Is the game funny, or just the players? Jackbox CEO says they get 'a lot of false positives' with a staff of comedy writers

Jackbox Games' CEO, Mike Bilder, explains that their social improv games can have wildly different experiences based on the players involved. He emphasizes the company's rigorous testing process, but also the importance of external playtesting to ensure fairness and avoid local bias. One challenge they face is determining whether a game is genuinely funny or if it merely benefits from the humor of their staff, including comedy writers and creative director Arnie Niekamp.

Bilder remarks that "we get a lot of false positives because we have such funny people here that work in the office." He questions whether the game's humor comes from the game itself or from the people hosting and emceeing the game. In discussing the role of generative AI in their products, Bilder reaffirms that the company's commitment lies in the creative input of people, specifically in comedy, writing, and art.