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From critical hits to random encounters, and from loot boxes to procedural generation, video games are stuffed to bursting with randomness. In this episode, I look at the way randomness is used in games - and why some forms are more contentious than others.

=== Sources and Resources ===

- Sources

Uncapped Look-Ahead and the Information Horizon | Keith Burgun
http://keithburgun.net/uncapped-look-...

A Study in Transparency: How Board Games Matter | GDC Vault
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020408...

GameTek Classic 183 - Input Output Randomness | Ludology
https://www.dicetower.com/game-podcas...

Why revealing all is the secret of Slay The Spire's success | Rock Paper Shotgun
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018...

Crate | Spelunky Wiki
https://spelunky.fandom.com/wiki/Crate

Random Generator | Tetris Wiki
https://tetris.fandom.com/wiki/Random...

Level Feeling | Spelunky Wiki
https://spelunky.fandom.com/wiki/Leve...

Plan Disruption | Etan Hoeppner
https://ethanhoeppner.github.io/gamed...

Fire Emblem True Hit | Serenes Forest
https://serenesforest.net/general/tru...

The Psychology of Game Design (Everything You Know Is Wrong) | GDC Vault
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1012186...

How Designers Engineer Luck Into Video Games | Nautilus
http://nautil.us/issue/70/variables/h...

Roll for your life: Making randomness transparent in Tharsis | Gamasutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/2...

12: Into the Breach with Justin Ma | The Spelunky Showlike
http://thespelunkyshowlike.libsyn.com...

- Additional resources

Many faces of Procedural Generation: Determinism | Gamsutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/Franc...

Why Our Brains Do Not Intuitively Grasp Probabilities | Scientific American
https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...

How classic games make smart use of random number generation | Gamasutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3...

=== Chapters ===

00:00 - Intro
01:28 - Why we use randomness
03:42 - The information horizon
06:06 - The two types of randomness
08:59 - How input randomness can fail
13:32 - The advantages of output randomness
17:50 - Conclusion

=== Games Shown ===

Cuphead (2017)
Enter the Gungeon (2016)
Octopath Traveler (2018)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017)
Griftlands (In Early Access)
Dicey Dungeons (2019)
Hearthstone (2014)
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (2014)
Darkest Dungeon (2016)
Dead Cells (2018)
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech (2019)
Into the Breach (2018)
Spelunky (2012)
Armello (2015)
Minecraft (2011)
Chasm (2018)
Downwell (2015)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014)
No Man's Sky (2016)
Celeste (2018)
Fortnite (2017)
Mario Kart 8 (2014)
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014)
Tekken 7 (2015)
Super Mario Party (2018)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (2019)
Borderlands 3 (2019)
Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
Valkyria Chronicles 4 (2018)
Civilization V (2010)
Wargroove (2019)
Plants vs. Zombies (2009)
XCOM: Enemy Within (2013)
Chess Ultra (2017)
Mark of the Ninja (2012)
StarCraft II (2010)
Slay the Spire (2019)
Apex Legends (2019)
Civilization IV (2005)
XCOM 2 (2016)
Overwatch (2016)
FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
Card of Darkness (2019)
Diablo III (2012)
Tetris 99 (2019)
Puyo Puyo Tetris (2017)
Phoenix Point (2019)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
Tharsis (2016)

=== Credits ===

Music from Cuphead OST, by Kristofer Maddigan (https://studiomdhr.bandcamp.com/releases)

Music from Tharsis OST, Half Age EP, by Weval (https://atomnation.bandcamp.com/album...)

RNGesus original artwork by Dinsdale -   / dinsdale1978  

Super Mario Party - Luigi wins by doing absolutely nothing | Nintendo Unity
   • Super Mario Party - Luigi wins by doi...  

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - New Game Plus Maddening Walkthrough Part 43! | MrSOAP999
   • Fire Emblem: Three Houses - New Game ...  

Deadpool 2 © 20th Century Fox

Pandemic Card Art © Z-Man Games

=== Subtitles ===

Contribute translated subtitles - https://amara.org/en-gb/videos/C3IIn1...