Neuromythology for Game Design
December 11, 2013
Over on ihobo today, I expand my thoughts on the mythology of science into game design:
For quite a while now I've taken an interest in what neuroscientists can teach game designers. In the full knowledge that some of the things I convey will soon be invalidated, I have proceeded to dabble. But I am not a neurobiologist (or not yet, anyway) and many have advised me to leave it to those within the field. For me, this is the wrong way to relate to the sciences: experimental findings do not propagate by accurate description but by metaphors, what I have called (after Mary Midgley) 'myths' – and neurobiologists are no more trained in practical mythology than game designers are in neuroscience.
Regular players of Only a Game are probably better equipped for this piece than most, and I thought about running it here, but it is ultimately about games so I put it on ihobo.com instead. You can read the entirety of Neuromythology for Game Design over there – check it out!