Wark – “Gamer Theory”

 This reading was slightly difficult to understand, but yet interesting to read and unfold. Through my understanding, Wark is arguing that we live in a game space because our world consists of the rules and interactions of the game world. 

    The concept of allegorithms was interesting to me because it is one that I’ve never thought about. I feel like this concept alone helps me make sense of the magic circle. Throughout this course I’ve debated internally about whether or not I personally believed the magic circle existed. Understanding this concept allows me to execute the idea that I have thought all along. The give and take of both worlds creates a fragmented world that’s not completely either or but, in fact, and allegorithm. 

        Wark also demonstrates the idea in a way that is a bit confusing and difficult to understand completely. However, the cave analogy is a perfect way to demonstrate his thoughts. The analogy of the cave demonstrates that my generation could not imagine a world without digital interaction, the internet, and any other form of media. Therefore, we couldn’t properly operate or communicate in a world such as that. This demonstrates Wark’s argument that we live in a game space because no matter what we operate in within that space in order to living in the way that we do. 

    I find that the depth of the theory is what made the reading difficult, however, it’s definitely and eye-opener. I also would say that this was the best read for the end of the semester as it wraps up the ideas of what we have been reading all along. If you can define play, know the different types, understand the mechanics, and your interactions with it than you can understand the society in which we live in and how games then operate within that.