Image by Ulric Weck

TODAY:1)Icebreaker2)Checking in/how are we doing?3)Discussion: what’d you play?4)And why?5)Why do we play?6)Readings7)Homework

Today’s Icebreaker:Who is your favorite

video game characterand why?

Since we lost a day…

…I wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing. Are we clear onthe general flow of how classshould function?

Any questions?

Discussion time!You should have played, and

blogged about, a game of yourchoice.

What did you play?Why?

How was it?

So what does it mean…

…to play? I’m going to open a Word document and take notes as youdiscuss.

So… what’s it mean to play?

Reading: on Psychology1.Play is about Motivation

2.Play can blend with other motives

3.Play is a confluence of severaldifferent characteristics.

Reading: on Psychology1.Play is self-chosen and self-directed; players are always free to quit.2. Play is activity in which means are more valued than ends.3. Play is guided by mental rules.4. Play is non-literal, imaginative, marked off in some way from reality.5. Play involves an active, alert, but non-stressed frame of mind.

Reading: on HuizingaA wealth of great stuff, but

what I want us to talk aboutis our first major concept:

The Magic Circle!

According to Huizinga, the consciousness of play as a separate and self-contained sphere is often reinforced by the pervasive tendency to enclose the players within a spatiotemporal frame, the so-called "magic circle", which isolates their game from the more serious tasks of daily living. The separation often consists in a literal physical precinct: a chessboard, ring, arena, field, stadium, stage, altar, etc. There are also sharp temporal boundaries, a clear beginning and an end, which clearly mark the game off as a temporary interruption of ordinary life. The game unfolds within a temporarily closed world. Moreover, the existence of the magic circle is closely related to the existence of artificial rules or conventions that hold only within this enclosure.

from http://gamingconceptz.blogspot.com/2012/10/huizingas-magic-circle.html

Homework

Sometime this week, spend atleast an hour playing any game from the Legend of Zelda series.We have some here in the room.

Read for Wednesday McGonigal, Callois (both

on Niihka under “resources”) and Juul.