What is or isn't a video game

it could be an audio game

Because I've not heard a definition that includes walking sims and doesn't include basically all entertainment software

If it has an interactive game element displayed visually in it its a video game

my mouse pointer is a video game

Game element is the key

It has to be a game

It can't be "hold forward until the end"

Game element is the key,

Because if its just "a story" in visualisation

A pdf of a book is "a game" 😛

I've heard people say it's just any software you use for entertainment

scrolling down to read the next page is interaction, and its graphically visualised

But theres no game element to it

@Atkins If you read between the lines in the Guardian article. Druckman and Kaplan are representatives of major studios. Most of the remainder appear to be university faculty, on galleries or very small studios. It's like movies. These are the guys who make those really awful hyper-politicized indie movies no one watches and teaches the next generation of movie makers what to put in their films (and then hand out the awards)

So I asked them how they'd rate GIMP as a game

i dont think second life is a video game

It isnt

There's no game element to it as a whole

It's highly likely the people are awarding themselves monies out of public treasuries.

Which isn't to say there aren't games in second life

Its a game if it has a game element in it,

Watching a movie on your pc is entertainment, but it doesn't make my media player a video game

👌

Walking simulators are basically just interactive novels,

You can decide how fast it goes etc and listen to a story

hmm

Yup

ok

And it's not insulting for them to not be games. It's better if they're separated

People should know what they're getting into

well theres also things known as "serious games"

Thats basically education in gaming form

Edutainment

what a silly term

"education" in the way that Uni indoctrination is "education"

Or Chinese political education.

education doesnt need to be serious

There are decent educational games

nah, Serious Games are stuff like for example flight simulators for pilots etc

But those usually get called "educational" instead.

thats even more silly

I always thought those were called "simulators" or "trainers"

yeah

well

This "serious games" movement appears to be more about being "artistic" in the style of Brecht or something.

Serious games are meant to be realistic