This is what I had to say elsewhere about the game:
The long form description of how I feel about it, "It is an art piece that uses the language, culture and knowledge of games to make its point." That makes it somewhat more than a short story and what less than a game.
I have no problems with it being nominated as a short story in the absence of some more general category like "Best Sci-Fi Piece Written Form" Or "Best Sci-Fi Work of Artistic Expression" both of which would be weird in their own way.
Going down the path of "Is it a short story?" I have this question to ask, "How does this read to people who have no knowledge of games culture?" If you don't know what character sheets are or d12s or what generally goes on at a table with those things on it, does it still do anything for you?
For the "game" part (which I suspect is the most debated element). Here's what I've got. The text certainly describes an activity. And for something to be a "game" to me that's kind of the absolute minimum requirement. It has to be something you can do, and I can certainly do the thing described.
However, I'm not entirely sure if I would get anything more out of actually doing the activity than I would getting out of just reading it. But I don't know for certain because I haven't done it. So that's the first question, "Is enacting the activity more meaningful than just reading about it?" I don't know but I feel like that's part of what makes something a game. The DOING is required for the full experience.
I also think that there is some quality which separates a game from a recipe. Both are activities where doing results in a more meaningful experience than just reading. But there's "one more thing" that distinguishes a recipe from a game. But I'm not sure I can give voice to that thing. And my gut feeling is that "The Tragedy of GJ 237b," is also missing that thing.
Since having posted the above, I do think actually "playing" the game has value. Particularly, if what you are doing is looking at how long a small area of a given space lies undisturbed. And when it is disturbed examining why it was disturbed.
RE: A review of “The Tragedy of GJ237b”: Is it a story? Is it a game?