Week 9 : The World of Games
To play a game is to attempt to achieve a specific state of affairs (Suits, 1978). Players engage in an artificial conflict , defined by rules, that result in a quantifiable outcome (Salen & Zimmerman, 2003).
Video games have been evolving since 1980 with the introduction of arcade games. An arcade game is a coin-operated game designed for play at an amusement arcade (Meriam Webster , 2023). Arcade games such as space invaders and Pac man were popular in the 1980's (Jones, 2023). In the 1990's the idea of local multi-player gaming became popular. This introduced online multiplayer gaming, in 1988 the first multiplayer computer games was released with up to 16 players (Larch, 2023). This relied on the introduction of networked computing technologies.
Games communities are an important aspect of gaming , following current technology advancements. A gaming community refers to a group of people who come together to share their interest for playing games. The purpose for gaming communities is to provide support among gamers (Meta Engine, 2023). Games communities have influenced social games. Social games are online games that adapt your friendship ties for play purpose , while accommodating your daily routines (Jarvien, 2011). Social games exploded in late 2000's - earl 2010's with the purpose of networking. Games platforms include consoles e.g. Xbox, PlayStation & Nintendo and streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube gaming and Facebook gaming. Streaming platforms are often live, providing content creators with profit, leading to a career.
Indie games are an important factor in the games industry. Indie games are popular in Melbourne, every year in November Melbourne hosts ' Melbourne international games week. Bringing together a number of different events of varying shape and size related to the video game field. The independent game festivals presents experimental videogames made by Australian students, artists and hobbyist (igf, 2023). In the first half of 2010 , the Melbourne industry shifted by necessity to an almost exclusively indie industry, following the closure of nearly every large studio in the country (FP, 2023). Melbourne have an overproduction of game making activity. The number of people able and eager to create video fames has outgrown what the local industry is able to commodify.
References :
Esports 2023, 'eSports History: How it all began', ISPO.com, viewed 7 May 2023, < https://www.ispo.com/en/sports-business/esports-history-how-it-all-began#:~:text=Netrek%3A%20A%20classic%20among%20video,each%20other%20over%20the%20Internet >
FP 2023, 'FreePlay Independent Games Festival', FP, viewed 7 May 2023, < About - Freeplay >
Jones, E 2023, 'The 25 Best 80's Arcade Games of All Time, ONE37PM, viewed 7 May 2023, < The 25 Best 80s Arcade Games of All Time (one37pm.com) >
Kepgh, B 2021, 'The Melbourne Indie game scenes : value regimes in localized game development', Taylor & Francis, vol.1, no.2, pp. 2-14.
Merriam-Webster 2023, 'Arcade Game', Merriam-Webster, viewed 7 May 2023, < Arcade game Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster >
Meta Engine 2023, 'What is A Gaming Community And How To Build One', Meta Engine, viewed 7 May 2023, < What is a Gaming Community and How to Build One (metaengine.gg) >
Tekinbas, K & Zimmerman, E 2003, 'Rules of Play', Mitpress, vol.1, no.1 , pp. 1-89.
