1. What is a game
Defining games and how they effect our lives

2. Define “Game”
 A activity among two or more independent decision-makers
seeking to achieve their objectives in some limiting context.
 A form of art in which participants, called players, make
decisions in order to manage resources through game tokens in
the pursuit of a goal.
 A system in which players engage in an artificial conflict,
defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome.
 A type of play (activity) that takes place in a pretend reality, in
which the participants(s) follow a set of rules to achieve at least
one goal.

3. Play and Pretend
 Play - to take part in enjoyable activity for the sake of
amusement.
 History has recorded that music and playing games has
always been apart of the human species existence.
 Pretend – to create a fictional reality in the mind.
 Storytelling and graphics allows the player to immerse
themselves into this fictional reality.

4. Rules and Goals
 Rules – instructions that dictate how to play and achieve
goals.
 Rules also specify what the player can not do.
 Goal – a particular objective you are trying to achieve.
 There can be more than one goal

5. Gameplay & Game Mechanics
 Games are made up of both gameplay and game
mechanics.
 Gameplay consist of all player experiences, primarily the
challenges, choices and consequences that the player
faces with in the game.
 Game mechanics is defined as the construct of all formal
elements, predominantly the rules and procedures,
intended to produce enjoyable gameplay.

6. Game Systems and Theory
 Game systems are the set of interacting or
interdependent elements forming the working game.
 Game Theory is the study of participants' behavior in
strategic situations.
 Gameplay applies elements of classical game theory.

7. Define “Video Game”
 The phrases video game and computer game are often
used interchangeably.
 Typically there is a screen (television, monitor, LCD display)
through which the game is viewed.
 Input devices vary depending on the game and hardware,
but usually involve a controller, joystick, keyboard or keypad.

8. Interactive Challenges
 Good games require player interactivity and challenge.
 Therefore video games are sometimes referred to as
“interactive challenges”
 The relationships between the interactivity, challenges
and other game elements make up a game system.

9. Video Games in Our Daily Lives
Data from the Entertainment Software Association

10. Average Players
 72% of American households plays computer or video
games in 2011.
 The average game player is years old and has been
playing games for 12 years. 82% is 18 yrs or older.
 The average age of the most frequent game purchaser
is 39 years old.

11. Women & Seniors
 37% women over 18 play games, than boys under 18
years old = 13%.
 Research by Nintendo has also shown that women represent
51% of Wii users and 53% of DS users.
 of people over the age of 50 play games, a figure sure
to rise in coming years with nursing homes and senior centers
across the nation now incorporating video games into their
activities.

12. Player Demographics

13. Games and Families
 55% play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or
PDA, up from 20% in 2002.
 of all games sold in 2010 were rated “EC” Early
childhood, "E" for Everyone, or "E10+" for Everyone 10+.
 64% of parents believe games are a positive part of their children’s lives.
 The most popular game genre in 2010 was "Action," which accounted for nearly 22 percent of all games sold.

14. Interesting..
 Adult female gamers have unseated boys under the age of 18
as the largest video game-playing demographic in the U.S.,
according to a recently published study from the Entertainment
Software
 One in four gamers is over 50
 Half the parents in America say they play computer and video
games with their children and two-thirds believe that playing
games together has brought their families closer together
 88% of games are purchased by adults

15. Games and the Economy
 Sales of game software and content, including games made for
consoles, portable gaming devices and PCs, as well as digital full
game downloads, downloadable content and social games,
accounted for approximately $15.9 billion of that total.
 From 2005 to 2009, the entertainment software industry’s
annual growth rate exceeded 10%.
 Over the same period, the entire U.S. economy grew at a less
than 2% rate.
 of revenue was posted for the
overall video game sales in 2010 up from $20B in 2009.

16. Games and Employment
 The U.S. Video Game industry is a vital source of
employment; currently, employing more than 120,000
people in 34 states.
 $89,781—The average salary for an entertainment software
industry employee.
 California, Texas, Washington, New York and
Massachusetts currently have the highest number of
video game jobs.
 Collectively, these areas directly employ 22,279 workers and
post nearly 71% of the industry's total direct employment.

17. Games and Education
 Among U.S. colleges, universities and technical schools,
are offering degrees in game design and
development.
 According to a Scottish study, student’s test scores
showed a 10 % after playing Dr. Kawashima's Brain Age
on a daily basis.
 By 2012 100 to 135 of Global Fortune 500 companies that
will have adopted gaming for learning purposes.

18. Games and Health
 Surgeon’s who play video games at least 3 hours a week
made 37% of fewer errors in their past simulations of
laparoscopic surgery compared to non-players.
 People who play action video games routinely see
contrast up to 58% better than those who do not.
http://www.livescience.com/health/090329-game-vision.html
 765 of West Virginia schools are installing the Dance
Dance Revolution game as part of the state's physical
education curriculum.

19. Games and Art
 Video games are a form of Art!
 Video game graphics and designs are widely displayed,
publicized and featured in art exhibits across the country.
 Video games encourage creativity not only in the visual
arts, but in music as well.

20. Think About It?
 What percentage of the gaming population do you fall into?
 What rating of games do you frequently play?
 How do games effect your health?
 How do games effect your education?
 How does your family feel about games?
As you go through this course consider the type of game player you are
and what game players you want to make games for.