Designer Quote by Will Wright
“No game designer ever went wrong by overestimating the narcissism of their players.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Game Design Talk, Will Wright, 2015
Designers should not assume players are overly self‑absorbed; balance realism with player agency.
In simple terms: Don’t over‑estimate player narcissism.
Key Takeaway
Design with realistic player motivations.
Themes
game design
player psychology
balance
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advice
insightful
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- player testing
- feature planning
Key Concepts
narcissism
player agency
design assumptions
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you gauge player self‑interest?
- What evidence challenges your assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Players may still act selfishly in competitive contexts.
![“I'm part of the first generation who grew up with manga [comics] and anime [animation], you know, after 'Godzilla.' I was absorbed with Ultraman on TV and in manga. The profession of game designer was created really recently. If it didn't exist, I'd probably be making anime.” quote by Satoshi Tajiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4cc/satoshi-tajiri-30307_animation_i-m-part-of-the-first-generation-who-gre_1465359.jpg)
