Some time ago I attended an NYU Game Center Lecture that featured Jonathan Blow.
Topics covered:
- How Little Boy Blow was the only kid who thought about death and the meaning of life in his school
- Lego games suck
- Not taking his words out of context and posting them on a blog
- Flower is inherently stressful
- No design docs, no focus testing, no problem
- What is "fun"?
- Did us kids know what an NPC is? Is that jargon too technical?
After the lecture ended, I approached Mr. Blow. I explained to him that since Braid does not have a physical, retail form, I was without such a fictional Braid case for him to autograph. Instead, I brought a copy of Sneak King along for him to sign. He hesitated, looked at the newly presented box and its dressings of yellow, worn ‘used’ stickers. I asked him if he could sign on the $1.99 sticker if possible. He balked at the box and then gave a strained wheeze of a laugh. Unamused, he looked up at me. The incriminating gaze lasted for a while. He seemed to be using that time to calculate how he would best dismiss the request, or possibly thought about rewinding time to the moment when the lecture ended, and alternatively make haste out of the room.
He said that he was opposed to the tradition of idolizing celebrites, deifying them with autographs and that he would not cooperate. Low blow. “ It’s cool,” I said. “ I’m just going to sell it on eBay anyway.” His grimace remained static. “ Would you at least pose for a picture while holding Sneak King?” “ Uhh… no.” Now I was defeated. Weighing the awkward gravity of the situation, the moderator of the event jumped in, NYU Game Center Director, Frank Lantz. “ I would be happy to sign it as Jonathan!” Blowback!
Jonathan sat idly by and did not object, though he was visibly uncomfortable. I passed Frank a marker I brought and he went to work. “ I’m going to sign your name the way I think you would.” Outfoxed and outflourished. Whenever I look up at the top of my desk, I’m comforted by the sight of the Sneak King standing majestically with his shadow tickling the forged name of J. Blow. Don't be getting too big on us, Jonathan.
During this time, my friend Gabe asked Jonathan what he thought of the Soulja Boy review of Braid. He replied, “ I don’t care. But he seemed to be having fun with the time mechanic, so that’s good.”
