Jonathan Blow: Game design: the medium is the message
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it repeatedly in debates about in-app purchases and monetization corrupting games.
What it is
Jonathan Blow's CreativeMornings talk arguing that business models shape game design, drawing an analogy between 1970s TV and HBO and between free-to-play and premium games. He calls for games that inspire awe rather than chase constraints.
Recommended by 7 HN commenters across 7 different months, 2013 to 2020.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec DanielRibeiro · 2013-11 · on “On Game Development”
Jonathan Blow (Braid and Indie Fund) recently gave an amazing presentation on the evolution of Television, and he made an interesting parallel to the evolution of games: [this video]
Recommends po · 2013-12 · on “The case for an IAP off button in mobile games”
If anyone wants to see a good example of why you can't just toggle off IAP you should check out Jonathan Blow's talk about "Free to Play" games and how the business model deeply corrupts the game through the metaphor of bad 70's TV shows vs HBO: [this video] The solution isn't to toggle IAP off in the game, it's the ability to toggle it off in the App Store. The difficulty is some IAP is legitimate and some is not. For example, Carcassonne has an IAP to upgrade the game into a slightly different game with additional tiles. It's only when the IAP is part of the core game mechanic that is troubling. I think categorising them and relegating them to a particular category like we do with FPS, RPG, RTS
Recommends wsc981 · 2014-02 · on “How in-app purchases have destroyed the game industry”
Jonathan Blow -creator of Braid and working on The Witness- also has a very nice critique on the problems with games that are designed around micro-payments. The whole talk is interesting, but he starts discussing the issues around the 20 minute mark: [this video]
Recommends kelukelugames · 2015-02 · on “‘Braid’ creator sacrifices his fortune to build his next game”
I've followed Jonathan Blow for a while. He has a reputation for being condescending. If you follow him a Twitter then you might come to the same conclusion. But he has given some amazing talks. [this video] <-compares games to televison [LINK] [LINK] [LINK]
Recommends aethertron · 2015-09 · on ““We Own You” – Confessions of an Anonymous Free to Play Producer”
>It is almost certain you have or are playing a game I have produced or worked on in a major capacity. Maybe for a few minutes. I like to think I'm good at analysing game mechanics, as a long time gamer and sometimes amateur game designer. So I mostly avoid F2P games. The tactics are repulsive to my tastes, and I can smell them from a mile away. When there's a choice between struggling to meet a challenge by improving my skill, or paying my way though, my inclination is to take a 3rd choice: stop playing this and do something else. So I much prefer paying up front for a game. I'm old-school that way. Maybe this option is viable, as a 'serious' gaming hobbyist, only temporarily. But right now
Recommends emsy · 2017-05 · on “So You Want to Make Games”
While I disagree with the word dumb and find "ignorant" more suitable, your Candy Crush comparison is bad. Jonathan Blow nailed it in this presentation: [this video]
Recommends hnick · 2020-06 · on “Facebook announces policy changes ahead of 2020 elections”
There's an interesting talk about that by Jonathan Blow, using the common phrase 'The Medium is the Message'. The eventual topic is mobile game design but he starts off with TV and how commercial and other constraints influence show (and game) design. [this video]