Sam Simmons of Mintpass - Poker, Fandom, Gamification - S2E3
They say that game developers know more about human nature than psychologists, but gamers themselves are a close second if we can look at why we enjoy certain games over others.
My guest this week is Sam Simmons, Co-Founder at Mintpass: a collecting experience that makes your travels a part of your digital identity. Previously he spent 9 years rising up to become the President at PokerGo, a world-leader in poker television. But his resume started where a lot of web3 builders start: MMOs.
In this episode we hear about stories from Sam’s years spent around the highest level players in poker, reverse engineering WoW and other MMOs and why they’re so addictive, and gut check the difference between fandom and community (sneak peak: most web3 “communities” are more like fan bases).
People listening: I hope you enjoy this long overdue episode.
- Making the best decisions with the information you have. Not outcomes based.
- Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke “Resulting”
- Variance and volume in poker win out: https://www.888poker.com/magazine/strategy/understanding-poker-variance-will-help-you-cope-downswings
- Quote: Game developers know more about psychology than psychologists.
- Gamification done right: Attainable but challenging
- Having different ways to do things well
- Yu Kai Chou - Actionable Gamification: https://www.amazon.com/Actionable-Gamification-Beyond-Points-Leaderboards-ebook/dp/B00WAOGY4U
- 8 things that drive us to do what we do
- Higher purpose - Narrative around why you should do something
- White hat vs black hat - Some tactics make you feel good, others bad.
- Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke:
- Every hand revealed - Gus Hansen: https://www.amazon.com/Every-Hand-Revealed-Gus-Hansen/dp/0818407271
- Zero to One - Peter Thiel: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296
- Stoicism - Ryan Holiday - Daily Stoic: https://ryanholiday.net/
- The Messy Middle - Scott Belsky: https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Middle-Finding-Through-Hardest/dp/0735218072
- Atomic Habits - James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299
- Every action you take each day is a vote for the person you want to be.
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