I quite enjoy polytopia as a simpler, less addictive Civilization. It’s just fun and you don’t need to think too hard. So, I agree with almost everything you said.
Multiplayer polytopia is a different beast. It brings the complexity and strategy up to the level of Backgammon. If you enjoy single player and find it too easy, try multiplayer.
To be absolutely clear, it’s still a simple, but fun game.
As we all are. Of all these wildly successful tech bros (and 'accidental billionaires' — the industrial 'barons' of our age), only Bezos has struck me as above average intelligent (but morally challenged).
But frankly, I think this is a pretty believable piece of armchair psychoanalysis.
Sadly, I can relate to avoiding commitments in order to obsessively replay a game that has a few obvious strategies to win. I am not sure I like what this might be telling me about myself.
Psh, you only lost one month of your life to Tears of the Kingdom? Scrub! With the one-year anniversary coming up, you're due for another playthrough after all...
I haven't read the Isaacson book or played the game, but I always appreciate an exploration into what attitudes and habits around a particular game might imply about a person's psychology and world view.
Thanks for pointing out a game that I enjoy. After two matches, it reawakened my taste for Unciv, though, the free, mobile Civilization implementation. I wonder whether Musk ever played it and got frustrated...
Thanks for this. The man is all about ego. I blocked him (and his name) on his own social media network because I can’t stand the grandstanding or the adulation and fixation on everything he does. Will check out the game tho. 😎
At a high level, chess games take hours—sometimes many hours. Perhaps most frustratingly for a person like Musk, after all that it can end in a draw. I wonder what he thinks of soccer.
I was referring to the Civilization games! (Not trying to be rude by calling them a rip off, I enjoyed polytopia) And to some extent the Total War games, which, if you like turn based strategy *and* real time combat, I recommend them, specifically Shogun 2 or Rome remastered, which, while old, are still really fun (and w the former specifically, it really sates the samurai hunger the Shogun tv show gave me)
The fact that you figured Polytopia out so fast without having ever played Civilization really drives home how simple it is. It's "Civilization for when you're waiting at the DMV."
I spent most of 2020's lockdown playing Civ VI (and Oxygen not Included, but that's a different window into my psyche). I have been playing Civ since high school and once "lost" a whole night right before a final playing (I don't know how I graduated college). Civ VI is absolutely amazing IMO. And if you're disciplined, you can play a single game over several days, or weeks even, as it's turn based. But the "just one more turn" pull is what I imagine it's like to be addicted to opioids. Happy gaming!
I played Civ from the beginning to whatever was out in 2001 when my first child was born. I remember those "just one more turns" to my wife with a baby on my lap. That addiction had to end. Now my youngest has turned 18. Do I dare?
He's autistic; the game is just an obsession. Poker skills are bad because facial expressions, body language and social cues are difficult for him to read. Same as it is difficult for neurotypicals to understand his reasoning and thought process.
I'd say Musk is a man with "hidden shallows", but they're not exactly hidden anymore, are they?
lol
Polytopia player here. Spot on. It isn't the least complex game on my phone, but only because I have a word search game too.
I literally play it for stress relief. But I can see where someone of Elon's talents might find it challenging and engaging.
Take that as you will.
I quite enjoy polytopia as a simpler, less addictive Civilization. It’s just fun and you don’t need to think too hard. So, I agree with almost everything you said.
Multiplayer polytopia is a different beast. It brings the complexity and strategy up to the level of Backgammon. If you enjoy single player and find it too easy, try multiplayer.
To be absolutely clear, it’s still a simple, but fun game.
Oh no. There you got me. I just downloaded the game and played for a few hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Oh no. You got me hooked again. I re-downloaded it and played for a few hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
As we all are. Of all these wildly successful tech bros (and 'accidental billionaires' — the industrial 'barons' of our age), only Bezos has struck me as above average intelligent (but morally challenged).
But frankly, I think this is a pretty believable piece of armchair psychoanalysis.
Yeah, that's why Bezos scares me. That guy has a plan, and it unfortunately works.
Sadly, I can relate to avoiding commitments in order to obsessively replay a game that has a few obvious strategies to win. I am not sure I like what this might be telling me about myself.
Psh, you only lost one month of your life to Tears of the Kingdom? Scrub! With the one-year anniversary coming up, you're due for another playthrough after all...
(Cough.)
I haven't read the Isaacson book or played the game, but I always appreciate an exploration into what attitudes and habits around a particular game might imply about a person's psychology and world view.
"The central contradiction of present-day Elon Musk [...] is that he has attained such phenomenal wealthy"
You made a typo.
Fixed, thanks.
Yes, Musk is (or has been until recently) one of Napoleon's "lucky generals". But he thinks of himself as Napoleon
Thanks for pointing out a game that I enjoy. After two matches, it reawakened my taste for Unciv, though, the free, mobile Civilization implementation. I wonder whether Musk ever played it and got frustrated...
Polytopia is a great "play while something familiar is on the TV in the background" option, if you're into that kind of thing.
Thanks for this. The man is all about ego. I blocked him (and his name) on his own social media network because I can’t stand the grandstanding or the adulation and fixation on everything he does. Will check out the game tho. 😎
The opening quote was interesting.
This from a "man" who soiled himself after belatedly realizing helping Ukraine might upset Putin and lead to WW3.
I call baloney.....
At a high level, chess games take hours—sometimes many hours. Perhaps most frustratingly for a person like Musk, after all that it can end in a draw. I wonder what he thinks of soccer.
the game isn’t even half as complicated as the games it’s ripping off, how could this moron ever believe it’s more complicated than chess
Wait, which game is it ripping off? Now I want to play that too!
I was referring to the Civilization games! (Not trying to be rude by calling them a rip off, I enjoyed polytopia) And to some extent the Total War games, which, if you like turn based strategy *and* real time combat, I recommend them, specifically Shogun 2 or Rome remastered, which, while old, are still really fun (and w the former specifically, it really sates the samurai hunger the Shogun tv show gave me)
Ah hell. I've avoided playing Civilization all these years, because I'm sure I'd get obsessed with it.
Now I sort of *have* to play it, right? For research? :)
The fact that you figured Polytopia out so fast without having ever played Civilization really drives home how simple it is. It's "Civilization for when you're waiting at the DMV."
I spent most of 2020's lockdown playing Civ VI (and Oxygen not Included, but that's a different window into my psyche). I have been playing Civ since high school and once "lost" a whole night right before a final playing (I don't know how I graduated college). Civ VI is absolutely amazing IMO. And if you're disciplined, you can play a single game over several days, or weeks even, as it's turn based. But the "just one more turn" pull is what I imagine it's like to be addicted to opioids. Happy gaming!
I played Civ from the beginning to whatever was out in 2001 when my first child was born. I remember those "just one more turns" to my wife with a baby on my lap. That addiction had to end. Now my youngest has turned 18. Do I dare?
Yeah you gotta do your due diligence!
i got two things from this: a new game to try, and a great and actually clever critique of musk. cool beans.
He's autistic; the game is just an obsession. Poker skills are bad because facial expressions, body language and social cues are difficult for him to read. Same as it is difficult for neurotypicals to understand his reasoning and thought process.