The Duality of Learning in Public: Building and Gaming

The Duality of Learning in Public: Building and Gaming

Learning in public is a concept that challenges our natural inclination to keep our work, thoughts, and experiments private. The fear of being judged and criticized often holds us back from sharing our progress and seeking feedback from others. However, the only way to truly learn in public is to embrace this vulnerability and tap into the collective intelligence of our network.

When we learn in public, our goal should not be to seek validation or approval. Instead, we should focus on creating constructive feedback loops that can help us grow and improve. Building in public means working on a project that we own and sharing our progress with others. It's not about saying, "I learned this," but rather, "I built this."

One effective way to track our learning progress and engage with our audience is by keeping a public log of what we build. This log serves as a documentation of our journey and allows others to follow along and provide valuable insights. It also helps us see how far we've come and how much we've learned from our initial attempts. As Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, once said, "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late."

Learning in public can be scary for many reasons. One of the main concerns is that people might find and cling to outdated information or criticize our work before it's even complete. It's a vulnerable time in the project when we don't yet have all the answers. However, it is precisely during this phase that learning becomes most valuable. By sharing our unfinished work, we invite others to contribute their insights, suggestions, and questions, which can help us uncover blind spots and discover new perspectives.

Now, let's shift our focus to a different context: the gaming industry. In an article titled "The Pros and Cons of Gacha: Insights from a Former Social Game Developer," the author sheds light on the duality of gacha, a popular monetization mechanic in Japanese mobile games. Gacha, which involves players spending virtual currency to acquire in-game items or characters, can be both a blessing and a curse for game developers.

From a game design perspective, gacha can disrupt the carefully crafted level designs and growth balance of a game. It has the power to completely overturn and dismantle these aspects, as players chase the thrill of acquiring rare or powerful items. This addictive and rewarding aspect of gacha is what game developers are selling, and it becomes difficult to break away from this mechanic once it becomes deeply embedded in the game.

However, the success of a game ultimately depends on a combination of quality and visibility. Without some form of promotion or viral hit, even the most meticulously designed game may struggle to find an audience. In the gaming industry, the logic of "good product multiplied by awareness" holds true. This means that without some sort of marketing strategy or a viral sensation, a game may not achieve the desired level of success.

So, what can we learn from these two seemingly unrelated topics?

Firstly, both learning in public and game development require a certain level of vulnerability. Whether it's sharing our unfinished work or exposing our game mechanics to the scrutiny of players, we must be willing to embrace criticism and learn from it.

Secondly, both learning in public and game development benefit from the power of community and collective intelligence. By tapping into our network and inviting others to contribute their insights, we can gain new perspectives, uncover blind spots, and accelerate our growth.

Lastly, both learning in public and game development require us to focus on progress rather than perfection. It's about taking imperfect action, learning from our mistakes, and continuously iterating and improving. As the saying goes, "Done is better than perfect."

In conclusion, learning in public and game development may seem like two separate worlds, but they share common elements. Both require vulnerability, community, and a focus on progress. So, whether you're building in public or developing a game, remember these three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace vulnerability: Don't let the fear of judgment hold you back from sharing your work. Be open to criticism and use it as an opportunity to grow.

2. Engage with your community: Tap into the collective intelligence of your network by actively seeking feedback and inviting others to contribute their insights. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn from the perspectives of others.

3. Focus on progress, not perfection: Don't get caught up in the pursuit of perfection. Instead, focus on taking imperfect action, learning from your mistakes, and continuously improving.

By incorporating these principles into your learning journey or game development process, you'll be able to harness the power of learning in public and create experiences that resonate with your audience.