Play Anything | Ian Bogost | Talks at Google

Dr. Ian Bogost is an author, an award-winning game designer, Founding Partner at Persuasive Games LLC, an independent game studio, and a Contributing Editor at The Atlantic.

Bogost is here to teach us that play isn’t a mindless escape from boring reality. Instead, play is what happens when we accept limitations, narrow our focus, and—consequently—have fun. Which is also how to live a good life.

Join us as we learn how to play!

[andrewmara]

Always love revisiting this. It demands an open mind and humility to hear it, and an even more open mind and (greater?) humility to get the insight from practice. It's one of the reasons I have students watching Dr. Bogost's talk.

[jakezambas]

that rug really ties the room together

[PillsburyDoughboy]

Giving something more respect than it deserves.

Recently I saw a phenomenon in competitive FPS video games, games of counter strike, valorant, rainbow 6 siege etc.
usually these games happen in rounds, you play as a team to overcome an opposing team and when you die you kind of do nothing while your team plays on. So what is your role? Communication? Coaching? Nothing and letting other players focus?

I saw players, throughout these games act as “play by play commentators” as if they’re casting a professional baseball game. Color commentary commitment to a bit, treating the game as real.

I wonder what is your opinion on people who do “labor” on games. Such as the general manager of a baseball team. Or the “moneyball” data analyst. Are these workers also pursuing fun? By giving their labor to play.

[BlueNote]

Very nice insights on what actually play and fun is. Great video by a great academic

[alexanderiwanow]

"Tiny weird heroism" 14:27 👍💙

[brandonroberts]

I think the more negative people in the comments aren't looking to create fun things, they are just hoping to be entertained by a video about fun things.

[ChinskiChat]

The irony of a useful thought around play being drawn out into an overly long talk and even longer book - both of which literally drag the fun out of every aspect of the original thought! Is there a word for that - kind of like onomatopoeia - but in reverse - and for thoughts...

[MacShrike]

IMHO.. not saying I did.... K maybe.... this, also, goes for addiction.. any kind... thank you for your insights!
Mac

[solomonw]

GReat book by yang kun chou called actionable gamification.. Where I am contemplates the topic of the function of this subject matter, CHou provides quant

[Mike.Garcia]

independent game studio? isn't every studio independent, I mean even first party ie Nintendo/Sega are independent enough to publish on others platform

[DetectivePoofPoof]

You know hes an academic, because hes actively smothering the little bit of actually interesting insight he got out of a simple thought in a sea of long-winded, monotonous babbling. Well structured, formal and important-sounding babbling tho.

[HK-iemb]

If he had found play in public speaking he would have gave better talk here