The Elements of a Game
In this section, we give a formal definition of a game and describe the elements that comprise one. Remember that we're talking about any kind of game, computerized or not. We continue to use these terms throughout the book.
Games, Toys, and Puzzles
A game is a form of participatory, or interactive, entertainment. Watching television, reading, and going to the theater are all forms of passive entertainment. In those media, the entertainment is presented to you, and you're not expected to participate. In some plays, the audience itself has a role, but even then the actors are in control. The content of the entertainment is the drama, and the way you perceive it is by watching it. This mode is fundamentally passive: They ...
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