[MUD-Dev2] [DESIGN] What is a game? (again) was:[Excellent commentary on Vanguard's diplomacy system]

[cruise]

Thus spake Jeffrey Kesselman...
> But really, IMo, what you are saying is that a "game" is a challenge
> with some reasonable chance of success on the part of the player.
> (Note that this excludes most carny games, which i consider "scams'
> not games.  It also leave out the lottery for a similar reason.

Yup, that's what I'm saying.

> There *is* a whole 'nother category of entertainment that doesn't have
> this quality, but i would call those "toys" as opposed to games.

Give me an example of toy use, and I think I'll be able to point out the 
"challenge" and "success" in that play.