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This definition closely resembles Huizinga’s definition of play. And Caillois
recognized that play and games existed along a continuous spectrum, with looser
play activities on one end and structured, rule-based games on the other. Caillois
called the unstructured end of his spectrum “ paidia. ” These activities are closer to
the natural root of play where, as he put it, “ an almost indivisible principle, com-
mon to diversion, turbulence, free improvisation, and carefree gaiety is dominant. ”
The opposite of this freewheeling play he called, “ ludus. ” On the ludus end of the
spectrum, conventions and rules have been firmly established, ...