Sid Meier's Interesting Decisions

In this 2012 GDC session, Firaxis Games' Sid Meier examines what types and categories of decisions are inherently interesting in the process of game design.
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[@urbanozorus]

Amazing how every time Sid does a talk there are actual fundamentals being explained. We cannot have enough of his insight on our beloved craft.

[@Lunareon]

I keep imagining the video title as the name of his next game. Jokes aside, great talk! The breakdown of what makes a decision interesting was spot on. Many games would definitely benefit from using these tips.

[@miniman3112]

Ooh, it's the man himself, interesting!

[@perfectloveweddings]

Best GDC talk I've seen. Great content. Please upload more like this (specifically focusing on board game design). This one worked for both worlds (video and board games). Much appreciated.

[@AlexaderOckham]

On dark souls whenever you succesfully parry you hear this distinctive sound which is such a good feedback. The sound is actually annoying on its own, but associated with doing something really hard and confirming in a "Yeah, you pulled it off" its really satisfying.

[@tabula_rosa]

once changed my phone ringtone to the dark souls riposte sound, played over and over again overlapsing itself halfway (so it's constantly playing two of the sounds, one halfway further than the other) it was earhell but when I got a call in public sometimes someone would be like Ayyy!

[@NeroVuk]

I always listen to a podcast when gaming, and so many games are introducing these audio ques for things :( what about us deaf people? :D

[@chasecollins5349]

unpopular opinion but sid meier's interesting desicions is a shit name for a game. what was he thinking.

[@bsimelane]

One of the best game design lessons!

[@kencrank3405]

Thanks you. Very insightful.

[@scionga]

Thank you

[@F3ND1MUS]

awesome

[@viceroy___]

I love Sid, wish him all the best.

[@tr233]

COOL!

[@camille-jeanhelou4444]

Gold

[@Scy]

Is this a repost of a repost?

[@TheLavaBlock]

classic

[@luqman_azeem]

Looking at the "Interactive Movies" genre like the Telltale series, or Heavy Rain / Detroit: Become Human - it would be unfair to define all games as "A series of interesting decisions". That said, a game always contains decisions, and they're always interesting if the experience feels good. So the statement may be more suitable as a lens for decisions: Decisions in a game should be interesting if the experience wants to feel meaningful.

[@voltcorp]

thanks for summarizing the introductory section of the talk