Welcome to Search Engine, a newsletter for a podcast that tries to answer every question. No question too big, no question too small.
https://pjvogt.substack.com
How do you make an addictive video game?
Ben Brode, a man who danced his way into Computer Science school
Happy Sunday everybody!
We’re back with a new one for you. My favorite episodes of Search Engine to work on are the ones where, afterwards, some sliver of the world looks a little different to me, and this was one.
This episode will change how you look at games. We talk to Ben Brode, the designer behind Hearthstone and Marvel Snap, about how a creative person learns to make the things they love, and about the secret ideas hiding in games as simple as rock-papers-scissors.
Ben Brode at a Rock Paper Scissors tourneyLinks from the episode are below but first, let’s talk games.I’ve already gotten a few emails this morning with suggestions for other addictive video games … Balatro has come up, which looks pretty fascinating. A very strange version of poker which lets you play “illegal poker hands” and encourages you to cheat.
BalatroA couple people suggested Slay the Spire which I’ve avoided because its reputation is that it’s so addictive I’m genuinely worried it’ll impinge on my ability to focus on this job I love so much.
I should also mention, on my vacation I picked up Vampire Survivors, which is a strange and very enjoyable game. It has charming, original Nintendo-style graphics.
I’m starting to understand that sometimes the cruder a game looks, the more I’ll actually enjoy it. The same way sometimes restaurants with sub-par ambience actually have very good food.
If you have a recommendation for a game, you know where to drop it. (The comments).
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Further reading (and playing)Marvel Snap, via ShacknewsHere’s the essay “Milling Time,” by Max Read, which I referenced in the introduction. Max also has a Substack I follow called “Read Max,” it’s a mix of writing about tech and culture recommendations.
If you dare, here are links to Hearthstone and to Marvel Snap.
Also, Ben Brode made a music video for his rap song about his grilled cheese recipe.
We’ll see you next week, with a brand new episode. We’re diving into those wrong number scam texts you may have seen. Gina … it’s me … from the pet store.
See you then,
PJ