Game Fun

FUN AND GAMES, Source

The concept of 'fun' has been around since early pre-history, when humans were at the hunter-gathers had to learn many skills in order to survive and reproduce. If they found certain skills 'fun', they were more likely to practice them and pass them onto the next generation, we are still like this today.

According to Falstein, there are three kinds of fun;

• Physical fun  - useful for any physical feats that allow us to fight or escape danger.
• Mental fun - the problem-solving part of the brain that gave us such useful things as the wheel and fire.
• Social fun - the benefits of banding together in groups for mutual survival, and reproduction.

But this theory of fun can be separated into different categories of 'kinds of fun', 

Sensation - this includes physical movement and looking and hearing things that are interesting

Fantasy -  this allows our brains to come up with novel ideas as we think of the 'what-if'

Narrative - this is useful so that we pass on useful information such as survival skills.

Challenge - This is a way in which humans can show dominance over one another in a relatively safe way.

Fellowship - This opens up the possibility of new food sources, it also allows us to pass on genetic material.

Discovery -  this is what makes us want to explore our nearby territory, the more territory we know the more potential places for us to find food and shelter.

Expression - this is how we can communicate efficiently, through language and expression.

Submission - this demands the attention of the player.

https://learn.canvas.net/courses/3/pages/level-7-dot-1-evolution-of-fun-sans-pokemon?module_item_id=44564

I then read another article on the topic of 'fun' called Natural Funativity by Noah Falstein, this article talks about the differences between education and entertainment, and Falstein believes there are no differences.

Falstain talks about how we share basic drives or survival and reproduction with our fellow creatures. It is in both ours and animals nature to practice the skills that we have to survive. Animals will practice their skills to fight and hunt without a second thought, as they need these skills for survival.

As humans, a way in which we can practice our survival skills, in an educating yet also entertaining way is through games which allow us to use these skills in maybe situations that wouldn't occur in our everyday lives.