In most games, the rules are more significant than the components. But there are games where these roles are reversed: where the components are significant and the rules not very important at all. Usually, these are action games like Looping Louie.
The components are the hardware, the rules are the software. Both define the game. Both can exist independently from each other, but separately are not a game.
Archeology finds ancient game boards and game pieces, but no one knows what rules these ancients used to play their games. We will never know how these games were played.
Components and rules can be combined:
Suppose we just had the rules for Halma, but not the board and pieces and had to reconstruct the game.
The rules are not sufficient to define a game! (Unless the rules have pictures of the components and game situations.)
The components are the hardware, the rules are the software. Both define the game. Both can exist independently from each other, but separately are not a game.
Archeology finds ancient game boards and game pieces, but no one knows what rules these ancients used to play their games. We will never know how these games were played.
Components and rules can be combined:
- a set of components may be used with different rules.
- a set of rules can be used with different components.
Suppose we just had the rules for Halma, but not the board and pieces and had to reconstruct the game.
- What should the board look like?
- How many spaces should it have?
- What shape do the spaces have: square, hexagonal, or round?
- How are the spaces laid out?
- Are all the spaces the same size or are they of different sizes?
- How many pieces are there?
- What do the pieces look like? Does a piece take more than one space when played?
The rules are not sufficient to define a game! (Unless the rules have pictures of the components and game situations.)
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