Theory of Fun for Game Design

by Raph Koster

But games do need to illuminate aspects of ourselves that we do not understand fully. Games do need to present us with problems and patterns that do not have one solution, because those are the problems that deepen our understanding of ourselves. Games do need to be created with formal systems that have authorial intent. Games do need to acknowledge their influence over our patterns of thought. Games do need to wrestle with issues of social responsibility. Games do need to attempt to apply our understanding of human nature to the formal aspects of game design. Games do need to develop a critical vocabulary so that understanding of our field can be shared. Games do need to push at the boundaries. Most importantly, games and their designers need to acknowledge that there is no distinction between art and entertainment. Viewed in context with human endeavor and what we know of how our inner core actually works, games are not to be denigrated. They are not trivial, childish things.