I chose AuditionSEA as my game because I feel that it has a wide spectrum of things to discuss about throughout the module and more importantly, dance is an area of interest for me! And after a few weeks of playing, I realised it really doesn't work the way offline does - moving bodies. Not a very easy game for me! I can't co-ordinate my fingers!!
Anyway, here's my discussion of the game with regards to the game.
1. Definition of "play" in AuditionSEA
1. Free
AuditionSEA is not an obligatory game because one is not obliged to join a battle or even enter a "room". It is free in the sense that I can either join a game or create a room by and practise and play by myself. Even if I entered a room, I have the freedom of leaving of battling with the players in that room still. Therefore, the idea of "free" applies to this game.
Even during the game with others or by yourself, one can choose not to play and the music will still carry on, game will still move on, except that no points will be given to the player. In other words, "one plays only if and when one wishes to" as quoted in the reading.
2. Separate
With other people in the room
Playing alone
Even during the game with others or by yourself, one can choose not to play and the music will still carry on, game will still move on, except that no points will be given to the player. In other words, "one plays only if and when one wishes to" as quoted in the reading.
2. Separate
The game complies to the idea of "separate" because it is isolated from reality and is limited within the time and space in the game world.
There is a space for dance battles, a space for social networking (couple garden), showing how needs dictate the uses of different spaces in the game world.
As for time, there is a limited amount of time for each battle - the duration of a song. No matter how well or how badly a player is doing, he/she has to end when the music ends.
There is a space for dance battles, a space for social networking (couple garden), showing how needs dictate the uses of different spaces in the game world.
Map in the game
3. Uncertain
The uncertainty in AuditionSEA does not apply to the withholding of the outcome since points are constantly updated as the game progresses. Players can easily know how many points the opponent is leading or losing by. However, the uncertainty applies to the process of the game. One might not be able to complete all strokes and hence, resulting in lower points. The process of hitting all the arrows correctly and on time is uncertain as the accuracy varies from player to player, from choice of music to choice of music and also, from level to level.
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4. Unproductive
AuditionSEA is indeed unproductive because no new elements or goods or wealth (in reality) is generated. Only virtual points, money, clothes, etc can be obtained after playing and winning experience points (EXP) and money (Den) from battles.
5. Governed by rules
There is of course, a "correct" way of playing which is governed by the set of rules game developers set. However, as we would have expected, online games like Audition would definitely have problems of hackers who create cheat codes and share it online with other players. The cheats however, do not destroy the game, but only help a player increase level or gain more den.
6. Make-believe
My feel is that AuditionSEA has both a realistic and a make-believe side to it.
It is realistic because people really do battle with dance. This is especially so in street dance, hip hop, breakdance etc. In this sense, AuditionSEA is not really "fake" and unrealistic game. Also, who wins the battle depends on the skills of the player as well, which is similar to the offline dance battles.
However on the other hand, the way of battling is different because in the offline, people use bodies to dance while in AuditionSEA, one just needs to hit the up down left right buttons in order to battle. In this aspect, AuditionSEA is make-believe, unrealistic.
Thus, I believe AuditionSEA is well defined as a "play" since it fulfills most of the definitions with slight variations of each definition here and there.
It is realistic because people really do battle with dance. This is especially so in street dance, hip hop, breakdance etc. In this sense, AuditionSEA is not really "fake" and unrealistic game. Also, who wins the battle depends on the skills of the player as well, which is similar to the offline dance battles.
However on the other hand, the way of battling is different because in the offline, people use bodies to dance while in AuditionSEA, one just needs to hit the up down left right buttons in order to battle. In this aspect, AuditionSEA is make-believe, unrealistic.
Thus, I believe AuditionSEA is well defined as a "play" since it fulfills most of the definitions with slight variations of each definition here and there.
Classifying Wahjong
With reference to the my experience and information found on other sources on the Internet, I believe AuditionSEA can be categorized as an Agon as well as a Mimicry. Also, I thought that Ludus applies more to the game as compared to Paidia.
Agon
I feel that it is an Agon because there is competition among the players. Because the word "battle" sounds like a win-lose competition among the players. In this school of thought, I believe the game is an Agon.
However, my concern is that it is a battle but in fact, players are playing by themselves. One cannot hinder the success of the opponents using other methods except to win the opponent by skill. It is more of a test of skill on the individual rather than a competition. Thus, I think AuditionSEA should be only slightly Agon-istic.
However, my concern is that it is a battle but in fact, players are playing by themselves. One cannot hinder the success of the opponents using other methods except to win the opponent by skill. It is more of a test of skill on the individual rather than a competition. Thus, I think AuditionSEA should be only slightly Agon-istic.
Mimicry
AuditionSEA is mimicry as well because of its high imitation of the dancers online and the dancers offline. In terms of dance moves, music, battle setting etc, it is almost exactly like the offline. The player thus mimics how a dancer would wear (for example, might think that a dancer should dress in a cool manner, thus works even harder to earn enough den to purchase nicer and cooler clothings), how a dancer moves, and speaks, etc.
Hence, I believe there is quite a high level of mimicry in the design and the play of the game.
Hence, I believe there is quite a high level of mimicry in the design and the play of the game.
Ludus
In AuditionSEA, one has to make sure the arrows are hit correctly and the spacebar is hit on time in order to gain points. These are the rules of the game and are to be strictly abode by in order to win a game. It does not entail any unrestricted play at all. Even if "freestyle" is allowed (where one can start with any arrow desired), subsequent arrows will then appear for players to follow. Here, we can see that the game is highly Ludus and not Paidia since it does not encourage unrestricted explorations or the game world.
Freestyle that is not really "free"
My reflection
The game is rather "real" in the sense that dancers really do battle with each other in reality. The special thing about AuditionSEA is that it requires quick mind to scan through the arrows shown, and quick fingers to key in the arrows presented, followed by the spacebar. As a newbie, I am really very very bad at this game, especially when it comes to recognizing whether it is a right or a left arrow. Also, I haven't had the chance to explore different rooms because I believe different rooms have different batlle types and hence, different rules. However, one thing to note is that even though they have different rules, it does not make the game a Paidia because the battles are still guided and governed by a set of rules.
My question
Can all offline games be developed into online?
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