Quote:
Originally Posted by Daigoro
Are role playing games games?
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If they have rules, a win state (especially if there could be competition) and a fail state, then that's usually a good sign that something is a game.
Otherwise it's more of a toy or a fun time activity.
The latter being called play doesn't have to mean that what is being played is a game, but even in things like 'two birds are playing in the air' there could be something meaningful behind it.
Just like hide and seek or playing tag in humans could very well be predator evasion training, or prey seeking training, chase training.
And those have win or lose states (although not really rules)
Lose your pursuer. Find the scoundrel. That sort of thing.
In the case of the birds, it might seem random but it could be a test, of which the birds use the data to further its own understanding of itself and the surroundings.
"I'm a better diver than crow 2"
"Sliding down this roof on snow is best done this way"