Comments on: Recognizing Play https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/ Letters about game design Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:45:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 By: Ezra https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/#comment-121 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:45:11 +0000 https://letterclub.games/?p=233#comment-121 In reply to Ezra.

[edit to prev] for some reason I thought those links took you to a specific page, but it seems they do not. Page numbers I was referencing are:
Definition of play: pg 300
Ironclad: pg 290

]]> By: Ezra https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/#comment-120 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:31:36 +0000 https://letterclub.games/?p=233#comment-120 In reply to Jack.

For what it’s worth, I found it to be a lot less academic-y than other games studies books, due to the authors being practicing game designers themselves. There are also 4 games which they commissioned other designers to make (including richard garfield!) and there are chapters with those people documenting their process. I especially thought that the process of “Ironclad” was fascinating https://gamifique.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/1-rules-of-play-game-design-fundamentals.pdf , if you’re looking for a starting place to skim from.

]]> By: Jack https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/#comment-119 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 20:55:22 +0000 https://letterclub.games/?p=233#comment-119 In reply to Ezra.

Glad you got something from it! I got a lot from writing it :).
I was not aware of ‘Rules of Play’ actually! I love that definition of play though – and it looks like the book does cover a lot of the same ideas, I’m sure it will be a great reference for me thanks. I only wish it didn’t seem so academic and so long, I’ll have to give it a skim sometime at least.

]]> By: Ezra https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/#comment-117 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:46:52 +0000 https://letterclub.games/?p=233#comment-117 This letter was very thought provoking for me, thanks for writing it! Are you aware of the definition of play discussed in “rules of play”? I think you’re working very close to it here and it may be helpful to you if you’re not already referencing it. “Play is free movement within a more rigid structure.” Which maps pretty directly onto your table of playgrounds and play objects! https://gamifique.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/1-rules-of-play-game-design-fundamentals.pdf

]]> By: Droqen https://letterclub.games/2021/09/06/recognizing-play/#comment-42 Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:02:22 +0000 https://letterclub.games/?p=233#comment-42 Thank you for this huuuge letter. I had been disassociating from the word ‘game’ and by association ‘play’ just before reading this. You’ve alleviated a lot of my doubts. (I will probably still be very cautious about the word ‘game’ though…)

This is a beautiful landmark for me to return to when I want to remember what play is, and how to think about it, and how to recognize it, and to be reminded of the absolute breadth of its power.

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