Gaming is unlikely
A Theory of Ludic Action
A concept of game is justified and unfolded, focusing on the lure and threat of the unexpected. The authors present their theory of ludic action within classical game concepts and contemporary game studies discourse. They systematically outline the phenomenal multiplicity of games from a historical perspective. The media-technical and communicative preconditions of the computer game boom are explained, alongside reflections on the escalation of ludic violence. The rising trend of gamification is critically examined, highlighting the instrumentalization of games. The authors connect the inflation of the game metaphor to ludic connotations present in the social structures of modern and digital society. Fabian Arlt, M.A., is pursuing a doctorate in social and business communication at the University of the Arts (UdK) in Berlin, having studied media management. Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Arlt, a social scientist and publicist, teaches at the Institute for Theory and Practice of Communication at the same university. This work is a translation of an original German edition, utilizing artificial intelligence for translation via DeepL.com, followed by a human revision focused on content, resulting in a stylistically distinct reading experience compared to conventional translations.
