...
don't know angry birds, etc; although this came to mind:
Homo Ludens (book)
Homo Ludens or "Man the Player" (alternatively, "Playing Man") is a book written in 1938 by Dutch historian, cultural theorist and professor Johan Huizinga. It discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society. Huizinga uses the term "Play Theory" within the book to define the conceptual space in which play occurs. Huizinga suggests that play is primary to and a necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture.
[Huizinga makes it clear in the foreword of his book that he means the play element of culture, and not the play element in culture. He writes that he titled the initial lecture the book is based on "The Play Element of Culture". This title was repeatedly corrected to "in" Culture, a revision he objected to. Huizinga explains:
"...it was not my object to define the place of play among all other manifestations of culture, but rather to ascertain how far culture itself bears the character of play." (Foreword, unnumbered page)
The uncredited English[1] of the Beacon Press version modified the subtitle of the book to "A Study of the Play-Element In Culture", contradicting Huizinga's stated intention. The translator explains in a footnote in the Foreword, "Logically, of course, Huizinga is correct; but as English prepositions are not governed by logic I have retained the more euphonious ablative in this sub-title." Thus, the translator intends no change in meaning, but essentially thought "in culture" sounded better than "of culture".
The version in print and widely available in English is a translation and synthesis of the original Dutch and the first English translation (done by Huizinga himself), because "a comparison of the two texts shows a number of discrepancies and a marked difference in style" (Translators Note, unnumbered page).[2][3]
I. Nature and significance of play as a cultural phenomenon
“Play is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society, and animals have not waited for man to teach them their playing.”[4]
Huizinga begins by making it clear that animals played first.
One of the most significant (human and cultural) aspects of play is that it is fun.[5] This fun aspect is celebrated by Brian Sutton-Smith in his book The Ambiguity of Play:
“Prime credit in play-theory terms for denying the puritanical and work contentions about play in modern times must go to Huizinga who [...] argues that play is a most fundamental human function and has permeated all cultures from the beginning.”[6]
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Characteristics of play
To set the scene of the play that he will unfold gradually, Huizinga identifies 5 characteristics that play must have:
Play is free, is in fact freedom.[7]
Play is not “ordinary” or “real” life.[7]
Play is distinct from “ordinary” life both as to locality and duration.[8]
Play creates order, is order. Play demands order absolute and supreme.[9]
Play is connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained from it.[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Ludens_(book)
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