JoeDeclassified.com

Interesting.

I don't necessarily agree with him on the brands limiting the range of imagination with "scripted" play.

To me it gives you a direction and allows your mind to explore within those limits, which is just as important as totally free thinking. And in some cases, being able to come up with imaginative play within a structure shows a greater range of imagination.

Now instead of just being a "pirate", you have to imagine yourself as a Jedi. "I'm a pirate" isn't being imaginitive. It's plain. It's not stretching the thinking and development. But saying "I'm a Jedi" can force your mind to come up with solutions to problems and imagine how to fit within a structure. You can't just say "I'm a Jedi that uses force lightning" because your playmates know that's not possible. So now you have to come up with a way to be able to be a Jedi that can use force lightning.

Alot tougher and more imaginitive then saying "I'm a pirate".

And actually, saying "I'm a pirate" imposes limits on the play as well. It provides it's own script. Pirate brings to mind certain archetypes that even kids understood.