On The Foundations of Digital Games Staffan Björk1,2 1Gothenburg University 2The Interactive Institute Department of Applied Information Technology Lindholmsplatsen 1 412 96 Gothenburg SWEDEN 417 56 Göteborg +46 (0)31-7721039 +46 (0)702-889759
[email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT 2. THE CONCEPT OF DIGITAL Computers have lead to a revolution in the games we play, and, In common usage, digital is typically attributed to something that following this, an interest for computer-based games has been makes use of computer technology, i.e. digital games refer to sparked in research communities. However, this easily leads to the games that are played or mediated by computers. This usage is perception of a one-way direction of influence between that the unproblematic for everyday and commercial purposes, but poses field of game research and computer science. This historical some problems to research due to some inherent ambiguities it investigation points towards a deep and intertwined relationship creates. First, some of the electronic or video games used analog between research on games and the development of computers, computers or circuitry (e.g. Tennis for Two1 and the unnamed giving a richer picture of both fields. While doing so, an overview game patented as "cathode ray tube amusement device" [16]). Are of early game research is presented and an argument made that the these games examples of video and computer games but not distinction between digital games and non-digital games may be digital games even if this is assumed to mean computer games? counter-productive to game research as a whole.