In college I took a science fiction writing class taught by Joe Haldeman, author of the excellent The Forever War. For one assignment we each received a random topic to act as a prompt for a short story.
Great overview and echos a lot of my own thoughts.
I would also say that for every craft there is essentially always going to be someone better at it. There's only one "best" (if that's even quantifiable) -- and more likely the "best" is only the "best" in an aspect of the craft instead of the whole craft itself.
I also think Vlaada Chvátil is one of those "Mozart-level game designers" too, but even he has had "flops" (in a sense), and to recognize that even some of the "best" out there don't always make the best is an important lesson to learn. Someone's skill isn't measured by their worst game, but by their average or, more likely, their best titles.
Nice analogy. That short story does sound fascinating. Faidutti often says he designs games because he is too lazy to write novels, but I do believe that good novelists might find it more difficult to design a game. And I just happened to rewatch Amadeus two days ago--the first time I'd seen the film since it was in theaters! Good timing. I would love to have Chvatil rework one of my game prototypes the way Mozart reworks the piece Salieri wrote for him in the film! :-)
Aren't you supposed to wait until you're 64 before you have deep reflections about life?!
Seriously though, one thing that I think you should consider is that nobody out there (as far as I am aware) writes about games, and maths, and unites the two, quite as eloquently or insightfully as you do. Almost every article I have read by you is deeply thought provoking, which requires a genius of its own kind.
Ironically I don't know your games œuvre particularly well (sorry) - but based on your insights, I would agree that you probably have a masterpiece in you somewhere!
The original post, followed by this reply, are the perfect 1-2 internet punch to start my day. Thank you, Geoff, for these reflections that hit _quite_ close to home, and thank you, David, for expressing my response to Geoff better than I could have myself. #salierisunite
Thanks for showing vulnerability on this. I'm still early in my game designing hobby career (had my first published game close on KS last month). But I do it for the passion and fun. I hope I maintain that excitement and enthusiasm for a long time.
Nice post! If any calamity befalls Chvatil we know who to interview first! I kid, I kid.
To be sure there's a chasm between those who can put out genius-level works over and over again and the rest of us. But there have been plenty of examples of people who had just one genius-level work in them, one LotR or one Hamilton or one Formula De. I don't suppose I will ever create Knizia- or Chvatil- or Faidutti- or Engelstein-quality games over and over. But, can I produce /one/? Anyway the belief that perhaps one can pull that off with enough pluck is perhaps motivating to mere mortals like me!
I get brickwalled by this kind of thinking often. But I claw through the clay and mortar by reminding myself that I may not be "that person" and this project may not become "that excellent." But if I don't try, I'll never know.
And this could still inspire someone, bring them some joy. They don't have to make it their own brick wall. (Shit, that's scary to consider.) This isn't a Mozart concerto. But it's my own thing. It's unique, something only I can offer. If I get out there past my fortified insecurities.
Interesting topic and accepting yourself and your limits or strengths is a sure sign of maturity and health.
Funny about Babel, I DNF that book after 100 (painful to me) pages. It prompted me to remove The Poppy War from my TBR list.... Maybe I will pencil it back in. Not Babel, it had 100 pages to convince me and it did... (to abandon it in my case!)
Great overview and echos a lot of my own thoughts.
I would also say that for every craft there is essentially always going to be someone better at it. There's only one "best" (if that's even quantifiable) -- and more likely the "best" is only the "best" in an aspect of the craft instead of the whole craft itself.
I also think Vlaada Chvátil is one of those "Mozart-level game designers" too, but even he has had "flops" (in a sense), and to recognize that even some of the "best" out there don't always make the best is an important lesson to learn. Someone's skill isn't measured by their worst game, but by their average or, more likely, their best titles.
There's always room to grow and improve.
Nice analogy. That short story does sound fascinating. Faidutti often says he designs games because he is too lazy to write novels, but I do believe that good novelists might find it more difficult to design a game. And I just happened to rewatch Amadeus two days ago--the first time I'd seen the film since it was in theaters! Good timing. I would love to have Chvatil rework one of my game prototypes the way Mozart reworks the piece Salieri wrote for him in the film! :-)
Aren't you supposed to wait until you're 64 before you have deep reflections about life?!
Seriously though, one thing that I think you should consider is that nobody out there (as far as I am aware) writes about games, and maths, and unites the two, quite as eloquently or insightfully as you do. Almost every article I have read by you is deeply thought provoking, which requires a genius of its own kind.
Ironically I don't know your games œuvre particularly well (sorry) - but based on your insights, I would agree that you probably have a masterpiece in you somewhere!
The original post, followed by this reply, are the perfect 1-2 internet punch to start my day. Thank you, Geoff, for these reflections that hit _quite_ close to home, and thank you, David, for expressing my response to Geoff better than I could have myself. #salierisunite
Thanks for showing vulnerability on this. I'm still early in my game designing hobby career (had my first published game close on KS last month). But I do it for the passion and fun. I hope I maintain that excitement and enthusiasm for a long time.
I almost quit game design with the realization that I am not even Salieri, but I find comfort and inspiration in Max Erhrmann's "Desiderata":
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
I feel the same way about Chvátil. And Garfield. And Faidutti. And Bauza...
Nice post! If any calamity befalls Chvatil we know who to interview first! I kid, I kid.
To be sure there's a chasm between those who can put out genius-level works over and over again and the rest of us. But there have been plenty of examples of people who had just one genius-level work in them, one LotR or one Hamilton or one Formula De. I don't suppose I will ever create Knizia- or Chvatil- or Faidutti- or Engelstein-quality games over and over. But, can I produce /one/? Anyway the belief that perhaps one can pull that off with enough pluck is perhaps motivating to mere mortals like me!
You may find this related post of mine entertaining: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/152091/the-feast-day-of-saint-salieri
I get brickwalled by this kind of thinking often. But I claw through the clay and mortar by reminding myself that I may not be "that person" and this project may not become "that excellent." But if I don't try, I'll never know.
And this could still inspire someone, bring them some joy. They don't have to make it their own brick wall. (Shit, that's scary to consider.) This isn't a Mozart concerto. But it's my own thing. It's unique, something only I can offer. If I get out there past my fortified insecurities.
Interesting topic and accepting yourself and your limits or strengths is a sure sign of maturity and health.
Funny about Babel, I DNF that book after 100 (painful to me) pages. It prompted me to remove The Poppy War from my TBR list.... Maybe I will pencil it back in. Not Babel, it had 100 pages to convince me and it did... (to abandon it in my case!)
Eben Brooks's magnificent song "Amadea" is about just that (as the name suggests): https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YJhPHNeLNXA
"Dear God, you gave me just enough to know that I'm no good!"
I will check that out!