2021
Masek, Leland; Stenros, Jaakko
In: ELUDAMOS, vol. 12, iss. 1, pp. 13-37, 2021, ISSN: 1866-6124.
Journal article Open access
Abstract | Links | Tags: Engagement, Literature review, Meta-synthesis, Play, Playful, Playfulness
@article{Masek2021,
title = {The Meaning of Playfulness: A Review of the Contemporary Definitions of the Concept across Disciplines.},
author = {Leland Masek and Jaakko Stenros},
url = {https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202203072382},
doi = {10.7557/23.6361},
issn = {1866-6124},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-14},
journal = {ELUDAMOS},
volume = {12},
issue = {1},
pages = {13-37},
abstract = {‘Playfulness’ is a concept used in various disciplines. In this article, we conduct a qualitative, systematic, and interdisciplinary literature review on the term ‘playfulness’ as used in recent scholarship. The article aims to overcome the ambiguity relating to ‘playfulness’ in order to create opportunities for growth in all related fields of study. Based on 429 written works and the 184 extracted definitions of ‘playfulness’ across disciplines, we find six clusters of meaning all of which emphasise engagement. Three themes describe different methods for how engagement is structured to become a higher priority than its context. The other three themes discuss structural characteristics of contexts that are playfully engaged in. A new synthetic conceptualization is offered: Playfulness prioritizes engagement over external consequence, realness, or convention. Furthermore, the study argues that playfulness is not a ‘what’ or a ‘why,’ but a ‘how,’ a priority organizing principle.},
keywords = {Engagement, Literature review, Meta-synthesis, Play, Playful, Playfulness},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
‘Playfulness’ is a concept used in various disciplines. In this article, we conduct a qualitative, systematic, and interdisciplinary literature review on the term ‘playfulness’ as used in recent scholarship. The article aims to overcome the ambiguity relating to ‘playfulness’ in order to create opportunities for growth in all related fields of study. Based on 429 written works and the 184 extracted definitions of ‘playfulness’ across disciplines, we find six clusters of meaning all of which emphasise engagement. Three themes describe different methods for how engagement is structured to become a higher priority than its context. The other three themes discuss structural characteristics of contexts that are playfully engaged in. A new synthetic conceptualization is offered: Playfulness prioritizes engagement over external consequence, realness, or convention. Furthermore, the study argues that playfulness is not a ‘what’ or a ‘why,’ but a ‘how,’ a priority organizing principle.
Koskinen, Elina; Meriläinen, Mikko
Social Playfulness—Memorable Family Co-play Experiences with Pokémon GO
In: Spanellis, Agnessa; Harviainen, J. Tuomas (Ed.): Transforming Society and Organizations through Gamification, pp. 247-270, Springer International, 2021, ISBN: 9783030682064.
Book chapter
Abstract | Links | Tags: Family, Location-based game, Player experience, Playfulness, Pokémon Go
@incollection{Koskinen2021,
title = {Social Playfulness—Memorable Family Co-play Experiences with Pokémon GO},
author = {Elina Koskinen and Mikko Meriläinen},
editor = {Agnessa Spanellis and J. Tuomas Harviainen
},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-68207-1_13},
isbn = {9783030682064},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-05-08},
booktitle = {Transforming Society and Organizations through Gamification},
pages = {247-270},
publisher = {Springer International},
abstract = {Pokémon GO, a very popular location-based augmented reality game, has appealed to a wide range of age groups and encouraged entire families to play. This chapter examines family social interactions in the context of digital gaming through an exploratory qualitative survey study (n = 263) of Pokémon GO players’ memorable experiences. We studied siblings and partners in addition to children and parents to chart the many forms of family interaction around Pokémon GO. Our results suggest that playing digital games in a family context can facilitate diverse positive experiences and interactions and support family bonding, but this is contingent on a variety of gameplay features. In the case of Pokémon GO, a key element was the playful mindset elicited by the game, in turn encouraged by its location-based gameplay. Pokémon GO can augment everyday interactions by adding a playful layer to them, since it is easily embedded in and combined with other activities.
},
keywords = {Family, Location-based game, Player experience, Playfulness, Pokémon Go},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
Pokémon GO, a very popular location-based augmented reality game, has appealed to a wide range of age groups and encouraged entire families to play. This chapter examines family social interactions in the context of digital gaming through an exploratory qualitative survey study (n = 263) of Pokémon GO players’ memorable experiences. We studied siblings and partners in addition to children and parents to chart the many forms of family interaction around Pokémon GO. Our results suggest that playing digital games in a family context can facilitate diverse positive experiences and interactions and support family bonding, but this is contingent on a variety of gameplay features. In the case of Pokémon GO, a key element was the playful mindset elicited by the game, in turn encouraged by its location-based gameplay. Pokémon GO can augment everyday interactions by adding a playful layer to them, since it is easily embedded in and combined with other activities.
2020
Ferrer-Conill, Raul; Foxman, Maxwell; Jones, Janet; Sihvonen, Tanja; Siitonen, Marko
Playful Approaches to News Engagement
In: Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, vol. 26, iss. 3, pp. 457-469, 2020, ISBN: 1354-8565.
Journal article Open access
Abstract | Links | Tags: Engagement, Games, Gamification, Institutional logics, Journalism, Ludic, News, Newsgames, Playfulness
@article{Ferrer-Conill2020,
title = {Playful Approaches to News Engagement},
author = {Raul Ferrer-Conill and Maxwell Foxman and Janet Jones and Tanja Sihvonen and Marko Siitonen},
url = {http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202005193312},
doi = {10.1177/1354856520923964},
isbn = {1354-8565},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-06-01},
journal = {Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies},
volume = {26},
issue = {3},
pages = {457-469},
abstract = {From crossword puzzles and quizzes to more complex gamification strategies and serious newsgames, legacy media has long explored ways to deploy playful approaches to deliver their content and engage with the audience. We examine how news and games fit together when news organizations, game creators and news audiences welcome gameful forms of communication and participation. Moreover, we reflect on the theoretical and empirical significance of merging news with games as a way to reformulate normative assumptions, production practices and consumption patterns. As a result, the boundaries between journalism and game’s logics start to erode, and they begin to find new ways of converging.},
keywords = {Engagement, Games, Gamification, Institutional logics, Journalism, Ludic, News, Newsgames, Playfulness},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
From crossword puzzles and quizzes to more complex gamification strategies and serious newsgames, legacy media has long explored ways to deploy playful approaches to deliver their content and engage with the audience. We examine how news and games fit together when news organizations, game creators and news audiences welcome gameful forms of communication and participation. Moreover, we reflect on the theoretical and empirical significance of merging news with games as a way to reformulate normative assumptions, production practices and consumption patterns. As a result, the boundaries between journalism and game’s logics start to erode, and they begin to find new ways of converging.
2019
Friman, Usva; Turtiainen, Riikka
Playing the CrossFit Open 2018
In: Well Played, vol. 8, iss. 3, pp. 33-63, 2019, ISSN: 2164-344X.
Journal article Open access
Abstract | Links | Tags: CrossFit, Gamefulness, Playfulness, Sports
@article{Friman2019,
title = {Playing the CrossFit Open 2018},
author = {Usva Friman and Riikka Turtiainen},
url = {https://press.etc.cmu.edu/index.php/product/well-played-vol-8-no-3/},
doi = {10.1184/R1/9914447},
issn = {2164-344X},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-26},
journal = {Well Played},
volume = {8},
issue = {3},
pages = {33-63},
abstract = {Sports and games share many defining features, among them the aspects of playfulness and competition, and new forms of gamified sports and sportified gaming are emerging from the intersections of game and sports cultures. In this essay, we explore a sports competition CrossFit Open 2018 through its various levels of gamefulness and playfulness, asking: In what ways is the CrossFit Open a game? How can it be played? How and whom does it invite to play? In our reading, we present the CrossFit Open as a current pinnacle of the hybridization of sports and games, combining playful forms of exercise with high-level competition, gamified measuring of performance, and participatory play in social media – a game in which the field of play exceeds the limits between offline and online environments.},
keywords = {CrossFit, Gamefulness, Playfulness, Sports},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sports and games share many defining features, among them the aspects of playfulness and competition, and new forms of gamified sports and sportified gaming are emerging from the intersections of game and sports cultures. In this essay, we explore a sports competition CrossFit Open 2018 through its various levels of gamefulness and playfulness, asking: In what ways is the CrossFit Open a game? How can it be played? How and whom does it invite to play? In our reading, we present the CrossFit Open as a current pinnacle of the hybridization of sports and games, combining playful forms of exercise with high-level competition, gamified measuring of performance, and participatory play in social media – a game in which the field of play exceeds the limits between offline and online environments.
Mäyrä, Frans; Tyni, Heikki
Transmedial Playthings: Games, Toys and Playful Engagement in Storyworlds
In: Coelsch-Foisner, Sabine; Herzog, Christopher (Ed.): Transmedialisierung, pp. 413-430, Universitätsverlag Winter, 2019.
Book chapter Open access
Links | Tags: Playfulness, Toys, Transmedia
@incollection{Mäyrä2019b,
title = {Transmedial Playthings: Games, Toys and Playful Engagement in Storyworlds},
author = {Frans Mäyrä and Heikki Tyni},
editor = {Sabine Coelsch-Foisner and Christopher Herzog},
url = {https://homepages.tuni.fi/frans.mayra/Transmedial-Playthings.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-05-02},
booktitle = {Transmedialisierung},
pages = {413-430},
publisher = {Universitätsverlag Winter},
keywords = {Playfulness, Toys, Transmedia},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
Stenros, Jaakko
Guided by Transgression: Defying Norms as an Integral Part of Play
In: Jørgensen, Kristine; Karlsen, Faltin (Ed.): Transgression in Games and Play, pp. 13-25, The MIT Press, 2019, ISBN: 9780262038652.
Book chapter
Tags: Play, Playfulness, Transgressive play
@incollection{Stenros2019,
title = {Guided by Transgression: Defying Norms as an Integral Part of Play},
author = {Jaakko Stenros},
editor = {Kristine Jørgensen and Faltin Karlsen},
isbn = {9780262038652},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-02-05},
booktitle = {Transgression in Games and Play},
pages = {13-25},
publisher = {The MIT Press},
keywords = {Play, Playfulness, Transgressive play},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
2018
Leorke, Dale
Playful Approaches to the Smart City — Is There a Role for Fun and Games?
In: 2018.
Publication for professional or general audience Open access
Links | Tags: Playfulness, Smart city, Urban policy
@other{Leorke2018d,
title = {Playful Approaches to the Smart City — Is There a Role for Fun and Games?},
author = {Dale Leorke},
url = {https://apolitical.co/solution-articles/en/playful-approaches-smart-city},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-12-21},
journal = {Apolitical.co},
keywords = {Playfulness, Smart city, Urban policy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {other}
}