"Play is uncertain activity."
  Roger Caillois, Man, Play, and Games

• doubt
• risk
• threat of defeat
  
  
• if outcome is certain, why bother?

Sources of Uncertainty

• Randomness
• Performative uncertainty (physical)
• Solver's uncertainty
• Analytic complexity
• Uncertainty of perception
• Player unpredictability
• Hidden information
• Narrative anticipation
• Development anticipation
• Schedule uncertainty
• Semiotic contingency

Randomness

Performative uncertainty

Solver's uncertainty

Analytic complexity

Uncertainty of perception

Player unpredictability

Hidden information

Narrative anticipation

Development anticipation

Schedule uncertainty

Semiotic contingency

This document is by Dave Pape, and is released under a Creative Commons License.