Contextual Studies 2

"It [game] proceeds within its own proper boundaries of time and space according to fixed rules and in an orderly manner. It promotes the formation of social groupings that tend to surround themselves with secrecy and to stress the difference from the common world by disguise or other means" -Johan Huizinga,

Huizinga, Johan (1992), Homo Ludens, Beacon Press.

This quote narrates quite fittingly how games can be used as a social medium and will be incorporated into my introduction to give some needed direction to the essay.

I have also come across this interview with Donald Bitzer, in it he discusses the repercussions of what he terms, 'virtual trade', the exchange of in game items. I have used an interesting extract from this interview in my essay to illustrate how games can exist beyond a social for of recreation.

Interview with Bitzer, Donald L., (1988), Interviewed by Sheldon Hochheiser, on 19^th February 1988.

 In support of the quote I use from the video interview in the last post I made,  "What we see now is people playing games, literally on every layer of society, ranging from the Farmville super-world to what we do…we are expanding the imagination of players of the time.” –Richard Hilleman, chief creative officer of EA,

  I will examine the game farmville to show how not all games are for the hardcore solo player and how multi-player can be made more accessible to a wider audience. This has lead me to Zynga's homwpage, where I was surprised to learn that Cityville outshines Farmville by more than double its registered users.