Introduction [to Emotion in Games]

Abstract

Play constitutes one of our first deliberate activities in life, providing the first opportunity for interaction with objects, devices, and other children or grown-ups, months before walking, talking or advanced tactile abilities. Later on in life, play becomes the basis of forming small or larger groups, and identifying rules which need to be respected in order to function within those groups: players of a school basketball team have different roles and competencies, and they all have to work towards the common good of the team, while following the rules of the game, in order to succeed.