Jonathan Blow, the renowned designer of iconic video games like 'Braid' and 'The Witness', dives deep into the crossroads of art and consciousness. He discusses how video games can foster personal growth and the importance of authentic storytelling in design. Blow contrasts genuine engagement with superficial interactions while exploring the philosophical nuances of free will. He highlights the unique potential of games as a therapeutic medium and reflects on creative challenges, urging a balance between motivation and burnout in the gaming industry.
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insights INSIGHT
Video Game Philosophy
Jonathan Blow's game design philosophy revolves around creating experiences that inform everyday life.
He believes games should offer more than escapism, similar to impactful literature.
insights INSIGHT
Understanding the Universe
Understanding the universe was a primary motivator for Jonathan Blow during his youth.
He viewed game development as a temporary diversion to gain strength for this pursuit.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Drive for Truth
As a young man, Blow felt a deep interior drive to pursue truth, rejecting conventional career paths.
This pursuit of truth guided his approach to life and work.
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The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
Iain McGilchrist
This book argues that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, allowing for two incompatible versions of the world. The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, while the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity. McGilchrist takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from ancient to modern times. He argues that the increasing dominance of the left hemisphere in today’s world has potentially disastrous consequences.
Catching the Big Fish
David Lynch
David Lynch's "Catching the Big Fish" is a unique blend of memoir, creative philosophy, and artistic advice. The book delves into Lynch's personal journey as a filmmaker, offering insights into his creative process and his approach to life. Lynch uses the metaphor of fishing to illustrate the importance of patience, persistence, and intuition in achieving one's goals. He emphasizes the value of embracing uncertainty and trusting one's instincts. The book is a reflection on the creative spirit and a guide to finding inspiration and fulfillment in life's pursuits.
Cosmic Connections
Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment
Charles Taylor
A New Kind Of Science
Stephen Wolfram
In 'A New Kind of Science,' Stephen Wolfram presents a comprehensive study of computational systems, particularly cellular automata, and argues that the study of simple programs can revolutionize various fields of science. The book, which took over a decade to complete, introduces the Principle of Computational Equivalence and the concept of computational irreducibility. Wolfram demonstrates how simple rules can generate complex behavior, similar to patterns observed in nature, and discusses the implications of these findings for fields such as physics, biology, and mathematics. The book is known for its extensive use of computer graphics and its attempt to establish a new foundational science based on computational principles.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/80f47smhYEI
Jon Blow is the renown designer of The Witness, and Braid. Sponsors: https://brilliant.org/TOE for 20% off. http://algo.com for supply chain AI.
LINKS MENTIONED: -Jon's talk on video game ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCVVLAs9mJU -Jon's talk on motivation and burnout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7kh8pNRWOo -Iain McGilchrist interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-SgOwc6Pe4 -Rupert Spira interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocP6JSyicY0
THANK YOU: -BigPhilCombo (on the discord) for managing the Discord voluntarily and making it a place where almost 900 people talk respectfully
TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:46 Jon recounting people using him for clicks 00:05:53 Too many wannabe gurus, and not enough instruction in our culture 00:08:00 Curt's mainupulation of the "formal" aspects of film is owed to Jonathan 00:09:34 The goal of understanding the universe (what does that mean?) 00:17:23 How understanding oneself is related to understanding the universe 00:19:41 Limits of language and "truth" 00:25:10 Video game design and building one's own TOE 00:33:22 Examples of what works and doesn't in game design for Braid's aesthetics 00:44:03 Game mechanics vs the "theme" 00:54:29 Not being able to explain true art 00:56:06 True art vs. "propaganda" 01:04:01 Dislike of contemporary art 01:12:06 Jon on video game reviews (and discussions on art, in general) 01:32:32 Specifics on how Jon does video game design 01:42:02 Rupert Spira in The Witness 01:47:08 Original ideas are difficult 01:49:34 Meditation and life long insights from single moments 02:00:20 Materialism vs. qualia vs. stories vs. models 02:06:25 Wolfram's physics model 02:09:21 Free Will is too "simple" 02:16:12 Super Bunyhop's and Joseph Anderson's review of The Witness 02:16:39 Dunkey? 02:16:45 VR is interesting but not for immersion 02:22:54 Stanley Parable 02:23:36 OpenAI applied to video games 02:26:00 Unreal Engine 5, hype? 02:31:24 [ForceField] On Henri Bergson 02:32:49 [stef] How do you achieve subconscious artistic expression in game making 02:34:41 [Steven Brent] Videos games better than other mediums for certain emotional expressions? 02:36:45 [Pooja Soni] Video games and helping mental illnesses / adjunct to therapy 02:40:27 [James R] Mind uploading 02:43:31 [Tom] Analytic / rational vs. intuitive / supra-rational 02:45:34 [Chris Merola] Stephen's Sausage Roll is one of the best puzzle games 02:48:42 [championchap] Having aphantasia and designing games 02:49:50 [Brian Mauch] Ask why the industry has gone to "shit"? 02:51:41 [James Jones] On Neuralink 02:53:37 [Johannes Norrbacka] Jai and opinion on other data-oriented languages 02:56:33 [Lara Lebeu] What connects him to non-duality teachers? (because of the Rupert Spira video in The Witness) 02:59:35 We're at a stagnation point in society 03:04:00 [Mr. K] "Yeah: wtf is Kojima working on lol" 03:04:16 [ZenoEvil - Meaning Machines] Why hasn't Braid's success led to copycats? 03:06:31 [Wes Lord] Getting over burnout and other motivational issues 03:08:45 [bc1n0] "Please beta access to Jai? Will pay $100 for access." 03:10:54 [Michael Bespalov] Hades' early access model 03:13:22 How does playtesting work? And how does Jon use it? 03:15:25 [Ivan] Thoughts on state of free speech in the world 03:21:07 Eric Weinstein, Peter Theil, and stagnation (again) 03:26:02 SCRUM? Kanban? What's the work process? 03:29:49 [Ruari VK] Why is it called 'The Witness'?
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal 
