Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
The art and science of making cheesy video-games, mostly involving underdressed women, "for people to play at bars when they’re bored". The lone drinker must understand the game within 30 seconds—and then never get bored with it
Which of us hasn't said it at some point. But what is the secret of stupid games? Why are we so susceptible to them? And how did Drop7 take over Anderson's brain, such that he was playing it in all sorts of inappropriate situations?
Microsoft already has. "The future of entertainment is bound to be fragmented. And in a fragmented world, the Xbox's magical powers to cut through the clutter may be the best thing to happen to your TV." How could Apple top it?
Remarkable story of Sam Brown, who suffered unimaginable burns in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. To alleviate the pain, he eventually turned to Virtual Reality. And discovered a video game more effective at killing pain than morphine
"One difference between traditional games and social games is that the former don't try to infect the time we spend away from them. Surely there is something compulsive about console games too, but at least they end"
"I went into a sickening sideways skid and headed straight for a row of snow-covered cars." But then a strange reflex took over, narrowly avoiding disaster. "I had been saved by Mario Kart." Welcome to "game transfer phenomenon"
"To say Pincus has ambition is to make a massive understatement. Having made Zynga more valuable than Electronic Arts, I believe he’s moving on to a broader ambition – to become the social gaming layer for the entire web"
Game designer Ian Bogost created "Cow-Clicker" as a satire on Farmville-style games. You click on a cow, then wait six hours—or pay—to click on it again. Buy a second cow for $20. "An embarrassing, joyless labour." People loved it
Beautiful, Tuftian essay on designing for interactive media. "Time, structure and data define the territory. We explore this territory by controlling parameters, abstracting over them, and stepping down from these abstractions"
What's an animated tractor worth after it starts harvesting imaginary crops? Sounds like a question for a philosopher, but actually it's one for a financial analyst. How do you depreciate Zynga's inventory of virtual goods?
Lovely feature on hunt for Holy Grail of gaming memorabilia, the gold-hued Nintendo 1990 World Championships cartridge. "Every serious collector knows about it. Many dream of finding one, but few have ever seen one in person"
"Console games do everything in their power to form a relationship with you. Which can be great. iPad games are like someone you meet in a bar and find yourself screwing in the bathroom 10 minutes later. This is not a criticism"
The future according to Microsoft: A mirror, a Kinect sensor and, hey presto, you can juggle virtual balls in 3D. Mind-blowing
