ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the different definitions of games and the related area of play through different theorists. It looks both at the more theoretical and pragmatic definitions. The theoretical approach includes both a formalist and a situationist perspective represented by theorists like Wittgenstein, Huizinga, Caillois, McLuhan, Sutton-Smith, Bateson, Mead, Jenkins, Crawford, Parlett, and Juul. The pragmatic approach includes thoughts from Meier but also the MDA model. Finally, the chapter looks at the questions of genre, and organize it based on success criteria for mastering the game. Through the lens of success, four genres are defined and briefly explored: action games, adventure games, strategy games, and process-oriented games.
