Comments on: Origins 2010: “Game Design is Mind Control” Seminar http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Fri, 25 May 2012 17:27:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72766 ChattyDM Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:49:00 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72766 @Andy: Knowing Luke myself, I can attest that he designed his games based on what he likes playing the most (in that, Burning Wheel is his freakishly successful Fantasy Heartbreaker about fighting and conflicts) and rarely dishes out on other games when in polite company (he's a different guy online, I'll grant you that, he loves fighting trolls on forums). Hell, he even likes playing dwarves in D&D once in a while... He has, however, no control over his more vocal and dicky fans though, much like White Wolf has no control over the WoDheads :) Luke is a nice guy... with very strong opinions about gaming. It's fun to get him into full ranting mode when you suggest merging BW's failure mechanics with D&D... It makes for a great debate when you can keep up with him. @Andy: Knowing Luke myself, I can attest that he designed his games based on what he likes playing the most (in that, Burning Wheel is his freakishly successful Fantasy Heartbreaker about fighting and conflicts) and rarely dishes out on other games when in polite company (he’s a different guy online, I’ll grant you that, he loves fighting trolls on forums). Hell, he even likes playing dwarves in D&D once in a while…

He has, however, no control over his more vocal and dicky fans though, much like White Wolf has no control over the WoDheads :)

Luke is a nice guy… with very strong opinions about gaming. It’s fun to get him into full ranting mode when you suggest merging BW’s failure mechanics with D&D… It makes for a great debate when you can keep up with him.

]]> By: The Game http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72764 The Game Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:39:18 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72764 Yes, the way I took it, they weren't saying "don't hide stuff from your players" as far as story and whatnot goes, but don't hide Difficulty numbers from your players when they roll. It removes an eliminate of decision making if they don't know how hard something is, and they'll eventually get there to figuring it out by trial an error anyway. Yes, the way I took it, they weren’t saying “don’t hide stuff from your players” as far as story and whatnot goes, but don’t hide Difficulty numbers from your players when they roll. It removes an eliminate of decision making if they don’t know how hard something is, and they’ll eventually get there to figuring it out by trial an error anyway.

]]> By: Anthony http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72759 Anthony Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:45:11 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72759 @Andy, I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure Luke was referring to the various kinds of "secret rolls" in many games, not "secret information." @Andy, I wasn’t there, but I’m pretty sure Luke was referring to the various kinds of “secret rolls” in many games, not “secret information.”

]]> By: Sorensen/Crane › A review of Sorencrane’s design seminar http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72755 Sorensen/Crane › A review of Sorencrane’s design seminar Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:07:59 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72755 [...] Hits blogger Dave Chalker did a write up of the event which you can read here. This was written by admin. Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 11:07 am. Filed under News [...] [...] Hits blogger Dave Chalker did a write up of the event which you can read here. This was written by admin. Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 11:07 am. Filed under News [...]

]]> By: Andy http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72748 Andy Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:49:24 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72748 Interesting. As much as I like what Luke has done, though, I think he's giving secrecy his due. He's got some very specific ideas on how RPGs ought to be run, essentially like a collaborative drama. That's great, and it really works, but I think it's a mistake to assert that "this is the only way it can work", which is a vibe I've gotten from a lot of Burning Wheel fans, who are of the "You'll never go back again" camp. Having had some gameplay experience in World of Darkness, I can assert that secrecy can be a very important part of the game, and of the game experience. It doesn't remove player decisions. It just makes players more carefully consider their decisions, and it lends to the dramatic feel that you're in a story being told. Interesting. As much as I like what Luke has done, though, I think he’s giving secrecy his due. He’s got some very specific ideas on how RPGs ought to be run, essentially like a collaborative drama. That’s great, and it really works, but I think it’s a mistake to assert that “this is the only way it can work”, which is a vibe I’ve gotten from a lot of Burning Wheel fans, who are of the “You’ll never go back again” camp.

Having had some gameplay experience in World of Darkness, I can assert that secrecy can be a very important part of the game, and of the game experience. It doesn’t remove player decisions. It just makes players more carefully consider their decisions, and it lends to the dramatic feel that you’re in a story being told.

]]> By: Tourq http://critical-hits.com/2010/06/29/origins-2010-game-design-is-mind-control-seminar/#comment-72710 Tourq Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:29:20 +0000 http://critical-hits.com/?p=14038#comment-72710 That sounds interesting. I would have liked to have been to that seminar. I'll definitely check out those seminars from previous years. -Tourq That sounds interesting. I would have liked to have been to that seminar. I’ll definitely check out those seminars from previous years.

-Tourq

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