04-06-2004, 04:37 AM | #1 |
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The Philosophical Roots of Computer Game Design
Ernest Adams has published the full text of his 2004 GDC lecture. It was an excellent presentation, and makes for a great read. I very much recommend it, and I very much agree with him (as I suspect many on these forums will).
http://www.designersnotebook.com/Lec...oots/roots.htm
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Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
04-06-2004, 06:52 AM | #2 |
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that was just a very, very, very cool article
oh wait - let me put it better: while(true) { cout<<"Very, "; } cout<<"Cool" ^^^ achieving the moronic by the classical :-D |
04-06-2004, 07:06 AM | #3 |
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I think I agree with him for the most part. Basically, Mr. Adams talks about abstraction of technology; and I feel that this is the right direction for the industry.
What I don't like is how he says everything in the article. I don't want to sound like a stuck-up jerk...but I don't like how he said what he said. How the word 'nerds' is mentioned as derogatory and how people who listen to Metallica are somehow incapable of appreciating literature and philosophy and incorporate those values in games. I don't want to spark a controversial discussion here, I just wanted my opinion to be heard.
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04-06-2004, 07:10 AM | #4 |
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I agree. I also disagree with Adams about The Matrix...
... great speech though. |
04-06-2004, 08:24 AM | #5 | |
Tactlessly understated
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04-06-2004, 08:32 AM | #6 | ||
Tactlessly understated
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04-06-2004, 08:33 AM | #7 |
The Dartmaster
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There's nothing wrong with using offensive examples if you don't really mean them as actually offensive, at least not in a 100% serious sense. I didn't feel like he was actually condemning "Metallica fans" so much as using it as a 2 word shortcut to reference a stereotype we all know about and can relate things to.
edit: in fact, he makes disclaimers about use of those stereotypes within one sentence of using them!
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04-06-2004, 08:43 AM | #8 |
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I don't listen to metallica, but i also disagree with the statement that people who listen to/play music like that don't appreciate the arts. in fact, a lot of guitarists are able to play classical/non-metal music but simpley choose to play what they like.
Also, i don't find the word 'nerd' offensive. i think that every group of people has thier own view of 'nerds'. it's such a broad term, how can it be considered offensive??
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04-06-2004, 08:57 AM | #9 |
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Anyone complaining about Ernest Adams making jokes about Metallica or The Matrix is clearly missing the point.
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04-06-2004, 09:24 PM | #10 | ||
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I want to reiterate that I agree with what he says. That Mr. Carmack and co. -the 'nerds'- couldn't make a decent narrative laden game to save their lives. Because that is what he says between the lines. Which is why abstraction of technology is necessary...to promote creativity and diversity in games. Let not the creator of the canvas only be allowed to paint the picture, allow an artist do it. But don't discount the creator of the canvas. Don't demean him. [/font]
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04-06-2004, 10:45 PM | #11 |
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Great article/speech.
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04-06-2004, 11:15 PM | #12 | |||
A search for a crazy man!
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Well, in your next paragraph you very clearly imply nerd limitations with your painter/canvas maker comment, so I'm not sure your inference of "virulent disease" is entirely warrented. I mean, nerd philosophy and limitations ARE essentially at the heart of game culture. Should he have inserted an extra clause saying something like "Note: nerd tendences should not be considered a virulent disease"? Quote:
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Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
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04-06-2004, 11:55 PM | #13 | ||
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04-07-2004, 12:08 AM | #14 |
A search for a crazy man!
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I still don't see what's so offensive about his statement.
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Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
04-07-2004, 08:33 AM | #15 | |
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Thanks for the link, remixor.
As soon as I started reading this, the name "Sokal" popped into my head. Many of the criticisms of Syberia are based on the game not following the classic XYZ game rules, when clearly the whole GOAL of the game was to present a more artistic, atmospheric experience. Very much a French vs. English distinction in that regard. (And no, I'm not rationalizing all of Syberia's faults by saying this). Mycroft, I really don't see anything offensive in this, either. It might be if Adams himself was above his own distinction, but he's not. He IS a nerd, and knows he's a nerd. Who else would say something like: Quote:
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04-07-2004, 08:45 AM | #16 |
The Dartmaster
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I hope that this isn't a "'Nerd' is an offensive term, the correct term is 'geek'" thing. Save that for Slashdot please. What he said was completely non-offensive, unless you were for some reason looking to be offended.
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04-07-2004, 10:11 AM | #17 |
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I don't know where I read/saw this, but whatever the source said that nerds are people who know useless crap like the number of people on the Enterprise (Star Trek), while geeks know useful stuff like programming. I thought it was a pretty funny interpretation.
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04-07-2004, 02:08 PM | #18 | ||
A search for a crazy man!
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Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
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