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Backgammon and the Philosophy of Games ClassifyingThere are several ways to classify games - by their nature (skill or chance), their equipment (cards or pen and paper), the number of players (solitaire vs. massively multi players), etc – and then there are dozens of possible combinations (like skill one-player online card games) and sub categories (multi-player construction and management simulations video games).
Corvus suggests another way to categorize games: immersion vs. engaging games. While, according to his suggestion, every engaging game is also immersive, this does not necessarily match the other way around. i.e., every game (he talks of video games, but feel free to broaden the definition to any game of your choice, including backgammon obviously) that can attract and hold the attention of a player is essentially a game capable of absorbing the player. Yet, some games stay there, immersive but unable to drown the player's totally.
Backgammon, the art director did not work extra hours
Talking about video games, the 3D life-like graphics is a major factor in making the difference between immersive and engaging game, so does the game play and its plot. But what about simpler games? Is backgammon an engaging game, an immersive one or neither? Some of the people who commented to this post have already answered to these questions. First comment was made by someone who, as a non fan of backgammon, grew up amazed of the game's taking over of his father's attention, who "used to play backgammon in coffeehouses and he wouldn’t even recognize me even after half an hour of my arrival".
And second, by another one who wonders whether the division between immersive and engaging games is not parallel to the separation between right and left brain, thus, backgammon, chess and other games where the art director did not work extra hours, employ the left, more verbal, mathematical, and logical side of the brain. What means that despite the original thesis, backgammon is an engaging, yet not immersive game, or have I got it all mixed up?
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