Monday, October 20, 2003

In Simulation vs. Narrative: Introduction to ludology Gonzalo Frasca defines ludology:

"Ludology can be defined as a discipline that studies games in general, and videogames in particular."

I agree to the first part, that indeed ludology is the study of games in general. But I must disagree on the last part. Ludology as such does not have a particular focus on computer games. Instead the study of computer games is a special case of ludology. Ludology might as well look into any other kind of games such as roleplaying games, sports, children's games etc.

Actually, ludology is an overall approach to the study of games that combines several disciplines from mathematical game theory to anthropological play theory.

Thursday, October 16, 2003

We want better video games. We want a better understanding of video games.
Sometimes we need to look were we did not expect to find answers. At other times we look were answers are hard to find e. g. narratology.
I would like any serious attempt at understanding games to at least having read Homo Ludens by professor Johan Huizinga and Tree and Leaf by professor J. R. R. Tolkien. In these works we do find entirely new theories and methods of thinking about game and fiction. Using these ideas we might even make better video games.

Furthermore, I want you to read The Nature of Gothic by John Ruskin. In here we find a way of thinking architectural design suitable for video games.