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Jonathan Blow: Game design: the medium is the message

CreativeMornings HQ · talk · Watch on YouTube

Game designIndie game development

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.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN cites it repeatedly in debates about in-app purchases and monetization corrupting games.

  • 7 people recommended it
  • 7 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2013, last 2020

What HN commenters said

  1. “recently gave an amazing presentation on the evolution of Television”

    Parallel between evolution of television and games.

    DanielRibeiro, 2013-11 · Strong recommendation · in “On Game Development”

  2. “how the business model deeply corrupts the game through the metaphor of bad 70's TV shows vs HBO”

    How free-to-play business models corrupt games, via TV analogy.

    po, 2013-12 · Recommendation · in “The case for an IAP off button in mobile games”

  3. “The whole talk is interesting, but he starts discussing the issues around the 20 minute mark”

    Critique of games designed around micro-payments, starting around minute 20.

    wsc981, 2014-02 · Recommendation · in “How in-app purchases have destroyed the game industry”

  4. “But he has given some amazing talks.”

    Blow's talk comparing games to television.

    kelukelugames, 2015-02 · Recommendation · in “‘Braid’ creator sacrifices his fortune to build his next game”

  5. “Jonathan Blow has some interesting points to make on how the payment form of games”

    Blow on how payment model shapes game quality, including mobile Skinner boxes.

    aethertron, 2015-09 · Recommendation · in ““We Own You” – Confessions of an Anonymous Free to Play Producer”

  6. “Jonathan Blow nailed it in this presentation”

    Blow's analysis rebutting a Candy Crush comparison.

    emsy, 2017-05 · Recommendation · in “So You Want to Make Games”

  7. “There's an interesting talk about that by Jonathan Blow”

    How commercial constraints shape TV and mobile game design.

    hnick, 2020-06 · Recommendation · in “Facebook announces policy changes ahead of 2020 elections”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: jonathan blow, free-to-play, monetization, mobile games, medium is the message

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