A-Playful-Path_DeKoven-web

All games are cooperative
Each game we described represents a particular type of cooperative game, some more profoundly
cooperative than others. None of the games focus on winning or losing. In none of
the games do people keep score. No one is ever out. The only reason to play them, the only
reward, is fun, is having fun, together.
The fact is, every game is at some very basic level cooperative, whether you keep score or
not. There are rules, conventions, understandings, agreements that have to be maintained
throughout the game, or the game doesn’t work, no matter who, if anyone, wins.
Many of the games I call “Playful” can also be called cooperative, others border on being
competitive. The one thing that they all have in common is that no one keeps score, or if
anyone does keep score, no one really cares. Because the one thing, the one goal that transcends
all others is to have fun, together.
This is true of all the games described in this book, of all the games I advocate, teach, demonstrate.
They are all for fun. They’re all for having fun together. You can play anything for fun.
You can play baseball, football, hockey, you can even wrestle for fun.
It’s a different way of playing, apparently. But it’s just as natural, just as satisfying as any other
way to play – whether you play for score or for money or national standing. All this talk
about cooperative games is useful, because it highlights a certain kind of game. But the truth
is it doesn’t matter what kind of game you’re playing when you’re playing for fun, together.
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