SERIOUS GAMES

by Clark C. Abt ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1970

A games theorist once remarked that there were two kinds of people in the world: those who played games and those who didn't. Abt obviously falls into the former category and is convinced that in a larger sense we are all games players. He points out the many analogies between goals, rules, strategies, indeed the whole skeletal framework of most games played for fun and real-life situation in war, business, or politics. As an inventor of serious games played by serious people such as State Department or other cabinet officials or the military, Abt has become an ardent advocate of the usefulness of games as a pedagogic device at all stages of life. For children games may be more instrumental than lecture and rote learning methods and for the children of the poor they may be the most effective way of instilling enthusiasm, cooperation and conquering fears. Indeed they may have a roster of side pay-offs over and above the actual learning of such things as the impact of the industrial revolution on 19th century England (a game called ""Manchester""). Since the book is something of a panegyric, one finds fault occasionally with the overenthusiastic approach and wonders whether competition may be too often the pay-off rather than cooperation.

Pub Date: March 1, 1970

ISBN: 0819161489

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION