Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
2008
Abstract
Discussion with R. Caillois (games of skill are actual/potential competitions; basic game motives are competition, chance, vertigo, and pretending) is based on a collection of schoolchildren games, gathered in Czech schools.
Discharging (hitting with a thrown ball) in Dodgeball, Ball Tag, Snowballing, and Pig-in-the-Middle is considered as an example of games of skill. As such and even as the complement of charging it does not serve only the identification of the victor and the loser.
Likewise, it serves the circulation of rivalry (Ball Tag), the orgies of rivalry (Snowballing), and the gang-up in bullying the Pig and the punishment of the successful bully (when taking the role of the Pig-in-the-Middle).