[games_access] question game definition

[d. michelle hinn]

I think we can call electronic games by whatever 
term we want to as long as we describe what we 
are talking about. Electronic media gets tricky 
because, well, that's TV, the internet...if you 
are really describing a game those get thrown in 
under that heading -- and internationally that 
might be even more confusing.

I'm a Psychology PhD so I love to get into the 
"does it matter what it's called? how do they 
FEEL about it? What do THEY think it is?" 
argument. So we're having a fun interdisciplinary 
chat now. :)

Simon. Good example!

And some do call Video Games "Electronic Games." 
In the SIG we are talking about video/electronic 
games but we aren't limiting things to a screen 
because, well, with audio games...we can't!

But it adds an interesting detour to think about 
non-electronic games and how they have been 
accessible or made to be accessible. It reminds 
us that "games" go way past Pong! That's just my 
little sidenote into challenging the "exergaming" 
term. I mean all that means to me is a game that 
one gets exercise benefits from. There's nothing 
that says "electronic" or "video" about it.

So without noting "electronic" or "video" within 
the term exergaming...why is there an implied 
assumption that we're talking about anything 
electronic at all? That term, to me, means a HUGE 
spectrum of possibility.

Michelle

>Why is electronic media not acceptable?
>
>This is the term I've always known it by. Remember Simon all those years
>ago? 4 colors/4 sounds. You didn't need the sound or the color to play -
>just one of them.
>
>It's a game, it's electronic but it's not video.
>
>As a Communications PhD I can say with confidence that media covers such a
>BROAD spectrum that it's a perfectly acceptable term.
>
>Kelly Heckman (no longer lurking)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>On Behalf Of Sandra Uhling
>Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:20 AM
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [games_access] question game definition
>
>Hi,
>
>(write back, when this is too off-topic, please)
>
>Michelle thank you very much for your thoughts and comments.
>
>Definition "video games":
>I think here they made a mistake in the past.
>The people did not think about accessibility.
>So they called it "video games". I would call it "electronical games".
>
>The main question is: When we use the word "games",
>do we mean "video/electronical games" or all games?
>In Germany we use "games" for video/electronical games".
>It is really difficult to talk internationally, when basic words are not
>clear.
>
>What do we mean in this SIG, when we talk about games?
>
>
>The exergames at Games for Health, that do not need a screen
>are Makoto, 3Kick, Sportwall, twall...
>There is also Swinxs that do not need a screen.
>It is like a small box and has lots of electronical games.
>The kids have wristbands that communicate with the box.
>
>The question is, are these games or "interactive fitness".
>I do call it a game, because you have a challenge like Tetris.
>It is something like the audiogame pigeon panic.
>You try your best and get a score. ... reminds me at moorhuhn.
>Where you shot some chicks.
>
>Makoto = Moorhuhn = Pigeon Panic = Tetris
>The only difference is, that they do not use a screen.
>
>It is really not easy to get people understand that games that
>do not use a screen are fun and games like other games.
>(OK, I was also very surprised to learn this in the past)
>
>There are also games that use only the braill for input and output.
>But there are also games.
>
>Best regards,
>Sandra
>
>
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