You have to include gameplay. Otherwise people wonder why you don't "make a film".

Haha. We've hear that reaction to our work regularly. As if there's only two things you can do with a computer: games or films. You don't even need imagination to realize that this is untrue. Since the person making the remark is probably using a computer and software that is neither a game or a film. 

Indeed. It is very interesting to see how the video game medium has locked itself in a very tight room. When you try and pitch or explain an idea without any gameplay, an experience that isn't really a "game", people don't understand you. Why would you want to do that? As if we have to limit ourselves to only creating systematic games.

@ Got at play: I'll probably release my latest game/prototype on my website in a week or so. It's about thoughts in an elevator. It's about taking an elevator ride to work at 8 AM and what you mind is thinking of during that short time =)

Hello! (You never guessed I would open with that phrase, did you?)

My name is Måns Billing and I'm currently studying Game Design in Sweden. I began my education about half a year ago and I'm still struggling with the diffrent programs (Game Maker, Flash and Unity). These six months have been extremly interesting when I think of them from a "Notgame perspective". As I made my first games they were often very traditional. I was caught in the idea of games and what games are all about:

You have to include gameplay. Otherwise people wonder why you don't "make a film".
Games have to be games. They have to have rules. You must be able to win or lose. There must be score. Player skill must be involved.

Sure, all of this can be interesting but at the same time it's so very limiting. There is so much to explore when it comes to games/notgames/interactive entertainment. To me, the most important thing is the experience that I try to create. If that means making a "game" in which the player presses two buttons every hour or a full scale gameplay-game doesn't really matter.

I must also say that Fatale:Exploring Salome was an experience that changed the concept of games for me. I think that it was a sort catalyst that helped me focus my thoughts on games and what it really is all about (the experience).

You can find my homepage here: http://www.mansbilling.com/
I try to update it once in a while and there are some games for download. Most of the games are very, very prototype-ish and not completely finished. However I try to put up as much as possible, no matter the quality (almost) because there is something powerful in creativity - even if the final creation is not the best.