Episode 46 What is an Idiogame?
What is an Idiogame?
Hi and welcome to Experience Points by University XP. On Experience Points we explore different ways we can learn from games. I’m your host Dave Eng from games-based learning by University XP. Find out more at www.universityxp.com
On today’s episode we’ll answer the question “What is an Idiogame?”
Most of the games that we know and play include a slew of interesting and meaningful decisions. Oftentimes those decisions lead to us winning the game and triumphing over our opponents.
But sometimes, those decisions just allow us to revel in them. We take time to enjoy those decisions for what they are: a new experience.
There are games that are series of these interesting and meaningful experiences that we wouldn’t otherwise classify as orthogames. Rather, these are games whose decisions produce a personal outcome for ourselves.
Can games include decisions that serve just us? Yes they can! These kinds of games are called idiogames and this episode will take a deeper look into what they are.
Challenges surrounding how we create definitions around games will also be included. This episode will also cover the structure of how these meaningful decisions produce personal outcomes for ourselves. Finally, the episode will close on some idiogame examples.
An idiogame is a series of interesting decisions that produces a personal outcome. Unlike orthogames; these decisions don’t necessarily resolve to help individual players win in the game or win against each other.
The prefix “idio” in idiogame means “personal or unique.” Again, unlike orthogames; idiogames are a series of choices that provides us with a personal outcome. Some immediate examples of this type of decision structure include Choose your Own Adventure style of books or the Black Mirror movie Bandersnatch.
However, there are elements of each of these examples that challenge this definition. If we enter the game with the intention to keep playing, then decisions that we make in Choose your Own Adventure could prevent us from doing that.
We could also lose our character or go on series of decisions that cause the story to end prematurely. This is certainly the case in Bandersnatch.
This problem is challenged even further by players who mostly only know orthogames for the purpose of winning. Therefore; they may not see decision making for personal outcomes in idiogames as legitimate because they are not “strategic choices.”
This is part of the reason why creating definitions for games can be a contentious process. Especially if game designers enter the field with an already narrow definition of games that are highly influenced by traditional strategy games.
Thinking about games in such narrow definitions – often influenced by our own experience – makes it so that creating new media that challenges the genre becomes increasingly more difficult.
I realize that the definition of “games” is a difficult one; especially when it comes to creating sub-categories such as orthogames and idiogames. But, definitions have to be consistently challenged in order to fully explore the field and what it has to offer for players and students alike.
If idiogames and their reliance on choice creation for personal outcome makes it so that we accept them as games; then we should continue to do so. But with the appropriate amount of discussion and debate about what constitutes a “game.”
I think that one of the more exemplary examples of this is the party game Just One where players are challenged to write single word clues to help their teammates guess the hidden word.
Of course, you can play the game as described in the rulebook. However, I’ve had much more fun playing it around a table with no discernable end in sight.
Am I still playing the game as designed? Or have I chosen to play Just One as a fun activity full of personal choices? If much of the game structure is based on choice; and idiogames are about player choices to produce personal outcomes; then perhaps we should take a closer look at the kinds of choices that players have to make in idiogames.
Strategy games are considered a series of interesting decisions that players make with the intention of winning. Idiogames are a series of choices that produce a personal outcome. But games overall can be classified as a series of choices that meets the needs of its audience.
This is especially true of games-based learning; serious games; and simulations as they were created to meet the learning outcomes of the students and players. Games have the structure necessary to accomplish this so long as it provides avenues for players to make meaningful decisions.
Unpredictability and randomness can certainly be incorporated in games, but they are often included in measured doses. Some randomness is okay; but presenting randomness in way where the player cannot viably predict them can be a very frustrating experience.
But certain idiogames like role playing games allow you to change the aesthetics of your character. While those choices may not have an impact on the character; they are still choices that matter: for the player.
Role-playing games are perhaps one of the most well known examples of idiogames. Players are not playing merely to compete with one another; but are engaging in the experience in order to achieve a personal outcome.
Perhaps Dungeons and Dragons is one of the most popular idiogames available. But other examples include LARPS (live action role playing) games as well as the aforementioned Choose your Own Adventure.
This episode took a deeper look into what idiogames are: a series of interesting choices that produce a personal outcome. This episode also reviewed the challenges of creating game definitions. The structure of meaningful decisions in idiogames were covered along with some examples of popular idiogames.
I hope you found this episode useful. If you’d like to learn more, then a great place to start is with my free course on gamification. You can sign up for it at www.universityxp.com/gamification You can also get a full transcript of this episode including links to references in the description or show notes. Thanks for joining me!
Again, I’m your host Dave Eng from games-based learning by University XP. On Experience Points we explore different ways we can learn from games. If you liked this episode please consider commenting, sharing, and subscribing.
Subscribing is absolutely free and ensures that you’ll get the next episode of Experience Points delivered directly to you. I’d also love it if you took some time to rate the show! I live to lift others with learning. So, if you found this episode useful, consider sharing it with someone who could benefit.
Also make sure to visit University XP online at www.universityxp.com University XP is also on Twitter @University_XP and on Facebook and LinkedIn as University XP. Also, feel free to email me anytime at dave@universityxp.com Game on!
References
Bateman, C. (2008, July 2). A Game Isn't a Series of Interesting Decisions. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://onlyagame.typepad.com/only_a_game/2008/07/a-game-isnt-a-series-of-interesting-decisions.html
Compton, C. (2019, November 18). Designing Interesting Decisions in Games (And When Not To). Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://medium.com/@remptongames/designing-interesting-decisions-in-games-and-when-not-to-452af04d0e66
DeCoster, R. (2014). Idiogames. Retrieved January 15, 2020 from http://geeknightsrym.tumblr.com/post/57334608124/idiogames-better-definitions-of-the-word-game.
Definitions of Game - Orthogame and Idiogame. (2013). Retrieved January 15, 2020, from http://forum.frontrowcrew.com/discussion/9522/definitions-of-game-orthogame-and-idiogame.
Eng, D. (2019, August 6). Meaningful Choices University XP. Accessed January 21, 2020. Retrieved from www.universityxp.com/blog/2019/8/6/meaningful-choices.
Eng, D. (2019, June 25). Simulations vs Games University XP. Accessed January 21, 2020. Retrieved from www.universityxp.com/blog/2019/6/25/simulations-vs-games.
Eng, D. (2019, May 7). Serious Games University XP. Accessed January 21, 2020. Retrieved from www.universityxp.com/blog/2019/5/7/what-are-serious-games.
Eng, D. (2019, September 4). Game-Based Learning vs Gamification University XP. Accessed January 21, 2020. Retrieved from www.universityxp.com/blog/2019/9/4/game-based-learning-vs-gamification.
Eng, D. (2020, January 16). How do I win? University XP. Accessed January 21, 2020. Retrieved from www.universityxp.com/blog/2020/1/16/how-do-i-win.
Greene, M. (2008, July 5). 'A Game Isn't a Series of Interesting Decisions. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://kotaku.com/a-game-isnt-a-series-of-interesting-decisions-5022277