Riskgaming Riskgaming State of the Union
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Oct 1, 2025 Danny and Laurence reflect on their latest game launch, Gray Matter, and the surprising emergent gameplay it sparked. They discuss players’ negotiation skills and how social dynamics influenced clue publication. The conversation shifts to Southwest Silicon, a game about Arizona's water rights and semiconductor industry, highlighting its intricate policy challenges. Upcoming games are previewed, tackling urban automation, critical minerals, and reimagining development institutions with a focus on technology and institutional design.
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Unexpected Player Theatrics And Outcomes
- Laurence watched players improvise characters and hijack the room, turning a prop into a podium and sparking in-game debates.
- Danny noted unexpected player outcomes like two people ending with no cards despite trade rules, showing human unpredictability.
Information, Attention, And Money Markets
- Gray Matter models the intersection of information, attention, and money markets to test publication strategy.
- Players balance making private information public to gain attention versus keeping it proprietary to profit.
Risking To Keep A Clue Private
- Two Carmel winners managed to keep one clue unpublished and secured huge bonuses, using bargaining and sacrifice to protect leverage.
- Laurence and Danny described a player physically blocking publication and trading heavily to maintain a proprietary clue.