Early computer games used our imagination | Dmitri Dolgov and Lex Fridman

TL;DR

The speaker discusses their early love for computer science and robotics, starting with their first computer in the late 80s and eventually developing their own game.

Transcript

when did you first fall in love with robotics or even computer science more in general computer science first at a fairly young age robotics happened much later i think my first interesting introduction to computers was in the late 80s when we got our first computer i think was an ibm i think ibm it remember those things that had like a turbo butto... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤕 The speaker's interest in computer science and robotics started at a young age in the late 80s.
• 💻 They developed their programming skills by exploring and experimenting with their first computer.
• 👻 The decision to put their game online as freeware instead of selling it allowed for wider distribution and potential contributions from others.
• 👻 The speaker reflects on the simplicity of early graphics in games and how it allowed for more imagination and immersion in the gaming experience.
• 🎮 They also highlight the appeal of role-playing games with immersive storylines and interactive worlds.
• 😃 Minecraft is mentioned as an example of a game where players can create their own worlds and find joy in the process.
• 🎮 The speaker mentions the concept of using parenting as an excuse to play video games with their kids, suggesting a potential benefit of sharing the gaming experience with family.

Questions & Answers

Q: When did the speaker first develop an interest in computer science and robotics?

The speaker first became interested in computer science when they got their first computer in the late 80s.

Q: What motivated the speaker to start exploring programming?

After getting bored of playing video games, the speaker started messing around and trying to figure out how to make the computer do other things.

Q: Did the speaker receive any offers for their game?

Yes, a Japanese game developer offered to buy the game for a few hundred bucks, but the speaker decided to put it online as freeware instead.

Q: What programming language did the speaker use to develop their game?

The speaker used Pascal, which included a graphical component, to develop their game.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker first became interested in computer science in the late 80s when they got their first computer, which had a turbo button.

• They initially spent time playing video games but soon started exploring programming and eventually wrote their own game.

• A Japanese game developer offered to buy the game, but the speaker decided to put it online as freeware instead.