Chris Crawford on Game Design

The Great Pratfall

I was once invited to deliver a lecture to several thousand people in Tokyo. I prepared the speech carefully, toning down the English, and eliminating all colloquialisms to make it easier for my audience to understand me. But as I gave the lecture, it was obvious that I wasn't getting through to my audience. I rely heavily on establishing a rapport with my listeners, but I just couldn't seem to break down the cultural barrier between myself and my audience. They would not laugh at even the most blatant jokes.

But then, halfway into the speech, I failed to take into account Japanese cleanliness as I pounced like a cat during a demonstration. The floor was waxed perfectly smooth and my feet whisked out from underneath me. My ...