A game is a set of rules and procedures that players follow to achieve some goal. This can include anything from winning a competition to solving a puzzle.
A game can be played alone, in teams or online; by amateurs or professionals. It can also be a part of an event, such as a tournament or championship.
Games are often defined by their tools and rules, which can vary widely and have a large impact on the way the game is played. This is one reason why many games are classified as “genres.” For example, baseball can be played with wiffleballs or with real baseballs; and chess can be played with a standard board or with a chessboard.
Some games are purely competitive, while others require skill or luck. There are even games that are designed primarily to help people socialize or bond.
The definition of a game is important because it helps us to understand what a game actually is, and how it works. A good definition should take into account previous work, as this can help to avoid problems that may not have been seen before.
While there is no single game medium, there are a few common features that are present across all kinds of games. These include:
A tool; a set of rules; an immaterial support; computation; and a game state.
The tools of a game determine the time-keeping system, the rights and responsibilities of the players, scoring techniques, preset boundaries, and each player’s goals. These rules are what shape the play, and they usually have to be changed to create new games.
Rules are not always easy to change, but sometimes they must be. For example, a player may need to change their position in order to win. This is called “re-shaping” the game, and can lead to a radically different outcome.
There are also some rules that must be adhered to by the players, such as not stealing from another player. These are known as meta-rules.
These rules have a strong influence on the way the game is played, and can be crucial to achieving success. This is especially true in sports, where there are many different types of rules to consider.
It is also common to allow the player to make decisions that can affect the outcome of the game. For example, in a video game a player can select whether or not they want to move a character, but the effect of this choice is largely determined by the computer’s processing power.
Computation is the process that takes place in a game to uphold its rules. This includes how the game’s computer is designed to process the data, what it decides to do in response to the inputs, and how detailed the influence the players have over the outcome of the game.
Moreover, it is important to recognize that while computers are a common game medium, there is no single computer technology or set of props that can be used to represent a game. This is because games are transmedial.