Wittgenstein

Games can be defined as 'an activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime ' (the free dictionary website, 2007). Although, this is a definition of game it is in fact very vague. Consequently, it has been very hard for people to create a very precise definition as there are so many types of game being made available to us.

Wittgenstein has created the notion that although all games are very different and entail different skills there is in fact 'a complex pattern of overlapping resemblances between games' (virtual philosopher website, 2007). Wittgenstein related his theory of games being similar to each other to that of the similarities of family members. This is how the theory got its name of 'Family Resemblance'. The easiest way to get your head round Wittgenstein's complex theory is too think about family members and how although every member is completely individual, there is in fact a few underlying similarities between the members. For example; i may in fact have the same hair and eye colour as my sister but in fact we are very different people.

I have decided to look at two very different digital games and see whether in fact there are the resemblances between them that Wittgenstein suggests. The first game i looked at was Theme Park by Bullfrog productions. It is a simulation computer game that you play on the PC. It allows you to create your own theme park and with the revenue that you make from virtual customers you can expand your park, purchase new rides and add more merchandise and refreshment stalls. The main aim of this game is to gain wealth and material possession and become a successful person.

The second game that i looked at was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This game entitles the player to gain status and wealth by killing people and using illegal behaviour such as stealing and selling drugs. One of the games that i played has a very positive attitude on the player and the other could be seen to be as negative with the illegal behaviour that takes place. However, although they seem extremely different on the surface there is in fact a big similarity between them. Both games have the underlying message of to make money and create an empire.

Wittgenstein is not assuming that all games that become available to us are about making money and material possessions, he is just creating the notion that all games have a similarity with another. The similarities could be as simple as having a winner or could even be that the player has fun whilst playing. This is why the definition of game is becoming so blurred.