Post Games Games Can Save Us from the Hell of Silicon Valley Optimization (C. Thi Nguyen)
Mar 16, 2026
C. Thi Nguyen, philosopher and author exploring how scoring systems shape who we become, and Gita Jackson, critic and editor focused on games and internet culture, dive into gamification, metrics corrupting institutions, and how scoring can both liberate and oppress. They discuss optimization in modern games, why some titles feel joyless, the promise of democratic scoring, and what makes Marathon feel intense and meaningful.
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Imperial Turned War Into Investor Strategy
- Nguyen recounts playing Imperial where you buy stocks, not control countries, reframing war as investor strategy.
- He described giving cheap stock to a friend to align incentives mid-game as a creative strategy.
Streamable Failure Drives Some Modern Game Design
- Nguyen observes modern streaming-friendly games often showcase players comically failing, like Getting Over It.
- He suggests popular short-form video content favors games optimized for spectacular failure moments.
Optimization For Predictable Reactions Ruins Play
- The problem isn't rule count but that designers optimize rules to mechanically jerk player reactions (addiction).
- Sentimental or mechanistic design pulls chains for predictable responses rather than inviting varied player meaning.
