TAXONOMIC SCHEME I was designing game engines back in the early 80’s using the s

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/01/how-netflix-reverse-engineered-hollywood/282679/NETFLIX’S TAXONOMIC SCHEME

I was designing game engines back in the early 80’s using the same technology as were others. Obvious games like NetHack (80’s), Diablo (90’s), Borderlands (00’s) and so called ‘loot games’ use similar techniques.

The insight that this provides is ‘serendipity’ : which is why loot games and netflix and an antique mall are interesting: the chance of finding something different.

This goes against the apple-era inspired argument for simplicity. Simplicity is good when you want to lower access costs. But when you want to reward the user for exploring, then favoring complexity and serendipity are smarter than simplicity.

Like the opposite sex, If it is easily understood, it’s boring.