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exercise 8

Jesper Juul distinguishes between games of emergence, where a game is specified as a small number of rules that combine and yield a large number of game variations, and games of progression, where a game presents the player with a series of puzzles or challenges which must be accomplished in a certain order. Discuss whether games of progression, which often attempt to combine a narrative structure with gameplay, are unique to computer-based games.


While I cannot, at the moment, think of many instances in which a non-computer based game is a game of progression, the latter is definitely not one which is unique to computer based games. However, the tendency for this to be so assumed may be due to the greater prevalence or witnessing of games of this nature on computers.

Some non-computer games which may be considered as games of progression include text narratives, team building events where ‘players’ go through a series of obstacles to get to the endpoint (and where there is usually a narrative that provides a certain level of coherence and connection to all the games that are being played), or even an amazing race. In these games, like that of computer based games, the possibility space tends to be quite limited, and possibilities may get drained once the game has been completed. The other similarities include the accomplishment of tasks, or overcoming of obstacles and challenges in a progressive manner such that the player is constantly advancing from one stage to another upon completion of the previous one.

Amazing races can be considered to be games of progression. It is, first and foremost, a game because players may interact with the system (in this case the environment and structure that has been put in place) to achieve their aim within the set of rules that have been set. Secondly, there is the spatial element involved where teams can explore the environment and it is their movement through this space that they gain knowledge of the narrative. The nature of such games tends to be the same save for the narratives that are put in place to create the setting and motivation for players. Narratives in games such as the amazing race may be described as being revealed to players in bits and pieces as they play the game. It helps to maintain the coherence of the race too. Of course, there may be instances where amazing races do not necessarily have a narrative to it and it usually boys down to the objectives and intentions for the race itself.

Thirdly, the game has elements of chance, skills and competition as the goal of the game is to complete the race in the shortest time possible against other teams. It comprises different stages or challenges which teams have to go through, and it is only with the completion of one task that the team may proceed to the next level. Usually, the completion of obstacles will unravel clues which will bring the team to the next stage of the game. The areas to which the teams have been through, the things that they see and do, can then reveal some kind of a narrative (usually as a result of them making the connection). In a way, the author has control over the narrative.

I have thus shown that games of progression are not unique to computer-based games by using and elaborating on the example of the amazing race. I reiterate that games of progression are just more common and visible in computer based games.

posted by shamanthayan @ 9:32 PM