Dave Oberheu on fun and winning

January 8th, 2010

My friend Dave Oberheu is a bit of a gaming nut. Having played several games at his house over the years I can tell you from first hand knowledge that Dave probably owns more games than you have ever played.

I really like this quote from a recent post on his gaming blog Brettspiel Cafe titled On fun and winning:

“This time investment means a lot can be lost or gained in a players experience and means “fun”, “sportsmanship” and “winning” are put in a crucible over a blowtorch.”

“In a crucible over a blowtorch.” I love that bit. And he’s right. A game that takes a very long time to complete will ultimately mean a wane of interest to win or have fun.

The bit where he puts dimwits and poker players in the same sentence? That I can not agree with for I like poker.

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2 comments on "Dave Oberheu on fun and winning"

  • bsctwo says:
    January 9, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    Thanks for the mention! I’ve been thinking about how to encourage more commentary on BSC, and I guess one way is to make controversial comments (evil grin).

    This is the quote that moved you: “I mean no offense to TI3 players as if they are all brutes, dimwits, or poker players.” For the record though, here’s actual comment I made with the word “dimwit” in it:

    Because TI3 is complicated, random, multiplayer, science fiction themed, conflict-driven (including elimination), and long, it immediately filters “softer”, Euro-style players out of participating .

    I believe this filter also strains out players who are of a more sensitive, logical and “refined” taste in their gaming. I mean no offense to TI3 players as if they are all brutes, dimwits, or poker players. But there is not denying those of a more delicate nature or psychological constitution might find Caylus, Agricola, or Settlers of Catan more palatable.

    Well, putting “brutes, dimwits and poker players” in the same sentence I suppose could be taken to mean I think poker is a game for a member of anti-Mensa. However in my gaming experience, poker does indeed seems to attract players who wish to exert a low level of cognitive energy. That doesn’t make them permanent “dimwits”, but they are not putting out as much mental effort as a chess or bridge-player.

    Poker players love to tell you how “serious” the game is, and how great it is that “amateurs beat professionals all the time” and how cool that is. Well there is no denying a lot of money is being made writing books about it (113,000 hits on Amazon.com, vs. only 5,093 for contract bridge), and putting on TV shows about it.

    McDonald’s sells a lot of hamburgers too. Have you ever tasted one?

    • Colin Devroe says:
      January 11, 2010 at 8:36 am

      I think it is a given that playing poker takes less brain power than playing chess or bridge. But to get back to the subject of your original post – fun and winning – I think that poker is much more fun to play in a social setting than bridge while bridge is much more challenging and is fun at a more personal level.

      Just my .2

      Oh – and McDonald’s laces their hamburgers with cocaine. They must.