16th January 2003, 11:55 AM
Dictionary.com isn't exactly the final word on what a game is.
Allow me to look up the word "computer game".
n : a game played against a computer
That's it! By the way, video game is listed as being synonemous, but synonyms aren't always dead on exact same definition words. They just have similar definitions. All video games are computer games, but not all computer games are video games. You pointed that out with your own definition of what it takes to be a video game, which is MANIPULATION of images on the screen. Text adventure games by the way ARE computer games under dictionary.com's definition. Would you like to dispute that definition? If you do, you have to dispute your own definition of video games. Sorry, that's how logic works.
Okay, now you are making me angry here. I just looked up video game to check it, and I have to say, you left out definition number 2! Allow me to post the second definition listed there.
n : a game played against a computer
Ah, I love ctrl+v. Anyway, as you can see, the other definition clearly is exactly the same as a computer game. In this case, they ARE fully interchangeble, and also, text based adventure games ARE video games under definition number 2. You can't argue that we should only use definition number 1 without in effect arguing that the first definition is also invalid in this argument.
You could dispute the individual sources though. You could in fact argue that Princeton University is not a valid source of word definitions, while American Heritage is. I say you COULD do that, and if you somehow won that argument, you would destroy the two definitions I posted without harming your own. However, you won't win that one, because quite honestly, I don't think anyone is going to agree that Princeton University's dictionarial abilities are not valid.
Anyway, then goes how the game plays. To be honest, it IS a lot like a graphic adventure game of the PC style that use a parsar interface. The difference is that you can more directly control movement of the main character. Instead of having to type where they should go, you just use the arrows to direct them there. However, aside from that, EVERYTHING is just a text adventure with some graphics to show what's going on. Text adventures have all the same basic gameplay elements. Instead of using arrow keys, you type in the move command and see if you got killed for doing that :D. Once you find out where you are, you continue trying to find out what to do. You can collect items, like a letter or a knife, and use them, like to cut a rope or to give someone a letter. It's still a grand adventure where you play against the computer (the computer doing one thing, presenting the puzzles to you). Do they stand up to today's games? Likely no, just like Donkey Kong doesn't. However, they are both classics that were great at the time, and more importantly, they are BOTH games.
To be honest OB1, I can't see how you can claim anything you have said is actually a logical argument. I also fail to see ANY proof of your claims in any posts aside from just stating that it is so. That is not proof by the way. I am however happy to see that you have been obeying my rules of debate :D.
Allow me to look up the word "computer game".
n : a game played against a computer
That's it! By the way, video game is listed as being synonemous, but synonyms aren't always dead on exact same definition words. They just have similar definitions. All video games are computer games, but not all computer games are video games. You pointed that out with your own definition of what it takes to be a video game, which is MANIPULATION of images on the screen. Text adventure games by the way ARE computer games under dictionary.com's definition. Would you like to dispute that definition? If you do, you have to dispute your own definition of video games. Sorry, that's how logic works.
Okay, now you are making me angry here. I just looked up video game to check it, and I have to say, you left out definition number 2! Allow me to post the second definition listed there.
n : a game played against a computer
Ah, I love ctrl+v. Anyway, as you can see, the other definition clearly is exactly the same as a computer game. In this case, they ARE fully interchangeble, and also, text based adventure games ARE video games under definition number 2. You can't argue that we should only use definition number 1 without in effect arguing that the first definition is also invalid in this argument.
You could dispute the individual sources though. You could in fact argue that Princeton University is not a valid source of word definitions, while American Heritage is. I say you COULD do that, and if you somehow won that argument, you would destroy the two definitions I posted without harming your own. However, you won't win that one, because quite honestly, I don't think anyone is going to agree that Princeton University's dictionarial abilities are not valid.
Anyway, then goes how the game plays. To be honest, it IS a lot like a graphic adventure game of the PC style that use a parsar interface. The difference is that you can more directly control movement of the main character. Instead of having to type where they should go, you just use the arrows to direct them there. However, aside from that, EVERYTHING is just a text adventure with some graphics to show what's going on. Text adventures have all the same basic gameplay elements. Instead of using arrow keys, you type in the move command and see if you got killed for doing that :D. Once you find out where you are, you continue trying to find out what to do. You can collect items, like a letter or a knife, and use them, like to cut a rope or to give someone a letter. It's still a grand adventure where you play against the computer (the computer doing one thing, presenting the puzzles to you). Do they stand up to today's games? Likely no, just like Donkey Kong doesn't. However, they are both classics that were great at the time, and more importantly, they are BOTH games.
To be honest OB1, I can't see how you can claim anything you have said is actually a logical argument. I also fail to see ANY proof of your claims in any posts aside from just stating that it is so. That is not proof by the way. I am however happy to see that you have been obeying my rules of debate :D.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)