[gameprogrammer] Re: Very.. VERY strange question.....

On Sat, 2004-11-06 at 14:03, Todd Super Bassist wrote:
> Hey guys,
>     I'm a Medical Software programmer... I've really wanted to get into game 
> programming, but I've found it rather difficult to get my foot in the door. 
> Short of creating my own game, I've sort of wanted to simply just "get a job" 
> with a game company. Now, I know how next to impossible that is, plus I know 
> ALLLL about the corporate structure of game companies cutting eachothers 
> throats.. and people getting canned before a project is even finished.. blah 
> blah...
> 
> But I was just curious how many of you actually work for a company such as 
> EA, or Origin, or whatever?
> 
> Also, I've been in contact with a couple of programmers from "back in the 
> day". I've had a small discourse back and forth with the makers of Starflight 
> (from back in the day), Karl Buiter from Sentinel Worlds, and one of the guys 
> from the Ultima 8 team. (game kinda sucked though.. no offense).
> 
> One thing I found really really odd... is that the first suggestion that 
> every single one of them has given me is is that I read some old old ass 
> books. Most of them all seem to unanimously recommend that I read 
> "Aristotle's Poetics" or Plato's "Republic"... or something like that. 
> Co-incidentally... when my grandfather died, I got a bunch of old books, and 
> I just so happened to read them. Sure, I know that Socrate's had this nack of 
> anoying people by constantly asking questions in an argument... but what 
> exactly is the point? I have a pretty down to earth foundation of Ethics. 
> 

I believe the point they are trying to make is that many many wannabe
game programmers focus on the technology and not only ignore, but aren't
even aware, of the fact that game programming is not primarily a
technical activity. To write good games you have to be aware of the
social structures that people and games exist in. If human beings are
part of the game, then you need to have an understanding what makes
people tick.

If you are writing a quest game, don't you think you should understand
why people go on quests? You might want to have some idea of where the
concept of a quest comes into our every day lives? If your game includes
conflict, trading, and cooperation, then perhaps you should know what
some of the worlds greatest thinkers have to say about the roots of
conflict, trade, and cooperation? 

Games exist in a cultural context that is many thousands of years old.
It is a good idea to have some understanding of that culture before you
try to create something that depends on that culture for its success.

How many decades did Tolkien spend studying ancient European cultures
before he wrote the "Lord of the Rings"? If you want to write a game
with the enduring strength of LOTR you think maybe you should read a
couple of books about something other that programming?

                Bob Pendleton


> I've played Ultima IV just like all you other geeks... so I'm pretty 
> virtuous.. (hahah). 
> 
> I'm just curious if any of you guys would consider that a pre-requesit. Sure, 
> I know they don't teach this kind of stuff in today's public schools... or 
> even most private schools. But what should I achieve out of reading these? I 
> understand the book is supposed to make you think, and be more empathetic, 
> but if I can so humbly say... I feel that I'm at least decent in that area... 
> 
> Are these old programmers from the 80s just totally off their rockers?  
> 
> 
> Todd
> 
> 
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