Presentations Next Class

1
Presentations Next Class

• Deadline e-mail me (e-mail hem4_at_lehigh.edu) the
  powerpoint slides, at noon EST, April 6th (before
  next class)
• No changes will be allowed after this time
• Powerpoint slides describe your Analysis of
  existing game project
• We will start presentations on April 6th (random
  selection)

2
Presentations Next Class (2)

• How/who presents is up to you (mix is ok)
• Estimate time 20-25 minutes
• Be selective concentrate on cool, interesting,
  noteworthy (including bad) aspects
• But obviously must be a subset of what you wrote
  in the document
• Dont forget to introduce the game. Game clip is
  ok but not required
• Explain why you select this game
• Questions?

3
Games as Systems of Conflict(Ch. 20)
4
Discussion Point New Games Movement

• A game theorist, DeKoven, argues againt
  competitive games
• Competition may bring stress (experiential
  dimension)
• Promotes games to have a positive impact in
  society
• Classical example

Catch the dragons tail
5
Conflict

• Conflict is intrinsic to every game
• Games can be seen as staged conflicts
• Player willing to engage in these conflicts
  because of lusory attitude
• Conflict emerges from victory conditions
• Struggle to achieve victory drives system of
  conflict
• Again player is willing to participate in this
  struggle because of lusory attitude

6
Shapes of Conflict

• We typically think single player versus single
  player
• But what other forms of conflict exist ?
• Conflict can be direct or indirect

• Group versus group (example table soccer)
• Single player versus group
• Every player for themselves
• Single player against system
• Single player competing side by side against
  game
• Single player cooperating side by side against
  game

7
Shapes of Conflict Examples
Ladders Shuts Comp. CHESS Warcraft
player vs player
group vs group
player vs group
FFA
player vs system
competing vs system
Cooperating vs system
Direct
Indirect

8
Questions for Defining Structure of Conflict

• We typically think How many players can play?
• But what other questions should we ask ?

• real time? Turn-based? Simultaneous turn-based?
• Is there a high-score list?
• cooperative? Competitive?
• direct conflict?
• players competing for resources?