Games: A Natural Learning System ft. Zain Memon

Often, when we ask people why do we play, we get the tautological reply that we play because it's fun - the question, however, is, why is playing so much fun? Kittens, cubs, and puppies play. The bottlenose dolphin plays around 37 different kinds of games. What's the evolutionary function of this activity that has many parents and their children divided over? In this conversation, I speak to my co-founder and ace game designer Zain Memon about our hardwired relationship with gaming.

[@sahil_deshpande]

That's it! Start a podcast Anand. There is a massive hunger for long form intellectual conversations like these. Please don't stop!

[@AlokKumar-ik3rh]

#takeaways * 04:33 The best kind of learning happens when problem is presented to us in multiple contexts and we get multiple opportunities to solve it. * The relationship between being asked to remember something at school with the premise that it may or may not come handy decades later, is too far removed and low stakes for the learner to be even remotely engaged. * Each element of this larger science built into a game. End goals are defined and tools are given to us. The game encourages the learner to take risks, find solutions which are novel which are new, and slowly arrive at the idea of what the best possible bridge could be. Maybe even look at the best possible bridge after that and optimise them and find solutions that no one has ever thought of. * 06:02 But wouldn’t that mean constantly re-inventing the wheel? Actually a combination of re-inventing the wheel and then being exposed to the best in wheel-engineering. So the first step is stating the problem very very clearly metaphorically speaking, transportation at speed then letting creative play unfold slowly till the learner comes up with the semblance of a wheel, and then exposing the learner to the best solutions that humans have already found in, say wheel science. * When we experience the 'aha' moment of having solved a problem it is our brain rewarding us for having figured something out. You don't need to win, you just need to know that you might. What's more interesting is that dopamine activates our reward centers which help us stay focused and repeat the same activities again and again... 07:52 Evolutionarily, "fun" is the reward for playing and "play" is our strategy for "learning". With tools of puzzle-solving, micro-levels and ladder progressions, peer dynamics like cooperation and competition the act of learning itself should be filled with micro-rewards. * 08:19 First, from the hundred of variables around us, a game could allow us to limit and isolate the ones we are currently studying. Experimenting and interacting with a few elements and their interactions can help us get a working grasp of the fundamental principles at play. 09:09 A single session of play can take us through hundred of possibilities, hundreds of years, and point out the best strategies and teach them to us through trial and error. Games are a translator for making complex systems intuitive. They allow us to compress time and complexity into capsules that are relevant, fun and consumable. * The Antagonist Method

[@chandlerbing2657]

This is so insightful. Please keep uploading. We're tired of watching Filtercopy, TVF, and other videos. This is intellectually stimulating.

[@anirudhsingh2354]

Our very own mathematician Bhaskaracharya created Lilavati to teach his daughter mathematics. It's a phenomenal work which talks about practical problem solving. On the contrary the current education system has its roots based in the Industrial revolution which required to train mass labour, a job which will be completely taken over by the machine when our kindergartners graduate High School.

[@krishnadathmishra8784]

It has been an experience in itself to watch your movies and throw ourselves in a world guided by your imagination and creativity. Following you on social networking sites as you help make us understand complex emotions has been a pleasure in itself for so many years. This new project and countless others you have in continuation is something everyone who is hungry for knowledge and applications of the same will appreciate. Thank you soo much Anand.

[@rakeshcchamola]

Anand you are such a well read person. You had mentioned in one of your interviews that you designed your education on your own. Could you please share your reading list starting from beginning to this date. Thanks on advance.

[@mdzahidansari5746]

Yeah it will be helpful and interesting

[@piyushshah1720]

You just said he designed on his own. So why not design for yourself. Where is the fun then. The whole fun is gone there for you which is the crux of the video.

[@rakeshcchamola]

@@piyushshah1720 Thanks Piyush for your reply.I agree with you. But here i am not asking for how he designed an education system for him. I am asking for his reading list.

[@kumarkeshavj]

Hey Anand I am huge fan of your point of view.. I am sincere request to you please make a video consistently because you are of of person that makes huge impact on youth minds.. Cover all topics that's you know.. I think you are away from millions of people.. please share knowledge on KZbin.. It's greatest gift you give youth like me.. hope you read this message.. thanks Anand..lots of love and respect ❤️❤️❤️

[@saitejaallani3193]

Anand. The way you are going forward is very inspiring. I have always believed that games has something to do with our behaviour. This interaction summed up everything. Games : A Natural learning system. Thank you for this video man !

[@ubiquitous415]

Orgasmic to listen to you guys talk. Please please do not stop this. Let us know In any way if we could contribute

[@AshishKaloliya]

Yeah, Sex is good and all but have you ever heard Anand Gandhi talking or in conversation?

[@onebitstory]

Shashn should have an e- Trial version for ppl to check out & connect. If they connect to the idea of it, enjoy interacting with it, they will buy it.

[@yogeshkokane8480]

Country with Billion people , and just few are making it here !

[@anuragnamdev8780]

We love you sir. You are a treasure, we want more from you, anything. Everything.❤️ Please contniue this.

[@neelima6460]

I know Anand Gandhi after his partner, our favorite actress Kani Kusruthi. 🌻

[@persona7506]

a great insight , never thought about it in this perspective

[@vinayakdhyani4676]

Awesome video! Will definitely try to do something in this field 🤔 Learning through gaming..

[@vikaschenna3274]

Keep continuing this series!

[@TheUllaskrishnan]

Would be interested to be a part of the focus group exercise during the trial runs of the games. I hope it does get incorporated in the current pedagogy.

[@amansinghbhadauria2818]

These are 12 mins of that "AHA" moment he's talking about.

[@vishalsharma123]

Sounds like a good learning ... Way to forward.. First like without watching because it's Anand Gandhi's work...

[@balwindersingh-zo8us]

same here man!!!!

[@varunsaxena7436]

Anand Sir, I would love to see you have a conversation with Dhruv Jani of Studio Oleomingus. They are probably the only independent video game studio in India making games on post-colonial themes and watching you talk with him will make up for an amazing video !

[@jeevanjairaj789]

Thank for such great insights, sir.

[@mukeshsethi3717]

We are ready. Bring us more of this.

[@kshitijbachke6753]

Lets Go! This live feed is gonna be a good way to start the day!

[@Moonjir]

Will your game Sashen will come out for smart phone or laptop too ?

[@annemvikramreddy8627]

Such an amazing knowledge

[@screenmagicians7318]

This video defines the philosphy behind Squid Games series

[@vighneshchavan3661]

Sir, I'm an Engineering Student ...but I aspire to be a Filmmaker, i think i have got the most things( in their raw form maybe), required to be a filmmaker. I'm a Cinema enthusiast inspired by the works of Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, Alfred Hitchcock ...and Our very own Satyajit Ray. I want to change the course of Indian Cinema ..... I aim at doing something as big as the FRENCH NEW WAVE in BOLLYWOOD. But before that, i need to start as an assistant to someone as talented and honest as you . I dont really like the main stream Bollywood. I am searching for an opportunity to learn and achieve a lot ........ (sorry for the same comment again .... i just need a chance)

[@santioned_sneh]

But all the people you are talking about and also artist of french new wave specially truffaut all these were just a relluctant fundamentalist.

[@vighneshchavan3661]

@@santioned_sneh yeah i know they are reluctant fundamentalist ....but i didnt get the point you are making .

[@vighneshchavan3661]

@@santioned_sneh according to me the biggest quality required for a Director is to able to express his ideas and thoughts .......the fundamentals the techniques develops with time. Again according to me Sir Anand Gandhi being one of the best Film-makers in the country, is a better writer than a film-maker , a better thinker than a writer. Being a thinker isn't sufficient in the Cinema Culture...you need to be able to express your perspective to millions in a window of 2 hours... but when i saw Ship of THESEUS.....I was amazed the way he could express his "generally complex" thoughts in such a subtle way. and for me that"s the biggest quality a director should work on.

[@santioned_sneh]

@@vighneshchavan3661 Like you said "I want to change the course of Indian Cinema.... I aim at doing somethingas big as French New Wave in Bollywood" What sense can i make from it and what sense are you trying makr from these words.? I m assuming you someway want to change the course of Indian cinema with your work just like 400 blows and Godard's work did to french new wave. PS . Something like french new wave and also neo realism happened in Bollywood and later here only it felt down in front of Shopkeepers(i m talking distributers ) and Bollywood Masala (If seen hindi cinema you know it itself is a genre) but things apart kindly answers the above question.

[@user-lr2gc]

I have stupid question By playing games and learning things and making complex questions intuitive is it possible for any age group of human beings or only the growing once with playful neurons ?? 😅Please reply

[@psibarpsi]

any, i believe.

[@pranaysinghtomar1542]

What insights 👌

[@beans7188]

Very insightful!

[@yogendraa8390]

❤️

[@himanshubhandari1783]

Great content!

[@vipulkrishnasingh5652]

He is Christopher nolan of india

[@vinayakdhyani4676]

But kinda underrated

[@kamal-kq3go]

Thanks man

[@VineetDixit12]

It seemed like u recorded both persons at different times 🤔

[@shashankethane]

No you can see zayns hand when Anand talks

[@VineetDixit12]

@@shashankethane that's only in the end but in the remaining video it seems that no one is sitting in front of Anand 🤔

[@VineetDixit12]

@@shashankethane through his eyes.. And also in the later half of the video lighting is also different on both the gentlemen

[@subhantadavi3464]

Sir please will you add Hindi subtitles,

[@theawantikamishra]

Subhan if there is option I will try to add , or I will write it here with timeline, just reply back so that I can know the work will be of any use

[@ravitejrekhi8960]

Really looking forward to playing Shasn! Just placed my order on Kickstarter and awaiting it. Also, the AI simulation game “Paperclips” (available for free online) is one example of all the principles that were talked about this video and helps the player understand more about how AI works. I hugely recommend it!

[@harshitapagriya5885]

Is it available in AppStore

[@ravitejrekhi8960]

Harshita Pagriya Yes, www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/index2.html

[@harshitapagriya5885]

Ravitej Rekhi is it free

[@ravitejrekhi8960]

Harshita Pagriya yes, but only on a web browser.

[@nooruddinraotiwala490]

👌👌👌

[@krishnaenterprisesfurnitur168]

An insignificant man कहा पे देख सकते है कोई बताओ प्लीज

[@santioned_sneh]

Yeh sawal google se krna zyda behtar rhega

[@krishnaenterprisesfurnitur168]

@@santioned_sneh khi na mil rha hai

[@siddharthsingh5031]

It's on KZbin .

[@krishnaenterprisesfurnitur168]

@@siddharthsingh5031 it's not available on KZbin.

[@krishnaenterprisesfurnitur168]

@@siddharthsingh5031 and I can't found at any other ott platform

[@nishangyawali6811]

Dhuraaa

[@rajivesingh69]

Damn

[@AKMRULES48]

Check my DMs on Instagram and FB. I am filmmaker and I have a background in evolutionary biology.

[@vivekbindra2453]

Kya log hai yr

[@titanmoirangthem234]

Indian bergman