Meaning Robin Burke GAM 224 Outline Admin Meaning

Meaning Robin Burke ¢ GAM 224 ¢

Outline Admin ¢ Meaning ¢ l ¢ Systems of meaning In-class exercise

Admin ¢ Quiz #2 (Play unit) l ¢ Wednesday "Play" paper due in 1 week

Meaning review Meaning is created by the interpretation of signifiers in context ¢ A game designer ¢ creates a new context l with new meanings l using particular signifiers l

Systems of meaning ¢ Individual signifiers l ¢ System of signifiers l ¢ "green color" means "poisoned" whole set of icons for different status conditions When a new icon appears l players has to try to understand what it might mean

Play of meaning The way in which the game invites the player to use its system of signs ¢ Activities ¢ interpreting signs l learning new signs l looking for signs l sometimes inventing signs l

Assassin ¢ The clown nose l l l ¢ means "an 'assassin' is out to get somebody" means "I'm metaphorically disguised" means "I'm playing the game" People fleeing l l means "I'm playing the game" means "I'm escaping an in-game threat"

How am I doing? ¢ Players need feedback about success l l ¢ ¢ local global Individual signs (should) communicate local success Global success is more holistic l l l percent of map discovered weapons abilities missions accomplished ease of defeating enemies

Play with meaning ¢ ¢ Sometimes games invite play with meaning Signs with conventional meaning are subverted l ¢ dissonance between the conventional meaning and the game's meaning Examples l Spin the Bottle • a kiss signifies? l Grand Theft Auto • carjacking signifies?

Game Metacommunication ¢ ¢ ¢ Meta l (beyond or behind) The communication about the game l as opposed to the communication required in order to play How do we know that we are playing l constant stream of communicative acts required to keep play going l to signal involvement l focus of attention l readiness of participation l game-appropriate demeanor

Exercise ¢ ¢ Hearts Transform the semiotics of winning l from mental • how many points have I taken? • how many points have others taken? l to physical • what is my board position? ¢ Important l l Do not ignore the "shoot the moon" win condition This must also be represented on the board