The World's Best Book Summaries
What are games according to Raph Koster? Why are there so many differing opinions on what games are? In his book about the theory of fun, Koster provides his own definition of what a game is along with the definitions of others. He concludes that, in general, games are puzzles designed to teach your brain new patterns. Here is what Raph Koster has to say about what games are.
Is bias training a good solution to workplace bias? What incident forced Starbucks to reevaluate how they handle racism? How is moral credentialing a threat to racism progression? In her book Biased, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt discusses bias training at work and uses the 2018 Starbucks incident as a case study. Many companies used biased training as a crutch because they don’t know how else to deal with racism but it may not be the perfect solution. Here’s some background on the Starbucks incident and a discussion on whether bias training is effective or not.
Are you skilled in evaluating science? How do you know what’s true and what’s false? In the book Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway take on people and organizations who create the impression that scientific findings that threaten their agenda or ideology are unsettled—or flat-out wrong. The authors look at some of the issues that merchants of doubt are tackling today and share keys to evaluating science so that you can protect yourself from being taken in. Read on to start developing the skill of evaluating science.
What are game mechanics? What are the most common gameplay paradigms? How do you innovate a game? A Theory of Fun for Game Design author, Raph Koster, explains that the holy grail of game mechanics should provide never-ending challenges, require a varied skill set, and have a difficulty curve that adjusts to your skill level. Unfortunately, a lot of games fall back on cliched game mechanics. Keep reading for Raph Koster’s explanation of game mechanics.
What can we learn about police brutality by studying the shooting of Terence Crutcher? Is using case studies a helpful approach to police brutality? In her book Biased, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt discusses police brutality by examining the shooting of Terence Crutcher. She breaks down the incident into five parts and examines what went wrong and what should have been done differently. Then we discuss whether using individual case studies is an effective approach to ending police brutality. Here is Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt’s breakdown of the shooting of Terence Crutcher.
What are the benefits of playing games? Can games teach you skills for the modern day? Despite the fact that many people think games (especially video games) are a negative influence and distract you from the real world, Raph Koster asserts that games are actually beneficial in many ways. Koster says that games can teach you a number of skills including teamwork, lateral thinking, and can even teach you self-insight. Below are the benefits of playing games according to A Theory of Fun for Game Design author Raph Koster.
How does peer review in science work? How does the scientific community reach a consensus? Peer review in science is based on principles established during the Scientific Revolution. The process, comprising of three steps, is the test that a scientific claim must pass in order to be considered legitimate. Read more to learn about peer review in science.
What is the meaning of fun in terms of game design? How can understanding the psychology of fun help you design a better game? Psychologically, fun is the release of dopamine you get when you learn something or complete a task. This is why Raph Koster asserts that games must include an element of learning, comprehension, and mastery to be enjoyable. If you’re designing a game, here are some things to consider.
Do you understand how science works? Does it operate on proof or consensus? How does it handle uncertainty? Science impacts all of us, so we would do well to understand how science works. It’s helpful to know the basics of the peer review process, how the scientific community deals with uncertainty, and what scientists mean when they use the word “cause.” Read more to learn the basics of how science works.
What is A Theory of Fun for Game Design about? Can games be more than just a distraction from reality? In his book A Theory of Fun for Game Design, Raph Koster discusses the theories behind games such as what makes a game fun, what games can teach, and how games can provide us with insight into ourselves. These are essential concepts to consider whether you’re making a board game or a video game. Here is a brief overview of A Theory of Fun for Game Design.