How can games connect people on a unique level?
Games are a form of interaction, challenge and mental stimulation. People play games to teach, for relationship, or just for fun.
A board game or a card game has structure, but some games do not. Some have no rules. Think about the verbal manipulation a child uses to get his way.
What if a game becomes the primary communication tool between two people? Is that healthy?
In the novel, The Game is a story generator invented by Nate. He’s played it many times before—occasionally set in the future, once in a while in imaginary realms. To draw his father into the game, he picks his dad’s favorite historical period.
The rules are simple.
1.) Once an action is put into the game, it cannot be taken out. The result is a developing story line, which is entirely unpredictable and can spin out of control.
2.) A player functions through the eyes of his character and that character must be present in the scene. As a result, the player identifies strongly with his character and may become lost in the game.
3.) Players take turns and advanced preparation is discouraged. As a result, it’s difficult for one player to control the story line, or bully the other player.
Zachary lacks a way to communicate with his more-intelligent son on a meaningful level. The game solves that problem.
What do you think of a game like this as a way for two people to relate? What about other games?
The Gamemaker's Father 
As a Christian, I see this kind of game as a new way to communicate the Gospel. It opens up all kinds of opportunities. But you’d have to be good at it. Not sure I’d be that effective. I’ll give it some thought.
Now, that’s a creative thought.
I appreciate your comment about the manipulative child but I never thought about that as a game before. It’s interesting to me that a game can have no structure and no rules.
Your game of three rules has structure of a kind, but the rules are not at all heavy handed and I can see that players might take them in stride and forget they were under the constraint of rules at all.
I find rule #1 frightening. Yes, I can picture the game spinning out of control. I’d like to see how that plays out in the novel.
Has anybody played a game like that in real life?
I wonder who else played similar games and what was different about their games. Please comment.
Chess is the ultimate game because it uses strategy, and hey, it lets you game the other guy at the same time. Been at the losing end of plenty but I win my share.
Don’t know about the game in your book. That would take a couple guys with a ton of imagination, but I can see it happening.
I can’t imagine my husband ever playing a game like that. He plays cards, but not something that takes so much imagination.
I’d like to give that game a try. I’m not sure I could do it, but I’d like to try.