Spirit Island
Our group was tasked with playing Spirit Island. I was excited to play a board game as I have not played one in quite some time. Huizinga states that play is never a task which is what this game turned out to be for me. My group and I spent the entire time (over and hour) setting up the game and just when we were ready to play time ran out. At times, during the setup of the game, I started to feel tired, played out. We read and reread the instructions then we watched a YouTube video that explained how to setup and play the game. The YouTube video aided in the setup but when we watched the rules of the game we quickly became overwhelmed with information. Despite this, I agree with Huizinga, once a game is played “it endures as a new-found creation of the mind, a treasure to be retained by memory.” If I have an opportunity to play this game again I feel I will be able to set it up in a timely manner based on memory.
Caillois asserts that play “must be defined as a free and voluntary activity, a source of joy and amusement.” While setting up this game I couldn’t help but think this is not something I volunteered to do, if It was up to me I would have abandoned the game to choose another to play. There was no joy or amusement during my time playing Spirit Island instead I experienced frustration. My understanding of Spirit Island is that this game is cooperative in nature, players work together to defend the island from colonizing invaders. The players are different spirits of the land that have unique elemental powers. Players pay energy to use their powers to spread presence into new areas of the land. I can only assume this game follows the practice of agôn, in that it requires sustained attention and the desire to win.