When Is A Game Not A Game?

So, I've started to get a little annoyed at people who just decide that something isn't a game.  What is there criteria for something being a game?  Points...lives...contrived stories and backgrounds?  I know this has been brought up before, but I don't hear anyone challenge anything when people make those claims.  What are your thoughts of when a game isn't really a game?

A game is something I can play.  Whether it be running game on some unsuspecting blonde bimbo or running through the streets of San Andreas.  If I can win/lose it is a game.

Limited interactivity.

I'd like to know some peoples' rationale for this as well. I wouldn't consider things like Fireplace Simulators to be games, but once you start interacting with it in some way (such as putting logs on the fire,) it becomes a game - albeit a very boring and mundane one.

Objectives/interactivity.

" So, I've started to get a little annoyed at people who just decide that something isn't a game.  What is there criteria for something being a game?  Points...lives...contrived stories and backgrounds?  I know this has been brought up before, but I don't hear anyone challenge anything when people make those claims.  What are your thoughts of when a game isn't really a game? "

flower because it's an experience, bro.

When it becomes art!

"So, I've started to get a little annoyed at people who just decide that something isn't a game.  What is there criteria for something being a game?  Points...lives...contrived stories and backgrounds?  I know this has been brought up before, but I don't hear anyone challenge anything when people make those claims.  What are your thoughts of when a game isn't really a game? "

A game is anything with some sort of objective you do for entertainment.

When its not a game.

The thing is, is 'game' your starting point when you ask that question or when we ask that question of ourselves?  Is it being asked because a game is the ideal and that anything that doesn't qualify as that is lesser?
 
I think I'd start by saying I like lots of media and I'm particularly fascinated by interactive media and the possibilities it allows.  There are different points on the spectrum of how interactive things are but being less interactive/ less game doesn't mean it has less value.  The OP's question is definitely legitimate in it's own right and there's a place for it to be discussed but I'd like to challenge 'who cares if it's a game or not' as long as it's interesting, in case the game form of media is being thought of as an ideal here.  [Edit: the OP may very well be thinking the same thing as me here potentially - not sure.]
 
So yeah, I want there to be a place for interactive movie experiences where I get to make some of the choices even though they're limited; I want to have a huge amount of control and freedom in an open-world game like Far Cry 2; I want to wander through the meditative experience of Dear Esther where I'm just listening and all I really have to do is walk forward but I'm having an experience nonetheless; I want to have things where there is no aim and end goal but to explore and see and hear like Minecraft to an extent in its current state.  You might not use the 'game' descriptor for all these cases but they all offer something and I don't think we should discourage any of them.

When it's ajar! 
 
....wait I think I did that wrong.

When you, as the player, have at least some measure control over how a series of events plays out within a virtual space.

A game is not a game, when it is flower.

"Limited interactivity. "

This'd be where the arguement to start referring to games as "interactive entertainment" comes into play.

Read this book if you're interested to know what play is :)
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man,_Play_and_Games

when there is nothing to do in the game. when it's not a game :P