Game is the name given to many different things, from a structured form of play like tug of war to a competitive activity described formally by mathematical game theory. It can also refer to a computer-programmable system of rules and challenges that establishes a situation involving a contest or rivalry, such as chess or video games. Games can also be used as a form of entertainment, a learning tool or an exercise in physical fitness.
It is often unclear what defines a game, even for those who study them. This can create confusion and a lack of focus when writing about games, especially in academic contexts. It is important for those who wish to give a definition of a game to be aware that it must fit the particular use case and take into account previously published work, as this makes the definition more likely to be useful. It is possible to make a useful definition of a game without taking previous research into account; it is just much more difficult and prone to error.
A game may involve a competition that requires skill, strategy, luck or a combination of these, but following its rules usually only involves knowledge and a careful attempt to comply with those rules. For this reason, games that are regarded as not requiring luck or skill but rather relying on the environment are sometimes called environmental games. Examples of these are hide-and-seek and tag.
The term game can be used as a verb, to mean to engage in a game or to pretend to play a game. It can also be used as a noun, to mean the flesh of wild animals hunted and eaten for sport or food or to describe someone who is shrewd and manipulative: “He was making a game of it, trying to wiggle out of his debt.”
Another meaning is to be at one’s best or playing well: “She was off her game that day.” It can also mean to be playful and jovial, as in the expression “that was a good game.”
It can also mean that a person has lost their edge, as in the expression, “he is off his game.” This article is adapted from the Wikipedia entry for Game. It was edited by several people. The content of this article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It may be copied or modified under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, except as otherwise expressly provided by law. This article is also available as a PDF. For more information about this PDF and its licensing, see the file page. You may also contact the author by email.