Ludology in game studies

Ludology in game studies is an idea introduced by Gonzalo Frasca in which entertainment and gameplay are the principle motivation for video and computer games. The term ludology stems from the latin ludus for game which is central to its ideas. Ludologists do not believe the future of gaming to be in cyber drama or narrative games. Instead, these scholars see narrative stories and games as two separate structures meant for different purposes. Unlike narratology in game studies, ludologists believe games are play, not interactive stories. Sometimes the story gets in the way of play as is the case with many cut scenes in games. (like the Matrix)

Key ludologists include Frasca, Markku Eskelinien, Raine Koskimaa, Espen Aarseth, Stewart Moulthrop, and more.  Now that video games have taken on a recognized part of our environment there has been an increase in scholarly work which has spawned this argument between ludologist and narratologists.  

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References

• Waltrip-Fruin, Noah; Harrigan, Pat-Editors. First Person. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2004.
• http://ludology.org/index.php
• http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/31/ludology-is-now-jargon/