What makes it a game?

What makes it a game?

I believe the definition of a game is something someone is able to enjoy whilst also being challenged, whether it be mentally or physically. Anything from sports to sitting down and testing your mind to the best of its abilities. A player must be able to interact with said game whilst they play it otherwise it isn't a game its more of a film/Television show. Games are something that can be developed even under a finished product with additional aesthetics, rules or even a full revamp.

I believe in the book "I have no words & I must design: towards a critical vocabulary for games" asks questions that makes you think more deeply on this subject. It challenges you with questions such as "How does the player interact with the game?" and "are those interactions meaningful". Personally this isn't how I view games but I believe some people do, I see them as not an interaction but an escape for most people. They may not realize it themselves but that's why most people play games, for it's enjoyment whilst also pushing worries aside and being able to take their minds off the realities and subjective pressures that happen in the real world. This is personally to me what makes a game, both the enjoyment and roles you need to fulfill in a game but also using it as a escape, just like reading, watching films & TV. Other questions are asked in this article but these two are the ones that stand out to me most, although things like aesthetics and effects make games even better visually the beauty behind a game comes from the pleasure it gives someone when either completing it, competing in it or just joining in and socializing with hundreds or even sometimes thousands of people.

"What kind of goals does the game support?"
This is something that makes a game unique whether it be something from as minor as a simple task all the way to how the game changes around your makings in the game.

"Is the music great?"
Music is something that allows emotions to be shared through sound, putting this into a game will certainly bring out emotions, enjoyment and even make the game playable. Some games rely completely on the soundtrack (Such as audiosurf) to play the game. Also it is used for memorabilia.

"Where does the struggle lie?"
A game dependent on the difficulty is something that relies on people being challenged, if there is no challenge is it a game or is it a interactive movie?