To get good, go after the metagame (commoncog.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of the metagame, which refers to the game about the game, or the higher-level strategies and tactics that emerge when players compete with each other. The metagame is shaped by external changes to the rules of a game, as well as by the dynamic equilibrium of competition within a stable system of play. The author argues that mastering the basics of a domain is necessary to play the metagame, and that observing the state of the current metagame can reveal what skills are needed to become good enough. The concept of the metagame is applied to various domains, including games, marketing, and business.

Main themes

• metagame
• strategy
• competition
• domain expertise
• marketing
• business

What commenters say

• The term 'meta' is often used loosely and can be confusing, with different meanings in different contexts.
• The metagame is a subset of strategy that takes into account the actions and expectations of other players.
• Some argue that the concept of the metagame is not distinct from strategy, and that the term is being used unnecessarily.
• The metagame is about identifying the best strategies given the current state of the game and the actions of other players.
• The concept of the metagame can be applied to various domains, including games, marketing, and business, to gain a competitive edge.
• Mastering the fundamentals of a domain is necessary to play the metagame, and observing the current metagame can reveal what skills are needed to improve.
• The metagame is not just about winning, but also about adapting to changing circumstances and staying ahead of the competition.
• The term 'meta' can be seen as short for 'meta-strategy', with a distinction between 'meta-strategy' and 'strategy' similar to the distinction between 'meta-physics' and 'physics'.