Warren Spector GDC Europe talk

[Henrik Flink]

Heard that Warren Spector had kind of interesting talk at GDC Europe, where he talked about the difference between games and other media, so here's short article about it. It's good that other people starting to thinking about what the essence of videogames and interactive media is and not only try to replicate other media.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/35629/Spector-If-you-want-to-make-film-leave-games

[Michaël Samyn]

I think Mr Spector's heart is in the right plays. But he doesn't seem to have the language, or even the right kind of experience, to express it. I've always though Warren Spector asks the right questions, he just never seems to come up with the right answers. He seems to be too deeply entrenched in videogames to see that all his questions find easy answers just outside of that domain. So I think, he should include games (and most videogames are games) in his list of media that we should not try to emulate!

[QXD-me]

I think he makes some excellent points. I also think that he's on the right track (well, right or wrong implies only two possibilities which is kinda stupid. So a "very good track" may be better) and that he can probably only do good for the games industry.

[axcho]

Yeah, movies and games.

Still, some good points. Like this:

but games are not about magic moments, or one-shots. Games are about the repeated action. Our job is to change the context around the repeated action.

Context. Interesting.

[Michaël Samyn]

Games are about the repeated action.

Correct: in many cases, this is why games suck.

I'll have a few

magic moments

instead, thank you.

[ghostwheel]

Games are about the repeated action.

Correct: in many cases, this is why games suck.

I'll have a few

magic moments

instead, thank you.

Yeah, I hate repetition in games. That's the main reason I have a very low tolerance for high difficulty. This short film, on the surface, appears to be a nonsensical action movie wannabe but... I don't want to spoil it, just watch: http://vimeo.com/8068842