Came across two very though-provoking questions.

I've been doing a bit of job hunting recently and came across two very thought-provoking questions about videogames that I wanted to share and get some input. To be honest, the second one has me stumped.

1. What's your favorite piece of non-game journalism/writing?
2. What non-game design person has ideas most relevant to the world of games?

What are your thoughts?

For an answer to the second one I would go with Victor David Gruen.

1. Film Critic Hulk (Yes, I know he does do games from time to time, but he is predominately about movies)

2. I don't know if I'd say most relevant, but B.F. Skinner's work on Operant Conditioning has had a huge impact on how a lot of games are designed.

The answer to the second question is Gordon Ramsay. Don't ask why, but I've been watching a lot of Kitchen Nightmares, and it just seems to be him cleaning up a lot of chefs that try to over-complicate things. I feel like it's the same with games, and sometimes it's just best to get the basics down and have a simple game that looks clean and plays great. It doesn't matter how many systems or features your game has if it all feels poorly done or clumped together and overwhelming.

Also journalists need to curse more and be dicks to each other.

@FlarePhoenix: Nice call on B.F. Skinner. Behavior Analysis has done a lot for making games that are easier to learn and more rewarding for players.

Jeremy Clarkson to both.

@TruthTellah said:

@FlarePhoenix: Nice call on B.F. Skinner. Behavior Analysis has done a lot for making games that are easier to learn and more rewarding for players.

http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/the-skinner-box <--- Anything I would say on this matter would come from here anyway, so I might as well just link to the original source material than subjecting you to my bastardized version of it. :)

@FlarePhoenix said:

@TruthTellah said:

@FlarePhoenix: Nice call on B.F. Skinner. Behavior Analysis has done a lot for making games that are easier to learn and more rewarding for players.

http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/the-skinner-box <--- Anything I would say on this matter would come from here anyway, so I might as well just link to the original source material than subjecting you to my bastardized version of it. :)

Thanks for mentioning that video. Fortunately, there's a lot more to the field of Behavior Analysis than what just came about from B.F. Skinner's early work(such as the box mentioned in the video), and it still has a lot more to add to videogames. If that video interested you, you should check out more of Behavior Analysis. It's something close to my heart and a topic that is pretty easy to get into. :)

Snoop Lion

1. Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy. - It was made into a game, But I am talking about the book. It is the only book, I have ever really read to completion, and enjoyed.
2. Alan Turing - Invented the computer.

Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass

and...

Probably some kind of post-modern narrative experimenter like Raymond Queneau or a narrative critic. Modern games aren't about mechanics anymore, so it makes sense that someone with a background in experimental narrative would have at least some insight in to game design.

1. Anything by P.J. O'Rourke

2. Probably one of the hard sci-fi authors, esp. those with math/engineering type backgrounds like Vernor Vinge, Stephen Baxter, or Neal Stephenson.

@FlarePhoenix: I remember seeing that video a while back, I think. It also reminded me of J.J. Abrams' TED Talk about his "Mystery Box".

1) The Moviebob guy, Bob Chipman.