Chris Crawford > Quotes

“I dreamed of the day when computer games would be a viable medium of artistic expression — an art form. I dreamed of computer games expressing the full breadth of human experience and emotion. I dreamed of computer games that were tragedies, games about duty and honour, self-sacrifice and patriotism. I dreamed of satirical games and political games; games about the passionate love between a boy and girl, and the serene and mature love of a husband and wife of decades; games about a boy becoming a man, and a man realizing that he is no longer young. I dreamed of games about a man facing truth on a dusty main street at high noon, and a boy and his dog, and a prostitute with a heart of gold.”
― Chris Crawford

“Insanity is an inability to come to terms with reality. Don Quixote was definitely insane, because he couldn't come to terms. But there was a reason: the reality in which Don Quixote lived was a sordid and ugly reality … Don Quixote didn't want that. He wanted to live in a world where there was truth, and human dignity, and, yes, love.… Instead of giving up on it, he imposed his reality onto the real world. Where other people saw a filthy country hostel, he saw a castle! Where other people saw a flock of sheep, he saw a mighty army! Where other people saw a windmill, he saw a dragon. Yes, Don Quixote was a crazy old fool. But, you know, he was more honest about his dream than most people, and for that, I honor him.
[...]
I have committed myself, I have dedicated myself, to the pursuit of the dragon. And having made that commitment … all of a sudden, I can see him! There he is, right in front of me, clear as day.… You're so much bigger than I ever imagined, and I'm, I'm not so sure I like this. I mean, yes, you're glorious and beautiful, but you're ugly, too. Your breath reeks of death!… Am I so pitiful that you can sneer in my face like that? Yes, yes, you frighten me! You hurt me! I've felt your claws ripping through my soul! But I'm going to die someday, and before I can do that, I've got to face you, eyeball to eyeball. I've got to look you right in the eye, and see what's inside, but I'm not good enough to do that yet. I'm not experienced enough, so I'm going to have to start learning. Today. Here. Now. Come, dragon, I will fight you. Sancho Panza, my sword! (He picks up a sword from the desk behind him, which he unsheaths from its scabbard.) For truth! For beauty! For art! Charge!”
― Chris Crawford

“If you place all of your self-respect eggs in the programming basket, I suggest that you get
out of game design and work in systems programming. Otherwise, write the code and debug it.”
― Chris Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design

“The computer game is an art form because it presents its audience with fantasy experiences that stimulate emotion.”
― Chris Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design

“In this respect,
a story is like a statuette where a game is like a jewel. The statuette’s value arises from the
fineness of detail and intricacy of construction. A jewel, by contrast, has no detail; its faces must
be absolutely smooth. The jewel’s value arises from its ability to refract light into many different
angles. A statuette is meant to be stationary; a jewel is meant to be moved. So too, is a story static
where a game is dynamic.”
― Chris Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design

“Elitism arises from the intellectual content of art; impact springs from its emotional honesty.”
― Chris Crawford, The Art of Computer Game Design

“You can interact with a refrigerator: open the door and the light inside turns on. Close the door and the little light goes off. But how many people do you see standing in front of their refrigerators, opening and closing the doors, laughing?”
― Chris Crawford