnglo
Americanplayingcards.MahJonggisanothergameverysimilartoRummythatusesasetoftileswithcardlike
valuesandart.

Lastly,somegamesusegraphicaltilestoformaboardlayout,onwhichotherelementsofthegameareplayed.
SettlersofCatanandCarcassonneareexamples.Ineach,the"board"ismadeupofaseriesoftilesinSettlersof
Catanthestartinglayoutisrandombutstatic,whileinCarcassonnethegameisplayedby"building"theboard
tilebytile.Hive,anabstractstrategygameusingtilesasmovingpieces,hasmechanicalandstrategicelements
similartochess,althoughithasnoboardthepiecesthemselvesbothformthelayoutandcanmovewithinit.

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Pencilandpapergames

Pencilandpapergamesrequirelittleornospecializedequipmentotherthanwritingmaterials,thoughsomesuch
gameshavebeencommercializedasboardgames(Scrabble,forinstance,isbasedontheideaofacrossword
puzzle,andtictactoesetswithaboxedgridandpiecesareavailablecommercially).Thesegamesvarywidely,
fromgamescenteringonadesignbeingdrawnsuchasPictionaryand"connectthedots"gameslikesprouts,to
letterandwordgamessuchasBoggleandScattergories,tosolitaireandlogicpuzzlegamessuchasSudokuand
crosswordpuzzles.

Guessinggames

Aguessinggamehasasitscoreapieceofinformationthatoneplayerknows,andtheobjectistocoerceothers
intoguessingthatpieceofinformationwithoutactuallydivulgingitintextorspokenword.Charadesisprobably
themostwellknowngameofthistype,andhasspawnednumerouscommercialvariantsthatinvolvediffering
rulesonthetypeofcommunicationtobegiven,suchasCatchPhrase,Taboo,Pictionary,andsimilar.Thegenre
alsoincludesmanygameshowssuchasWin,LoseorDraw,Passwordand$25,000Pyramid.

Videogames

Videogamesarecomputerormicroprocessorcontrolledgames.Computerscancreatevirtualspacesforawide
varietyofgametypes.Somevideogamessimulateconventionalgameobjectslikecardsordice,whileotherscan
simulateenvironseithergroundedinrealityorfantasticalindesign,eachwithitsownsetofrulesorgoals.

Acomputerorvideogameusesoneormoreinputdevices,typicallyabutton/joystickcombination(onarcade
games)akeyboard,mouseortrackball(computergames)oracontrolleroramotionsensitivetool.(console
games).Moreesotericdevicessuchaspaddlecontrollershavealsobeenusedforinput.

Therearemanygenresofvideogamethefirstcommercialvideogame,Pong,wasasimplesimulationoftable
tennis.Asprocessingpowerincreased,newgenressuchasadventureandactiongamesweredevelopedthat
involvedaplayerguidingacharacterfromathirdpersonperspectivethroughaseriesofobstacles.This"realtime"
elementcannotbeeasilyreproducedbyaboardgame,whichisgenerallylimitedto"turnbased"strategythis
advantageallowsvideogamestosimulatesituationssuchascombatmorerealistically.Additionally,theplayingof
avideogamedoesnotrequirethesamephysicalskill,strengthordangerasarealworldrepresentationofthe
game,andcanprovideeitherveryrealistic,exaggeratedorimpossiblephysics,allowingforelementsofa
fantasticalnature,gamesinvolvingphysicalviolence,orsimulationsofsports.Lastly,acomputercan,with
varyingdegreesofsuccess,simulateoneormorehumanopponentsintraditionaltablegamessuchaschess,
leadingtosimulationsofsuchgamesthatcanbeplayedbyasingleplayer.

Inmoreopenendedcomputersimulations,alsoknownassandboxstylegames,thegameprovidesavirtual
environmentinwhichtheplayermaybefreetodowhatevertheylikewithintheconfinesofthisuniverse.
Sometimes,thereisalackofgoalsoropposition,whichhasstirredsomedebateonwhethertheseshouldbe
considered"games"or"toys".(CrawfordspecificallymentionsWillWright'sSimCityasanexampleofatoy.)[8]

Onlinegames

Onlinegameshavebeenpartofculturefromtheveryearliestdaysofnetworkedandtimesharedcomputers.Early
commercialsystemssuchasPlatowereatleastaswidelyfamousfortheirgamesasfortheirstrictlyeducational
value.In1958,TennisforTwodominatedVisitor'sDayanddrewattentiontotheoscilloscopeattheBrookhaven
NationalLaboratoryduringthe1980s,XeroxPARCwasknownmainlyforMazeWar,whichwasofferedasa
handsondemotovisitors.

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ModernonlinegamesareplayedusinganInternetconnectionsomehavededicatedclientprograms,whileothers
requireonlyawebbrowser.Somesimplerbrowsergamesappealtodemographicgroups(notablywomenandthe
middleaged)thatotherwiseplayveryfewvideogames.

Roleplayinggames

Roleplayinggames,oftenabbreviatedasRPGs,areatypeofgameinwhichtheparticipants(usually)assumethe
rolesofcharactersactinginafictionalsetting.Theoriginalroleplayinggamesoratleastthoseexplicitly
marketedassuchareplayedwithahandfulofparticipants,usuallyfacetoface,andkeeptrackofthedeveloping
fictionwithpenandpaper.Together,theplayersmaycollaborateonastoryinvolvingthosecharacterscreate,
develop,and"explore"thesettingorvicariouslyexperienceanadventureoutsidetheboundsofeverydaylife.
Penandpaperroleplayinggamesinclude,forexample,Dungeons&DragonsandGURPS.

Thetermroleplayinggamehasalsobeenappropriatedbythevideogameindustrytodescribeagenreofvideo
games.Thesemaybesingleplayergameswhereoneplayerexperiencesaprogrammedenvironmentandstory,or
theymayallowplayerstointeractthroughtheinternet.Theexperienceisusuallyquitedifferentfromtraditional
roleplayinggames.SingleplayergamesincludeFinalFantasy,Fable,TheElderScrolls,andMassEffect.Online
multiplayergames,oftenreferredtoasMassivelyMultiplayerOnlineroleplayinggames,orMMORPGs,include
RuneScape,EverQuest2,GuildWars,MapleStory,AnarchyOnline,andDofus.Asof2009,themostsuccessful
MMORPGhasbeenWorldofWarcraft,whichcontrolsthevastmajorityofthemarket.[17]

Businessgames

Businessgamescantakeavarietyofforms,frominteractiveboardgamestointeractivegamesinvolvingdifferent
props(balls,ropes,hoops,etc.)anddifferentkindsofactivities.Thepurposeofthesegamesistolinktosome
aspectoforganizationalperformanceandtogeneratediscussionsaboutbusinessimprovement.Manybusiness
gamesfocusonorganizationalbehaviors.Someofthesearecomputersimulationswhileothersaresimpledesigns
forplayanddebriefing.Teambuildingisacommonfocusofsuchactivities.

Simulation

Theterm"game"canincludesimulation[18][19]orreenactmentofvariousactivitiesorusein"reallife"forvarious
purposes:e.g.,training,analysis,prediction.Wellknownexamplesarewargamesandroleplaying.Therootofthis
meaningmayoriginateinthehumanprehistoryofgamesdeducedbyanthropologyfromobservingprimitive
cultures,inwhichchildren'sgamesmimictheactivitiesofadultstoasignificantdegree:hunting,warring,nursing,
etc.Thesekindsofgamesarepreservedinmoderntimes.

Seealso
Gameclassification
Gameclub WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoGame.
Gametheory
Gamer
Girls'gamesandtoys
Historyofgames
Lawngame
Learningthroughplay
Listofgames
Ludibrium
Ludology

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Ludomania

References
1."DefinitionofGAME"(https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/game).www.merriamwebster.com.Retrieved
May7,2017.
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(http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/MyEntireWakingLife.shtml).TheGamesJournal.Retrieved20080817.
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Furtherreading
Avedon,ElliotSuttonSmith,Brian,TheStudyofGames.(Philadelphia:Wiley,1971),reprintedKrieger,
1979.ISBN0898740452

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