Difference between （遊び）方 and （遊ぶ）方法


I'm struggling to understand the difference between the verb suffix ～方【かた】 and
the noun 方法【ほうほう】. As an example, the difference between 遊び方 (which seems to
mean something like "manner in which someone is playing") and 遊ぶ方法 (which
seems to mean something like "means by which someone is playing"). I'm also
not sure whether the former is the same as 遊びの仕方 (and if so, [this
page](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/thsrs/14733/m0u/%E6%96%B9%E6%B3%95/)
answers my question). Can anyone help me to clear these up? Thanks!




From the excellent [A Dictionary of Basic Japanese
Grammar](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/4789004546)

> Vmasu+方 means either "way" or "manner". Thus 飲み方が大事です means either "The way
> of drinking is important" or "The manner in which one drinks is important"
> so you have to provide additional context. To put into context:

  * この[薬]{くすり}は[飲]{の}み[方]{かた}が[大事]{だいじ}。[必]{かなら}ず[食前]{しょくぜん}に[飲]{の}んでください。[It is important to know how to take this medicine. Be sure to take it before every meal]

  * スープは[飲]{の}み[方]{かた}が[大事]{だいじ}です。[In eating soup the manner (in which one eats it) is important]

The important part below:

> 方 can be replaced by 方法 but only when 方 means "a way of doing something". 方法
> roughly corresponds to the English word "method"; it means a relatively
> complicated way of doing something

