This week we were introduced to Roger Caillois, the author of 'Man, play and games'. He looked into what players experienced while playing games. After looking at different factors which come into games we were asked to read a quote from Roger Caillois and say how much we agreed with the statement.
While play can be time consuming it is certainly not a waste of time. People play games for the experience, to feel the excitement and exhilaration of the events which unfold. Be it a close finish to the end of a board game, or exploring long forgotten ruins on a computer game, all of this adds to the experience of what life has to offer. Part of a games job is to evoke feelings, whether this is fear, joy, curiosity or thrills they are all important.
The idea that nothing is ever learnt from games is untrue. While masterpieces may not be created, or wealth acquired there are some far more important things which can be gained. Children learn how to compete in a friendly way, or learn that you cannot always get what you want in life, in this case to always win. Adults can use games to greater extend their imagination to create stories, or new games which can then be sold for wealth. Games can help develop friendships with people who could become great friends, these people can help you out if you are ever in trouble and vice versa.
People who believe that a game is a waste of time must surely believe that life is just as pointless. When both are over, whatever happened during that time no longer matters. But do they feel this way? I think not.
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