Does John Conway hate his Game of Life?
NumberphileRecommended by 1 HN commenter across 1 month, 2015–2024
interview · general · evergreen · 2015–2024 on HN
John Conway talks in a short Numberphile interview about his mixed feelings toward the Game of Life, his most famous invention. He says he is not especially pleased that it overshadowed his other work.
Cited whenever commenters want to note that Conway did not enjoy being known mainly for the Game of Life.
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6 comments from Hacker News
Numberphile, an awesome youtube channel on its own, has done some great interviews with John Conway that are definitely worth watching: link , ▶ this video , link He really comes across as a genuinely great guy.
Conway has said GOL is not something he is particularly pleased got as famous as it did. (Ref: link ) Why do you think that is? Edit: This is the video I meant: ▶ this video
One that Conway didn't like much, saying (roughly) that it had all been explored and proved and other work of his was more interesting - ▶ this video in this Numberphile interview with him.
> I know Conway was slightly resentful that game of life overshadowed some of his other work in the public's imagination, but I've always been entranced by it. He seems to have come to terms with it.[1] [1] ▶ this video
VSauce tweeted a playlist of Conway's appearances on Numberphile, including that one: ▶ this video I found the one you posted especially moving, but the others were good too.
I think it is funny, Conway doesn't really enjoy being solely associated with GOL and the fame it brings[0].. In stark contrast with Wolfram's ego. Perhaps this arrangement actually works out best for both of them. [0] ▶ this video