After learning about Roger Caillois and the types of play, i have compiled games that i know of that would fit into each of these categories.
Paidea is where the game is played for pleasure and has no abiding rules. for example, a child rolling down the hill. there are no rules to this, nor are there any specified goals. it's just a kid and a hill. Simple.
Ludus, however, is where there
are specified rules and goals. this is where a lot of 'games' fall into, such as Chess, Ludo, monopoly and the like. all with their own specific rules, as well as an end goal.
Within these main categories are 'play forms'. These consist of:
Agon - The struggle. A perfect Ludus example of this is Chess, whilst an example of Paidea's Agon would be playfighting.
Alea - Chance or fate. For Ludus, this would be things like Blackgammon, Faro, or pretty much any other Gambling casino game. An example for Paidea would be something like 'Channel surfing' or checking the mail for something interesting.
Ilinx - meaning 'Whirlpool', or the sense of vertigo. Paidea's version of this would be going on a rollercoaster, and Ludus's version would be
Need for speed games.
Mimeisis (or Mimicry) - Role play.
An example of Paidea's Mimicry is a kid holding out his arms like a plane, whilst running around making plane noises. On the other hand, Ludus would have the kid playing against other people in dogfights in a video game.
Of course, a game is not limited to just
one of these, and Paidea's version of Mimicry is not strictly the same as Ludus's Mimicry. As an example, Paidea's Mimicry has the little kid holding out his arms like a plane, whilst running around making plane noises. On the other hand, you have Ludus's kid, who is instead playing against other people in dogfights in a video game.
