Will Wright - The Games Master 40
The New Yorker has a profile up of Will Wright, referring to the designer as 'The Games Master'. The lengthy article delves into Wright's past, and deals with the enormous venture that Wright has undertaken with the now much-hyped Spore. From the article: "At a certain point in the performance, the crazy ambition of Spore became clear: Wright was proposing to simulate the limitless possibility of life itself. The simulation falls between Darwinism and intelligent design, into new conceptual territory. Wright had worked out the algorithm for life, as described by the philosopher Daniel C. Dennett, in 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea.'" Mr. Dennett's book is well worth checking out, if you're interested in evolutionary thought.
Just a Game (Score:5, Insightful)
Okay, it's just a game. Props to Will and all, it's a neat idea and so far it looks to be a fun exploration of the concept, but let's not get carried away.
Many games provide a limited simulacrum of deity simulation: Populous and Black & White come to mind instantly. Someone might even be influenced in thinking about their personal theological views by playing these games, which I find healthy and useful.
But there's a lot more to "the algorithm of life" than what Spore has to offer. From John Conway to Will Wright, you're not going to find 0.00001% of the algorithm in any one place. Enjoy the game for what it is.
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While I agree that Spore is a simplified view on the "algorithm of life", I don't think one needs to exaggerate and start talking about that kind of percentages. Life isn't that complex in all honesty, and we already know how it came to be which surely accounts for more than 0.00001% of the "algorithm of life".
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Overly simplified? Yes. But good enough
I'm all hyped out (Score:2)
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Not all hype (Score:1)
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Spore to be an other black and white (Score:4, Insightful)
From what I have read about spore the 'freedom' will not be as free as we perhapse envisage, especially the transitions of phases.
Never the less I wait with baited breath for the WII version.
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Game Master (Score:2)
Ah, the good old days...
Game master? (Score:4, Insightful)
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The press call him a "master" in the sense that he's a vocal, somewhat inscrut
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I'm not slamming Wright, because I think he does some pretty interesting st
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Ahem:
* The Sims
* The Sims: Livin' Large
* The Sims: House Party
* The Sims: Hot Date
* The Sims: Vacation
* The Sims: Unleashed
* The Sims: Superstar
* The Sims: Makin' Magic
Re:Game master? what about all the Sims editions? (Score:1)
For example, Open for Business added elevators, running businesses (with sales, time rentals, restaurants, and robot/toy/flower making), and more. Nightlife introduced restaurants and vampires. University added a fairly realistic 4 year college experience (even
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Sure they added things, but they aren't new games. They're the same game in a different setting. Like decorating the same cookie differently.
Obviously this interpretation depends on your viewpoint. Someone who likes The Sims type games will probably see the expansions as novel and entertaining. I don't really like those games, so I see the expansions as co
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While all exist, the motivations and objects tend to make them very separate. Even Sims 2: Pets is a very different flavor.
Re:Game master? Sims editions? Why feed the troll? (Score:1)
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The only way to win is not to play at all.
Which is a very geeky perspective on all active games.
Winning is an essential key to games? (Score:1)
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Ever tried Deus Ex? [wikipedia.org]
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Dennet Links (Score:5, Informative)
For your perusal: (Guessing the editors couldn't pick just one)
Wikipediad ea [wikipedia.org]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin's_Dangerous_I
Video Pesentation at TEDy =d_dennett&gclid=CJvOo4LXo4gCFR4IUAodOhKBVQ&flashE nabled=1 [ted.com]
http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?ke
Booku tion-Meanings/dp/068482471X [amazon.com]
http://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Dangerous-Idea-Evol
HomePage
http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/~ddennett.htm [tufts.edu]
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Wow, and here I thought it would be helpful to people who were reading this wondering who this man was. I found the information at the other end of these links at least informative.
My apologies for mispelling his name. I see it upset you greatly.
And no I have yet ti read the book but it is on order now.
Captain N? (Score:4, Funny)
Wright's Essay on the Importance of Games (Score:2)
Wright also had an essay in Wired magazine [wired.com] in April explaining why he felt they were important and help to spur our imagination.
My son has been lobbying Will for Spore on Wii (Score:3, Interesting)
Mind you, when he was 11, he took on a powerful city councilmember for the district endorsement and won, embarrasing him.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Hype will eat itself (Score:2)
I am susp