IndieCade 2011: Jonathan Blow & Marc Ten Bosch

[SuperDJM2]

1:05:27

I almost spit all over the keyboard when I heard that.

JON BLOW STEALTH GAME?? LIFE IS WORTH LIVING!!!

[0perat0r]

I could listen to one jonathan blow talk everyday.

[stevesan]

I must say, I agree with almost everything being said here, especially the part about trimming out anything that's "not truth." I am confused about the compatibility and orthogonality parts though - could someone offer their interpretation of what's said here? Damn these Youtube character limits...

[Leonhart231]

@stevesan What I'm getting from compatibility is that if you add a new object to a game, and it helps explain, or builds on, your mechanics, it is good. But if you have to do something that feels very unnatural for the game and all it does is complicate your mechanics, then it is not good. See my other reply as well, I ran out of space.

[Leonhart231]

@stevesan Orthogonality seems to say that if you add a new mechanic, it should define new truths, but if you add a new object for the mechanics to act on, it should help define the mechanic. If you add a mechanic to help explain your other mechanic, then you are causing an overlap and they can no longer act independently of each other, which is not good, since it forces you to use both at once if you want to explain them. Tell me what you think as well. I'm curious for another opinion.

[stevesan]

@Leonhart231 I think I get the orthogonality - if a new mechanic largely overlaps with previous ones, it's excessive. An extreme case would be a gun that just looks different. Compatibility may just be something that "breaks" the game, making other mechanics no longer interesting. It would be like adding a jump ability to VVVVVV - it totally breaks many of the puzzles, taking away their challenge. Sometimes this can be good, like adding infinite rewind to a platformer, but then it's a new game.

[YearwigY]

inspired me to get and complete VVVVVV no easy task!

[Nodnarb84]

I'm not a game designer or even much of a "gamer" these days, but I still find Jonathan's lectures to be very interesting. He changed my idea of what games can and should be.

[mgiuca]

Such an amazing talk. I am really inspired.

[bigtomcurbstomp]

0:45:57

1. Richness

2. Completeness

3. Surprise

4.Lightest Contrivance

5. Strength of Boundary

6. Compatibility

7. Orthogonality

8. Generosity.

Put that in your notes!

[Modthepirate]

I'm sure it will become clear when play Witness, but I still cannot understand how that pad puzzle works. I always think Why doesn't the player just go straight to the end in like a backwards L shape.

[ifirejoice2]

@Modthepirate You have to make sure the white gems and the black gems are in seperate sectors with no mixing of colours in the same sector. The line you draw splits up the grid into sectors.

[MsBickle76]

I wonder what they would do if I just follow Jonathan with my camera equipment whenever he is going to give a talk. Is it illegal to film at events like this, because all this stuff is just too important not capture.

And a few of his talks have gone "missing" supposedly erased because of things he said or just the whole content of the speech.

[azaphos]

@MsBickle76 he generally records himself and posts the audio with slides if no official video is taken/posted.

[indiecadebossbattle]

@MsBickle76 It depends on the event- Some events have a strict no filming policy and sometimes the venue has very specific rules. At IndieCade, you're free to film as long as the Presenter/Speaker is comfortable with it. This video was captured by Ida Bendetto, an incredibly helpful and amazing IndieCade volunteer.

[lloydnone]

Thanks for taking the time to post this video!

[funkycoder1]

My guess is the skips are due to the 30min/4GBytes video recording limit in (Canon) DSLRs (the Q&A-Part seems to have some un-DV-like depth of field. But why isn't it in HD then?)

[Dorkus1218]

@funkycoder1 i dont think that's dslr footage. the 4GB thing is a limitation of the fat32 filesystem... maybe that has to to with it. couldve just been operator/equipment error, too.

[MsBickle76]

“This video is unlisted. Only those with the link can see it. Learn more”

…Oh fuck you, IndieCade!

Are these guys retarded?

…but thanks for uploading and sharing, Jonathan…

[indiecadebossbattle]

@MsBickle76 No, we're not. It was a mistake and the video is now publicly listed! If you have a problem in the future, feel free to contact us!

[YearwigY]

Why is this video unlisted? I'm saving it to my Jonathan Blow folder, with inspiration and notes for my indie game!

[indiecadebossbattle]

@YearwigY It's now publicly listed, we forgot to flip the switch! Thanks for the reminder :)

[iamvfx]

I like how John sat on a chair :)

[rubbermuck]

another skip at 51:44

[iamvfx]

@rubbermuck I think it's been spoilers :)

[indiecadebossbattle]

@iamvfx No spoilers. We wish! Just a limit on the recording.

[rubbermuck]

there is a skip in the video at 26:10