Classification of Indoor Games

Games are activities involving one or more people, on the move

with or without an object or implement, playing under mutually
agreed-upon set of rules. Games can be used for practice/self-
testing skills, cooperative play or competitive. Playing with your
romantic partner, friends, co-workers, pets, and children is a
sure (and fun) way to fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-
solving abilities, and emotional well-being. Playing is a time to
forget about work and commitments, and to be social in an
unstructured, creative way.
Indoor games allow one to play when one cannot venture outdoors.
Indoor games mean you can stay at home and still play.
Although they cannot substitute for outdoor games, indoor games
are capable of providing resourceful entertainment in closed
environments.
Initial Classification
First, we need to classify games into Indoor Games (Table
Games) and Outdoor Games (Play Activities). Once indoors—if we
stay with a linear classification—we need to differentiate between
games played with no implements (save for, perhaps, those needed
for record-keeping) and those games that use some materials. The
latter division, Games with implements, can be broken down into
three sub-categories: pencil-&-paper games, games using common
household objects, and classic or proprietary games that have a
specific set of materials, be they unique or standard game pieces.
These are the games referred to by R.C. Bell and others as “Table
Games”.
Classic games (those in the public domain) and proprietary
games (those owned by a particular company) constitute a large
category today, and here is where devising a system of game
classification becomes complex. There are three primary systems
that are possibilities for classification: the historical model,
put forth primarily by Murray; the “company model”, used by today’s
game companies; and the players’ system of classification, used
informally by many game players today.
In an age of computers and databases, and “Find” and “Sort”
possibilities for our data, it may be possible to combine the three
classifications, allowing the hierarchy to change depending on the
end-user. In that database, we can include many attributes
important in analyzing and describing a game, but which are not
necessary as part of an overall classification. These include:
Theme; Strategy vs. Chance (Luck), two separate factors that should
total 100%; Simplicity vs. Complexity, which cannot be assigned a
percent value but can be shown as a range; physical characteristics
such as box size, type of gameboard, and implements; and other
pieces of information useful in sorting games in a database,
including, but not limited to, illustrator, history, source,
condition, and so forth.
Since the mid to late 1800s, game companies in the United
States and Europe put their games into categories to make them
easier to market. The categories are based primarily on the
audience to whom the game is targeted—children, family, or adults—
or to the theme or style of game.

CLASSIFICATION OF GAMES
• Family Games- these games are suitable for the entire
family, including adults who play together with younger
children. The family game creates lasting memories because
they foster a sense of belonging. In the busy hubbub of
life, it is so nice to have tech-free, face to face time
with your playmate.
Creating a family game tradition won’t be something you’ll regret.
The years you have with your family at home go by in a flash.
Laughing together strengthens the bonds.

Example of Family Games:

The Flour Game -Each player takes a turn cutting the flour trying
not to allow the LifeSaver to fall. Players continue to take turns
cutting the flour until the candy falls. The person that cuts the
flour which causes the LifeSaver to fall has to then retrieve it
with his mouth.
Pinoy Henyo - is a word-guessing game popularized by a
television show Eat Bulaga. It started sometime in 2006 as a
segment of this noontime show. With the help of hints, a player
guesses a word that's on the forehead of the other player. The
player must be able to guess the word in two minutes. The team,
which is in pair, that guesses the word in the shortest time
wins the game.
Minute to Win It Game- contestants take part in a series of 60-
second challenges that use objects that are commonly available
around the house.
Family Board Game- creates lasting memories because they foster
a sense of belonging. In the busy hubbub of life, it is so nice
to have tech-free, face to face time with your kids.

Benefits of Family Games

1. Develops Strong Character
Children take games seriously. They all want to be winners but
don’t always know how to handle losing. By hosting family game
nights, children begin to learn how to lose gracefully, how to
joke around and how to celebrate wins. This is a wonderful
opportunity for them to learn good sportsmanship skills.
2. Promote Problem Solving
In most games, you are invited to solve a problem. Whether the
riddle is verbal or visual, it requires children to think about
their next move and actions to take in order to have a positive
outcome. Playing helps kids think critically to solve problems
which is a useful skill in school and in life!
3. Encourages Positive Social skills
Different than strong character, family game night encourages
children to mimic positive social skills. Passing cards,
negotiating exchange of pieces or tokens, children are watching
how you handle games and learning. Don’t take the games seriously
because it’s not really about who wins, it’s that they are watching
you and acquiring skills on how to joke around, how to diffuse a
stressful situation, how to make a poker face, etc. It is amazing
what children absorb by playing with their families.
4. Enhances Communication Skills
Children are encouraged to express their wants in games, and, in
some cases, cannot win without saying the words needed. BINGO!
Depending on the game, they may need to call out a phrase or words
to garner an outcome. However, it is not just the language needed
to play but the interaction between players that also enhances
their communication skills. Watch what you say as you might hear
a mini version of yourself after a family game.
5. Promotes Family Bonding
The strongest reason I believe in family game nights is that it
promotes family bonding. Children are more likely to share with
their parents in environments where they feel comfortable thus the
importance of family bonding. You will be surprised how much you
learn about your children in just playing together.
 • Educational Games- are games explicitly designed for
educational purposes, or which have incidental or secondary
educational value. All types of games may be used in an
educational environment; however, Educational games are
games that are designed to help people learn about certain
subjects, expand concepts, reinforce development,
understand a historical event or culture, or assist them in
learning a skill as they play.
Games are interactive play that teaches us goals, rules,
adaptation, problem-solving, interaction, all represented as a
story.
They satisfy our fundamental need to learn by providing enjoyment,
passionate involvement, structure, motivation, ego gratification,
adrenaline, creativity, social interaction and emotion in the game
itself while the learning takes place

Examples of Educational Games:

Chess- is a game for two people, played on a chessboard. Each
player has 16 pieces, including a king. Your aim is to move your
pieces so that your opponent's king cannot escape being taken.
Scrabble- board-and-tile game in which two to four players
compete in forming words with lettered tiles on a 225-square
board; words spelled out by letters on the tiles interlock like
words in a crossword puzzle
Word Factory- is a word search game for two to eight players in
which players have a limited time to find words in a random
selection of letters. Words found by more than one player are
disqualified when scoring the game. The player with the highest
number of eligible words wins.
Sungka- is a popular game in the Philippines. It involves
dropping small stones or cowrie shells into large holes on a
long canoe-shaped board.
This game is called “mancala” in the US. It is also known as
“count and capture” or “sowing game” in English. The latter moniker
is because seeds are sometimes used instead of shells or stones.
Filipinos ordinarily use cowrie shells.
Benefits of Educational Games
1. Motivation and Engagement
Learners are often motivated by hands-on and active
learning opportunities. The students are able to work on
accomplishing a goal by choosing specific actions. They
experience the consequences of the actions, which is one of the
ways that a game-based learning experience is similar to real
life. The engagement between learners keeps them coming back to
learn even more.

2. Immediate Feed Back

Learners benefit from the immediate feedback that takes place
during game playing. Instead of having to wait days or even
weeks for an assignment or test grade, students get
instantaneous results about whether or not they made a good
decision. Educators are able to get rapid feedback by watching
how the learners engage and react.

3. Cognitive Growth
Each time learners play the same game, they perform cognitive
actions such as recalling the rules, keeping track of hazards
and remembering how the sequence of play works. Learners also
learn how to think creatively and plan out their moves a few
steps ahead. Educational games can result in higher retention
rates compared to book learning.

4. Skills Development
Educational games allow learners to practice and develop
physical skills such as hand-eye coordination. They can also
work on spatial skills and fine motor skills. Interactive games
help learners to do this in an integrated learning environment.
Game-based learning allows learners to develop cognitive, social
and physical skills simultaneously. This learning enhances
essential life skills like cooperation and teamwork.

• Party Games- are games that are played at social gatherings

to facilitate interaction and provide entertainment and
recreation. Different games will generate different
atmospheres so the party game may merely be intended as an
ice breaker, or the sole purpose for or structure of the
party. As such, party games aim to include players of
various skill levels and player-elimination is rare. Party
 games are intended to be played socially, and are designed
to be easy for new players to learn.
What are the Characteristic of Party Games?
• ·A game should also have entertainment value for
spectators. Many party games involve at least some level of
humor, whether inherent in the game or introduced by players.
In this way, players not taking a turn can still enjoy the
gameplay, whilst party favors can embellish the party
atmosphere.
• The game usually does not involve spending real money as a
prerequisite or consequence of playing. Games that require
each player to purchase consumable items or specialized
equipment are usually poor party games.
• Cooperation and interaction between players is encouraged.
Both team and role-based play generally encourage this social
aspect to the game; games that do not encourage this
interaction generally make poor party games.
• A game can support a relatively large or undefined number of
players, compared to more traditional board games or card
games that require a small, set number of players. Some games,
especially commercial games, have a set limit based on
available equipment; others are limited by other mechanics of
the game like time for each turn, while still others have no
practical limit.

News Paper Dance- Similar to Trip to Jerusalem and Stop Dance in

the sense that it requires stopping-and-starting music to
eliminate players. The twist is that a piece of paper (usually a
broadsheet) is used as the “dance floor”. Players are grouped
into twos and hop on the paper when the music stops. The paper
is then folded in half and gets tinier and tinier. The teams
must find a way to remain upright within their respective “dance
floor”. The last team standing wins.
Minute to Win It- contestants were given a minute to complete a
task or challenge. Sometimes silly, sometimes challenging,
oftentimes both, the show was so much fun that people started to
throw their own “Minute to Win It” parties.
Limbo Rock- is a traditional game that originated in Trinidad.
The basic concept of the game is to walk or dance under a pole
of some sort without falling. Music usually is played in the
background, but it is optional.
Benefits of Party Games:

1. Relieve stress.Play is fun and can trigger the release of

endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins
promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily
relieve pain.
2. Improve brain function. Playing chess, completing puzzles, or
pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help
prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social
interaction of playing with family and friends can also help
ward off stress and depression.
3. Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often
learn best when they are playing—a principle that applies to
adults, as well. You’ll learn a new task better when it’s fun
and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also
stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve
problems.
4. Improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing
laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and
intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to include a specific
activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful
nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break
the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business
relationships.
5. Keep you feeling young and energetic. In the words of George
Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we
grow old because we stop playing.” Play can boost your energy
and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease,
helping you function at your best.

• Skill and Action Games- is a boxed game requiring the player

to engage in a specific physical activity and/or do something
requiring dexterity or eye-hand coordination.
This includes games in which something is rolled, thrown, tossed,
tiddled, toppled, shot, spun, slid, bounced, balanced, carried,
hooked, and so forth. The most common skill-and-action games are
ring toss, tiddly winks, indoor target games, skittles (bowling
games), and some marble games.
Benefits of Skill and Action Games

1. Play helps develop and improve social skills. Social skills

are learned as part of the give and take of play. During
childhood play, kids learn about verbal communication, body
language, boundaries, cooperation, and teamwork. As adults,
you continue to refine these skills through play and playful
communication.
2. Supports gross and fine motor skills- If you engage yourself
in action and skill games like Bowling, it requires you to
have a proper coordination of your movements of the
hands, fingers and with the eyes. This is called hand-eye
coordination, in order for you to execute well the movement
of the game.
3. Encourages interaction among learners and cooperative
play- The aim of game is to have a nice interaction between
the players because this is the process where the players
manipulate their ideas from their competitors on how they
cooperate and interact in the process of the game.
4. Enables learner to manipulate their environment, to
experiment, and to interact with materials-When learners
engage in a particular activity like Chess, scrabble and word
factory it is a unique learning environment that enables and
consolidates "learning through doing". Assessing this
learning can enhance students' conceptual understanding of
the theory–practice relationship, their higher-level
reasoning skills and the development of their practical
competence in playing the different indoor games.
5. Helps learners actively construct knowledge from their own
experiences. This is very essential to each individual that
they are learning through their own experiences. When the
learners participate in a game with the presence of their
own learning they construct or formulate small to big ideas
and have understanding on problem solving based on the
learning that they get from day to day.