American McGee taking questions on Reddit

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/g4tkb/as_promised_american_mcgee_here_for_my_ama/

In case you are interested.

Thanks for the heads up.

That was quite interesting to read.

Best quote:

American Mcgee said:
I had been working as a car mechanic. The shop where I worked specialized in German cards (Audis, Volkswagens, BMWs) and was actually a great place to work. My skills as a mechanic weren't bad (I could replace the transmission in an old VW Bus in about 35 minutes) and I was making good money. The only downside was that I frequently caught on fire, was electrocuted or had something heavy dropped on me.

The only downside was that I frequently caught on fire

I can relate to that.

I found it pretty amusing that American left America when GWB got elected for a second term. Also, in response to the question regarding why games haven't really advanced since Quake, this answer is just about perfect:

Haha. Excellent question. Honestly, I think it's an interface issue. We're limited by the constraints of our input/output systems. When a new interface is introduced we see an explosion in creativity (Wii). What the industry needs is neural linked control systems with direct input to our visual/aural cortex. Give it a few more years. Not only will this improve game design - but I feel it has a chance to save the planet. What better way to conserve than to live a completely virtual life?

Neural IO is where it's at. It's a scary-as-hell concept because it comes with a lot of privacy implications including metrics logging of your actual brain and things like that. When it happens it will change everything. Not just games, but the way humans exist entirely. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I think about this a lot.

Shaikoten said:

I found it pretty amusing that American left America when GWB got elected for a second term. Also, in response to the question regarding why games haven't really advanced since Quake, this answer is just about perfect:

I disagree entirely.
I feel that it's 90% the fault of marketing that creativity has been stifled in the industry. The other 10% is middle-management and bloated companies creating an "assembly line" environment.

^^

I don't see much genuine creativity in Wii games, and this...

Not only will this improve game design - but I feel it has a chance to save the planet. What better way to conserve than to live a completely virtual life?

...makes him sound like a complete nutjob.

Here's to keyboards and mice.

Count me as another that disagrees with American entirely on this one. I love the wii, but it did not cause an explosion of innovation. It caused a lot of waggling, and a lot of ho-hum copycatting from sony and microsoft. Consoles are just about the least creative area of gaming right now (compared to handheld and PC)

I'm not really talking about Wii as being the interesting explosion of creativity the gaming industry needs for, I'm really saying that neural I/O will be a game changer for... everything. I mean think about it. You could simulate any sensation, smells, tastes, feelings, sights, sounds, everything perfectly, beamed straight to everyone's mind. It doesn't just change games, it changes the internet. It changes the economy. It changes how every single person interacts with each other. It eliminates the need of the physical world. It's like having steam for every aspect of life that can be simulated. Want to download the best fillet mignon that's ever been cooked and eat that? Someday you'll be able to. Want to screw a porn star? For a few bucks you can get virtually laid with all of the sensation and none of the social awkwardness or STDs. If this isn't a gamechanger, I don't know what is.

I agree it'll change the industry, and it may even open up some creative streams... but I believe above all, it'll remain a novelty just like waggle sticks and the Power Glove. VR or AR isn't the future of video games any more than hybrids are the future of cars.

I'd like to see someone with ADD playing a neural I/O game.

Shaikoten said:

I'm not really talking about Wii as being the interesting explosion of creativity the gaming industry needs for, I'm really saying that neural I/O will be a game changer for... everything. I mean think about it. You could simulate any sensation, smells, tastes, feelings, sights, sounds, everything perfectly, beamed straight to everyone's mind. It doesn't just change games, it changes the internet. It changes the economy. It changes how every single person interacts with each other. It eliminates the need of the physical world. It's like having steam for every aspect of life that can be simulated. Want to download the best fillet mignon that's ever been cooked and eat that? Someday you'll be able to. Want to screw a porn star? For a few bucks you can get virtually laid with all of the sensation and none of the social awkwardness or STDs. If this isn't a gamechanger, I don't know what is.

Yeah but at some point why not just cut the bullshit and have every pleasure related neuron in your brain fire off constantly for the rest of your life?

I'd go for that.

DuckReconMajor said:

Yeah but at some point why not just cut the bullshit and have every pleasure related neuron in your brain fire off constantly for the rest of your life?

I'd go for that.

Sounds boring.

magicsofa said:

Sounds boring.

That's why you'd also block the boredom neurons.

magicsofa said:

Sounds boring.

I knew you'd rush in and say something like this, you silly boy.

Fredrik said:

That's why you'd also block the boredom neurons.

I don't know if you're being serious, but I think if there was this level of control over the brain it would be possible to override the part that causes us to lose interest in things.

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Shaikoten said:

It changes how every single person interacts with each other. It eliminates the need of the physical world.

Welcome to the Matrix. Which one of you is Neo?