Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
winning. It might be something akin to an ongoing conversation in which the
objective is one of just continuing to converse.
Rules strictly regulate other games, to the point that there seems to be almost no
play at all. The focus of such games is on winning. The play is often reduced to the
exercise of meticulously planned strategies.
Figure 1.1 provides a simple rendition of these notions. A game is a context in
which you can explore play or rules. It can work in any number of ways. Games
are endless. Some people play games to figure out rules. Others play games to
apply rules. Still others play to defy rules.
When you deal with math as a conversation, it becomes a game that you can play
in many ways. The rules can become secondary. The play can become secondary.
Carrying on the conversation becomes an activity of making things up as you go
along.
Figure 1.1
Games involve rules and play.
