Does John Conway hate his Game of Life?
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited whenever commenters want to note that Conway did not enjoy being known mainly for the Game of Life.
What it is
John Conway talks in a short Numberphile interview about his mixed feelings toward the Game of Life, his most famous invention. He says he is not especially pleased that it overshadowed his other work.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2015 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Recommends tdicola · 2015-07 · on “John Conway – The world’s most charismatic mathematician”
Numberphile, an awesome youtube channel on its own, has done some great interviews with John Conway that are definitely worth watching: [LINK] , [this video] , [LINK] He really comes across as a genuinely great guy.
Cites splawn · 2017-06 · on “Oh My Gosh, It’s Covered in Rule 30s”
I think it is funny, Conway doesn't really enjoy being solely associated with GOL and the fame it brings[0].. In stark contrast with Wolfram's ego. Perhaps this arrangement actually works out best for both of them. [0] [this video]
Cites brownbat · 2020-04 · on “Remembering Conway”
VSauce tweeted a playlist of Conway's appearances on Numberphile, including that one: [this video] I found the one you posted especially moving, but the others were good too.
Cites Akronymus · 2020-08 · on “The Recursive Universe”
> I know Conway was slightly resentful that game of life overshadowed some of his other work in the public's imagination, but I've always been entranced by it. He seems to have come to terms with it.[1] [1] [this video]
Cites jodrellblank · 2021-12 · on “A Lisp Interpreter Implemented in Conway's Game of Life”
One that Conway didn't like much, saying (roughly) that it had all been explored and proved and other work of his was more interesting - [this video] in this Numberphile interview with him.
Cites cauliflower99 · 2024-04 · on “AMA: I'm Dave Greene, an accidental expert on Conway's Game of Life”
Conway has said GOL is not something he is particularly pleased got as famous as it did. (Ref: [LINK] ) Why do you think that is? Edit: This is the video I meant: [this video]