A theory is any attempt to explain observed facts in terms of a possible explanation that accounts for the observed facts.
The theory of games ( not to be confused with the mathematical discipline of game theory which although can be used to help analyse games, is something quite different) is a body of theory intended to explain the nature of games, how games work, why games succeed or fail, who to judge the quality of a game, how to create new games or improve existing games, how to better understand the role and possible importance of games, and how to better play games and more still.
It is only by theorising about games that games can be fully understood in the correct context(s). Without proper understanding of the theory of games, it is not possible to systematically create new games in order to meet certain objectives or to understand the role of existing games and how they might be improved, how they should be best played, or why would should bother choosing to play them in particular in the first place.
All of the above reasons are important issues if games are not to be trivial uses of time, as they are often accused of being. While as we shall see fun is an important element of any game, many ideal games should strive to be more than simply fun: They should offer something else that sets them aside from other passtimes which might be easier and less productive uses of ones recreational time.
Game theory is important not only to those that play games, it is obviously most important to those that make games, whatever form the games take: be they simple board games or all the way up to the latest high-definition computer game on the very latest hardware.
Creating an attempt at a game is often fairly simple generally ( at least if one is not attempting to create a computer game), creating a fun game is not generally all that difficult, however creating a game that is both fun and potentially beneficial for other reasons is generally a challenge which requires a fair bit of understanding what the needs and values of the target audience and how to best go about meeting these needs and appealing to these values.
This is the main promise of the theory of games, to facilitate the creation of truly good games that stand out as truly unique and fulfilling experiences. Good games are often more than just fun, they have other things to offer as well. At the very least, the theory of game allows the creation of fun games!
If you want to learn how to create, and or select the best games to play, then this blog is for you and I hope you enjoy the theories I intend to present. I also hope they further the creation of what is currently relatively rare : truly great games!
