April 2000
- [Open_Gaming_Moderated] Simplified License for Comment and Critique (fwd) J C Lawrence
- An introduction Brian Green
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Eli Stevens
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Ryan P.
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Erik Jarvi
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Eli Stevens
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Travis Casey
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset Jeremy Hovance
- An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset adam@treyarch.com
- Old Topic: Playfulness in 3-D Spaces, done. Rudy Fink
- META: Topic List - 1999 Jon A. Lambert
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Jon A. Lambert
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! cg@ami-cg.GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Cynbe ru Taren
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Miroslav Silovic
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Jay Carlson
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Travis Casey
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Derek Snider
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Holly Sommer
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Nick Shaffner
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Travis S. Casey
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Quzah
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Todd McKimmey
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Spin
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Richard Woolcock
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Miroslav Silovic
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Jon A. Lambert
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Jon Leonard
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Travis Casey
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Powell, Warren
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Travis Casey
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Jon Lambert
- Fw: 16K mud server competition ! Travis Casey
- Fw: DESIGN: XML? Jon A. Lambert
- PK / anti PK / justice? J. Coleman
- Neverwinter Nights Jeff Freeman
- J (was: 16K mud server competition !) Cynbe ru Taren
- J (was: 16K mud server competition !) Miroslav Silovic
- J (was: 16K mud server competition !) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Morality and Values Based Role Play in MMORPGs. Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- MUD-Dev request rejected (fwd) Matthew Mihaly
- MUD-Dev request rejected (fwd) adam@treyarch.com
- MUD-Dev request rejected (fwd) Jeff Freeman
- Orthogonality and invariants Miroslav Silovic
- Orthogonality and invariants cg@ami-cg.GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA
- Uptime numbers (was Orthogonality and invariants) Jay Carlson
- Schmuse J C Lawrence
- Article on WoC's 'Open Sourcing' D&D in Salon Christopher Allen
- Multilevel server concept Draymoor
- Multilevel server concept Tochiro
- Multilevel server concept Emil Eifrem
- Multilevel server concept Kristen L. Koster
- Multilevel server concept Brian Green
- Multilevel server concept Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Polls at Kanga.Nu claw@kanga.nu
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) Ananda Dawnsinger
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) David Bennett
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) Matthew Mihaly
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) Ananda Dawnsinger
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) J C Lawrence
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) Ananda Dawnsinger
- Same-Sex Marriage (was: Trouble Makers or Regular Citizens) Jon Lambert
- dealing with foul language Matthew Mihaly
- dealing with foul language Wes Connell
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language Wes Connell
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- dealing with foul language Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- dealing with foul language Koster, Raph
- dealing with foul language Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- dealing with foul language Matthew Mihaly
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language Zak Jarvis
- dealing with foul language Darren Henderson
- dealing with foul language Kristen L. Koster
- dealing with foul language AR Schleicher
- dealing with foul language adam@treyarch.com
- Article on Proxes Christopher Allen
- Article on Proxes adam@treyarch.com
- Simulating Ancient Greece WAS: Same-Sex Marriage Zak Jarvis
- Simulating Ancient Greece WAS: Same-Sex Marriage Jon Lambert
- Simulating Ancient Greece WAS: Same-Sex Marriage Matthew Mihaly
- A little essay on economic efficiency Timothy Dang
- Same-Sex Marriage John Hopson
- Same-Sex Marriage Ananda Dawnsinger
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Brian Green
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Zak Jarvis
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul lang uage) Koster, Raph
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Brian Green
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Joe Andrieu
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Matthew Mihaly
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Joe Andrieu
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) adam@treyarch.com
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Historical perspective (was: dealing with foul language) J C Lawrence
- Player controller justice systems David Bennett
- Player controller justice systems Koster, Raph
- Player controller justice systems J C Lawrence
- Player controller justice systems Erik Jarvi
- Player controller justice systems Travis Nixon
- Player controller justice systems Erik Jarvi
- Player controller justice systems Timothy Dang
- Player controller justice systems Draymoor
- Player controller justice systems Erik Jarvi
- Player controller justice systems Phillip Lenhardt
- Player controller justice systems Erik Jarvi
- Family, was characters per account Daniel James
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Family, was characters per account Kevin Littlejohn
- Family, was characters per account Matthew Mihaly
- Family, was characters per account Phillip Lenhardt
- Family, was characters per account Matthew Mihaly
- Family, was characters per account Shawn Halpenny
- Family, was characters per account Matthew Mihaly
- Family, was characters per account Kevin Littlejohn
- Family, was characters per account Kevin Littlejohn
- Family, was characters per account Jeff Freeman
- Family, was characters per account Raph Koster
- Family, was characters per account Matthew Mihaly
- Family, was characters per account Jeff Freeman
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Family, was characters per account Matthew Mihaly
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Family, was characters per account Raph Koster
- Family, was characters per account J C Lawrence
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Family, was characters per account Raph Koster
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Gender Restrictions was Same-Sex Marriage Jon Lambert
- Gender Restrictions was Same-Sex Marriage Nathan F Yospe
- Gender Restrictions was Same-Sex Marriage Jon Lambert
- Family, was characters per account J C Lawrence
- Family, was characters per account Phillip Lenhardt
- Family, was characters per account Kevin Scott London
- Family, was characters per account Jeff Freeman
- Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites F. Randall Farmer
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites maddog@best.com
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gamingsites Zak Jarvis
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites Ryan Palacio
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popu lar gaming sites Sellers, Michael
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites maddog@best.com
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites Wes Connell
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites Ryan Palacio
- Sony to ban sale of online characters from its popular gaming sites Travis Nixon
- [Meta] other activities Par Winzell
- [Meta] other activities Dominic J. Eidson
- [Meta] other activities Jeff Freeman
- History, background and religion Pileborg Joachim - FMT
- History, background and religion Kevin Scott London
- History, background and religion Matthew Mihaly
- History, background and religion Sanvean
- History, background and religion Sharon Mock
- History, background and religion Richard Ross
- History, background and religion Lovecraft
- DGD Description Christopher Allen
- [Meta] other activities Jeff Freeman
- [Meta] other activities Raph Koster
- [Meta] other activities Todd McKimmey
- [Meta] other activities Matthew Mihaly
- [Meta] other activities Wes Connell
- Personal Interest vs. Marketing Decision WAS dealing with foul language Zak Jarvis
- Threads on Meta that should be on MUD-Dev J C Lawrence
- [Meta] Threads on Meta that should be on MUD-Dev J C Lawrence
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran S. Patrick Gallaty
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran John Bertoglio
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran S. Patrick Gallaty
- Family, was characters per account Chris Lloyd
- [LONG] A slightly different perspective on Real money in Virtual worlds. Zak Jarvis
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Frank Crowell
- banning the sale of items Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- banning the sale of items Raph Koster
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Jeff Freeman
- banning the sale of items Jeff Freeman
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Tess Lowe
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Raph Koster
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Raph Koster
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Schubert, Damion
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Ananda Dawnsinger
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Wes Connell
- banning the sale of items Par Winzell
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Par Winzell
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Zak Jarvis
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Zak Jarvis
- banning the sale of items J. Coleman
- banning the sale of items Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- banning the sale of items Tess Lowe
- banning the sale of items Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- banning the sale of items Christopher Allen
- banning the sale of items Ryan Palacio
- banning the sale of items Kristen L. Koster
- banning the sale of items Christopher Allen
- banning the sale of items Par Winzell
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items J C Lawrence
- banning the sale of items Par Winzell
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items adam@treyarch.com
- banning the sale of items Kevin Littlejohn
- banning the sale of items Raph Koster
- banning the sale of items Raph Koster
- banning the sale of items Matthew Mihaly
- banning the sale of items Kian Wilcox
- banning the sale of items Timothy Dang
- Institutionalizing human behavior (was banning the sale of items) Sellers, Michael
- Institutionalizing human behavior (was banning the sale of items) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran Brian Green
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran John Bertoglio
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran Wes Connell
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran J C Lawrence
- Sony to ban sale ... point of view of an eq veteran Jeff Freeman
- [Meta] Of general interest maybe Jeff Freeman
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Raph Koster
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Matthew Mihaly
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Jeff Freeman
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Jeff Freeman
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Geoffrey Z.
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Schubert, Damion
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) J C Lawrence
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Nathan F Yospe
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) F. Randall Farmer
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Travis Casey
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Lee Sheldon
- Spawning and quests (was Sony ban) Wes Connell
- DDoS Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- /. Article about EQ sales ban Nathan F Yospe
- /. Article about EQ sales ban Raph Koster
- MudDev FAQ part 2 Marian Griffith
- MudDev FAQ part 2 Ananda Dawnsinger
- MudDev FAQ part 2 Raph Koster
- MudDev FAQ part 2 Dr Richard A. Bartle
- Family, was characters per account Raph Koster
- Institutionalizing human behavior (was banning the sale of items) Xavier Plagnal
- meets Matthew Mihaly
- Quoting. J C Lawrence
- Amy Jo Kim's "Community Building on the Web" Raph Koster
- Amy Jo Kim's "Community Building on the Web" Richard Woolcock
- Amy Jo Kim's "Community Building on the Web" F. Randall Farmer
- Amy Jo Kim's "Community Building on the Web" Sellers, Michael
- Institutionalizing human behavior Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Christopher Allen
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Erik Jarvi
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars John Bertoglio
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Jon Lambert
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Jon Lambert
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Jeff Freeman
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Travis Casey
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Jeff Freeman
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Eli Stevens
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Travis Casey
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Travis S. Casey
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Jeff Freeman
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Geoffrey A. MacDougall
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Travis S. Casey
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Par Winzell
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Christopher Allen
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Par Winzell
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Matthew Mihaly
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Phillip Lenhardt
- Declaration of the Rights of Avatars Raph Koster
- Spawning and quests Spin
- Spawning and quests Chris Lloyd
- Spawning and quests adam@treyarch.com
- (no subject) J C Lawrence
- E3 and potential meet? Ryan Palacio
- E3 and potential meet? J C Lawrence
- Scott Guzman on RGM.Admin J C Lawrence
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Raph Koster
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Ananda Dawnsinger
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Erik Jarvi
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Ryan Palacio
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Erik Jarvi
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Dmitri Zagidulin
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Phillip Lenhardt
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Raph Koster
- Quote from a Simutronics developer Ananda Dawnsinger
- Quests - allocative efficiency Lovecraft
- Common Law [was: Declaration of the Rights of Avatars] Christopher Allen
- Common Law [was: Declaration of the Rights of Avatars] Christopher Allen
- AI, Bots, Scripting. Veygoth
- AI, Bots, Scripting. David Bennett
- Quests Raph Koster
- Alignment Richard Ross
- ADMIN: Digest size J C Lawrence
- Circular Alignment [was: Alignment] Christopher Allen
- Value of Characters [was: Quote from a Simutronics developer] Christopher Allen
- MUD-Dev request rejected Schubert, Damion
- MUD-Dev request rejected John Szeder
- Skotos Proximity System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Christopher Allen
- Skotos Proximity System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Erik Jarvi
- Skotos Proximity System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Christopher Allen
- Skotos Proximity System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- The scalability of paying for in-game things Matthew Mihaly
- The scalability of paying for in-game things Brian Green
- The scalability of paying for in-game things Matthew Mihaly
- The scalability of paying for in-game things Brian Green
- The scalability of paying for in-game things Par Winzell
- ALife? was [Personal Interest vs. Marketing Decision WAS RE:...] Greg Underwood
- incremental revenue discussion Matthew Mihaly
- new list Kevin Littlejohn
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Ryan Palacio
- Justifying twinking F. Randall Farmer
- Justifying twinking Ryan Palacio
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking Todd McKimmey
- Justifying twinking Hess, Ian W {Ian}
- Justifying twinking Jeff Freeman
- Justifying twinking Schubert, Damion
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Justifying twinking Travis S. Casey
- Justifying twinking John Bertoglio
- Justifying twinking Travis Nixon
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Justifying twinking Travis S. Casey
- Justifying twinking Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Justifying twinking Christopher Allen
- Justifying twinking J C Lawrence
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Christopher Allen
- Justifying twinking Travis Casey
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Justifying twinking Sellers, Michael
- Justifying twinking Mud Imp
- Justifying twinking Brian Green
- Justifying twinking John Bertoglio
- Justifying twinking Ananda Dawnsinger
- Justifying twinking Christopher Allen
- Justifying twinking Travis Casey
- Justifying twinking Timothy Dang
- Justifying twinking jolson@micron.net
- Justifying twinking Travis Nixon
- Justifying twinking John Bertoglio
- Justifying twinking jolson@micron.net
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking Christopher Allen
- Justifying twinking Schubert, Damion
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Christopher Allen
- Justifying twinking adam@treyarch.com
- Justifying twinking Geoffrey Z.
- Justifying twinking Justin Lockshaw
- Justifying twinking Raph Koster
- Justifying twinking S. Patrick Gallaty
- Justifying twinking Frank Crowell
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Justifying twinking Lee Sheldon
- Game Law Example (fwd) J C Lawrence
- Game Law Example (fwd) Travis S. Casey
- Fun and Learning in games Draymoor
- Fun and Learning in games Schubert, Damion
- Fun and Learning in games adam@treyarch.com
- Re PRIVATE Justifying twinking Kristen L. Koster
- Re PRIVATE Justifying twinking Josh Olson
- Database back ends dwacks@saleslogix.com
- Database back ends Greg Underwood
- Database back ends Quiet
- Database back ends Kevin Littlejohn
- defeating twinking through game mechanics S. Patrick Gallaty
- defeating twinking through game mechanics jolson@micron.net
- defeating twinking through game mechanics adam@treyarch.com
- defeating twinking through game mechanics S. Patrick Gallaty
- defeating twinking through game mechanics Erik Jarvi
- defeating twinking through game mechanics Travis S. Casey
- defeating twinking through game mechanics Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- defeating twinking through game mechanics Travis Casey
- defeating twinking through game mechanics Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- defeating twinking through game mechanics J C Lawrence
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Timothy Dang
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" F. Randall Farmer
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Christopher Allen
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Raph Koster
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Timothy Dang
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Timothy Dang
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Brian Green
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" adam@treyarch.com
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Timothy Dang
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Ananda Dawnsinger
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Charles Hughes
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Raph Koster
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Sellers, Michael
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Raph Koster
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Charles Hughes
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" adam@treyarch.com
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" stoddart@slip.net
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Eli Stevens
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" Raph Koster
- Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO" PLAGNAL XAVIER
- Massive Connections Christopher Kohnert
- Massive Connections Kevin Scott London
- Massive Connections Christopher Kohnert
- MUD-Dev request rejected Jeff Freeman
- interesting article on world size and finance Fred Clift
- interesting article on world size and finance J C Lawrence
- interesting article on world size and finance John Bertoglio
- [Mud-Dev]: Sushi Mud Todd McKimmey
- [Mud-Dev]: Sushi Mud guru@thebay.plus.com
- LA Times article: Virtual Loot for Real Cash Ryan Palacio
- LA Times article: Virtual Loot for Real Cash J C Lawrence
On Thu, 20 Apr 2000 13:50:24 -0700
Ryan Palacio <rpalacio@verant.com> wrote:
> Article in today's (4-20-00) LA Times regarding eBay, "farming",
> and business. Front page nonetheless. Just an FYI :)
Full text:
--<cut>--
Virtual Loot for Real Cash
Online role-playing games have spawned an industry profiting from
sale of cyber 'weapons' and other gear.
By ASHLEY DUNN, Times Staff Writer
After putting in a full day at his computer technician job, a
30-year-old Internet game player known as Ebaid went home, logged on
to a game called "EverQuest" and started his night job. His game
character donned armor, slapped on his sword and began slaying
beasts so he could make some real money.
Hail the rise of yet another strange creature of the Internet
revolution--the professional online game hunter.
Ebaid played for hours, slaying every computer-generated monster on
his screen. For his effort he figured he'd made a few hundred
dollars--real dollars.
Ebaid is part of a growing wave of online game players who hunt down
and collect weapons, equipment and other accessories from popular
online computer games, then sell the booty to other players for up
to thousands of dollars apiece.
"This is hilarious," said Ebaid, a Riverside County resident. "All
it is, is data. . . . But when I turn off my computer, I see cash."
Ebaid and his hunting partner, Lee, who lives nearby, play the game
as a team and have made more than $6,000 in the last month by
selling their captured game equipment and accessories on EBay, an
online auction firm.
The hunters, also known as "EBayers," have become some of the most
reviled denizens of the online world. Their ranks just seem to keep
growing because of the demand for game items, even though some games
prohibit their sale.
Unlike traditional video or computer games that people play solo or
with a few others in their homes, the new generation of online
role-playing games uses the Internet to bring together thousands of
players from around the world in computer-generated games that never
stop.
"There's a reason people call 'EverQuest' 'Evercrack,' " Ebaid
said. "It's an addiction. You just always want to find out what is
going to happen next."
Massive multi-player online role-playing games began appearing in
the mid-1990s and have been quickly growing as more people connect
to the Internet.
Sony's "EverQuest" game was released in May 1999 and now boasts more
than 200,000 players. Electronic Arts' "Ultima Online," which
started in 1997, has 170,000 players. And "Asheron's Call," from
Microsoft, has gained 80,000 players after just five months on the
market.
The game software costs about $50, and for a $10 monthly
subscription fee players get endless hours of play time against
thousands of other gamers online.
The games all revolve around sword-and-scorcery themes. Players
enter a world where they can explore territories with other game
players, attack monsters, cast magic spells, marry sweethearts and
amass fortunes in virtual loot found on monsters as a prize.
Players start off as weaklings with barely any equipment to help
them defeat monsters. But the characters grow stronger as they
battle over time and collect new swords and armor that make them
tougher opponents.
What makes the games so addictive is that players have to shape
their own characters. They can buy different clothes and weapons
from store owners in the game using virtual dollars. And these
characters, which can take years for players to develop into godlike
warriors capable of destroying the hardest beasts in a game, take on
adventures like a never-ending novel.
It also creates a lucrative business opportunity. Mike Gmeinwieser
and his game partner, Ben Schriefer, in Maryland run a full-time
business selling virtual gold captured from "Ultima Online." They
expect to do about $400,000 in sales this year.
They have an office, company cars and two Web sites, Ultima Treasure
and Ultima Gold, that tout: "Pay for Ultima Online gold with your
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover or Eurocard. We deliver in 72
hrs. References available."
"We're one of the few Internet companies that actually makes money,"
Gmeinwieser said.
Their scheme is to buy gold from other "Ultima Online" players for
about $200 for every 1 million virtual gold coins--a vast sum that
can take even strong characters months to accumulate. Then they sell
the gold on EBay in lots of 50,000 coins at a rate of about $500 per
million gold.
Gmeinwieser uses his game character to collect gold from sellers
while in the game. When someone on EBay buys a shipment of gold, he
again uses his game character to meet them at a certain time and
place in the game and then hands over the gold to his customer's
character. "In the beginning, this business did look strange, but
it's an instant-gratification world we live in," Gmeinwieser
said. "To make gold in 'Ultima,' you have to work chopping down
trees, making bows and mining. People work, like, 50 hours a week in
their real jobs. Who wants to go to 'Ultima' and work more?"
Buyers are willing to pay cash for such arcane game items as
EverQuest's Short Sword of Ykesha (average EBay price: $170)--a
powerful sword that kills monsters faster. Or the Hoary Mattekar
Robe from "Asheron's Call" (about $50) that offers a lightweight
protective armor. And the Blessed Surpassingly Accurate Durable
Silver Katana of Vanquishing from "Ultima Online" ($300), a powerful
sword that inflicts great damage.
Many customers are game players who do not have the time to spend
battling for this hard-to-find gear, so they just buy it to speed up
their enjoyment of the game.
"It speaks to the power of this medium that people are willing to
pay for something that intrinsically is not real," said Toby
Ragaini, design director for Turbine Entertainment Software Corp.,
the Westwood, Mass.-based developer of "Asheron's Call."
John Smedley, chief executive of Verant Interactive Inc. in San
Diego, the creators of "EverQuest," said a group of players making
about $10,000 a week from selling online gear was recently banned
for violating the game's rules against selling items. "As funny as
it is, it is also a kind of dark side of the game," Smedley said.
Selling Ban Doesn't Stop Auction Action
Verant last month warned "EverQuest" players that selling game gear
is against the rules of the game and could get them banned. The
company also has been thinking about asking EBay to stop carrying
"EverQuest" game items, although no decision has been made.
Despite Verant's rules against selling game gear, more than 3,000
items from "EverQuest" are listed on EBay, ranging from $1 Rubicite
Greaves to a much-prized Cloak of Flames that was going for
$3,050--a princely sum that will buy for the lucky bidder a little
extra speed, armor and the always-handy resistance to fire magic.
Who in their right mind would ever buy this stuff?
"Well, it's all helped me have more fun," said Joe Goldstein, a
54-year-old jewelry store owner in New Jersey who figures he has
spent about $2,000 buying virtual weaponry. "When you're playing,
the stuff all exists for you in that world. You just want the best
armor and the best weapon to help your guy out."
The heart of these games is developing a character that has the
right skills and abilities, such as sword wielding, war magic,
healing, baking, magic resistance, invisibility, fishing and, in
some games, alcohol tolerance.
For new game players, the first few weeks of playing can be
miserable. Their characters are easily identified by their worthless
leather armor and pathetic-looking short swords. In the most pitiful
cases, new players who have lost all their equipment through
repeated deaths run through the streets nearly naked (underpants and
bras are usually the minimum attire) begging other adventurers with
such lines as, "Got any spare armor?"
As Goldstein, the jewelry store owner, pointed out, no one wants to
be a 98-pound weakling who gets sand kicked in the face by every
two-bit Goblin Warlord. The trick is to get equipped with the most
exotic armor and weapons to give a character abilities far beyond
the typical newcomer.
Still, even for experienced players such as Ebaid and Lee, it took a
year of playing before they realized the profit potential in
collecting equipment. Even then they hesitated, because the very
idea of turning a fun fantasy world into a profit-making venture
seemed so contrary to the spirit of the game.
"I was really trying to resist," said Lee, who did not want his full
name used for fear that he would be punished by Verant Interactive
and other players. "But when I saw the prices on EBay, I thought,
'Who's crazier? Me playing for 12 hours a day or someone paying real
money for an item that doesn't exist?' Well, we're both crazy. God
bless America."
Big Spenders Say It's All for Fun
Buying game equipment is sometimes the only option for working
people who can't dedicate their lives to online game playing.
One big customer is Jim, a 49-year-old real estate attorney in
Georgia who would be happy to give his full name except that he says
his wife would divorce him if she knew he has spent more than $5,000
equipping his "EverQuest" character.
Jim explained that buying virtual gaming gear is really not that
different from, say, buying a book--in his case, lots of books.
"If you buy a book, it's not because you want to put a bunch of
leather and paper on your bookshelf," he said. "You buy them for the
ideas inside." Virtual gear, he said, is the same--well, almost.
"But what difference does it make as long as you are having fun?"
For game designers such as Smedley, there actually is a big
difference when players change from adventurers to profiteers.
He said there are numerous cases of players being cheated by bogus
equipment hunters, who collect money but fail to turn over any
items. The cheated player in turn blames game designer Verant for
not cracking down on fraudulent merchants.
"The dark side is fraud," Smedley said. "People put us right at the
center and that's not where we want to be."
Smedley said another big complaint is over hunters who continually
stay in the same spot of the game, killing off the same monster to
"farm" a precious item and prevent others from having a chance to
collect it themselves.
Lee, the game hunter, said that such behavior is to be expected when
so much money is at stake.
"If you play this game for 12 hours a day and make $2,000 a week,
you definitely take it seriously," he said. "It's a business and
it's totally competitive."
The creators of "EverQuest" say that some new rules in an upcoming
expansion of their game should help reduce some of the farming
problems.
But regardless of what new schemes are put into place, the equipment
hunters say that there is no way to stop the wave of game hunters.
The makers of "Ultima Online" and "Asheron's Call" have largely
resigned themselves to the practice, although they are not happy
with it either. "I don't view farmers very highly, and as a game
player I think it's sad," said Ragaini of "Asheron's Call." "But we
have no policy against it."
There are well over two dozen massive multi-player online
role-playing games in development, and most have the potential to be
farmed. The upcoming game, "Diablo II," a sequel to a game that sold
several million copies, will be a prime candidate for game hunters
and could kick the farming industry into overdrive.
A Trend That Isn't Near Its End
Matt Householder, the producer of "Diablo II," said he is still
uncertain about how his game will deal with this phenomena. "These
are relatively uncharted waters," he said, adding that he has
considered creating some sort of "escrow" service for equipment
sales on the idea that if you can't beat them, you might as well
join them.
For the game players, there is little doubt that equipment selling
has become a fixed part of the online gaming world.
Ebaid has been so encouraged by his last few weeks of "EverQuest"
farming that he just quit his $68,000-a-year day job as a networking
technician to start a Web site dedicated to game equipment called
Gamesauctions.com.
He is already looking for an office to rent and envisions a room
full of game playing, minimum-wage high school students whacking
monsters all night that he will sell.
"We could have a sweatshop of online gaming," he gushed. "I'm not
joking. This could be very profitable."
--<cut>--
--
J C Lawrence Internet: claw@kanga.nu
----------(*) Internet: coder@kanga.nu
...Honorary Member of Clan McFud -- Teamer's Avenging Monolith...
- LA Times article: Virtual Loot for Real Cash J C Lawrence
- Alignment (very long) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Alignment (very long) Christopher Allen
- Alignment (very long) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Alignment (very long) Kevin Littlejohn
- Alignment (very long) Travis Casey
- Alignment (very long) Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Character persistance, was Family, was characters per account JC
- Character persistance, was Family, was characters per account Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) J C Lawrence
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Charles
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) J C Lawrence
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Chris Jacobson
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Richard Ross
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Lee Sheldon
- shrink wrapped mud development kit (fwd) Matt Chatterley
- BioWare to demonstrate Neverwinter Nights at E3 F. Randall Farmer
- BioWare to demonstrate Neverwinter Nights at E3 Jeff Freeman
- BioWare to demonstrate Neverwinter Nights at E3 Travis Casey
- ColdStore. Belated response from a developer. colin@field.medicine.adelaide.edu.au
- ColdStore. Belated response from a developer. Miroslav Silovic
- ColdStore. Belated response from a developer. Jay Carlson
- ColdStore. Belated response from a developer. colin@field.medicine.adelaide.edu.au
- [Meta] Ex-Origin Employees to new Verant studio Eli Stevens
- Game Spec Jman77777@aol.com
- From banning the sale of items to virtual slavery... Stéphane Garin
- Search engine and thread managing Stéphane Garin
- Search engine and thread managing J C Lawrence
- LED0 Frank Crowell
- Re[4]: defeating twinking through game mechanics Travis Casey
- MUME poll results (fwd) J C Lawrence
- MUME poll results (fwd) Christopher Allen
- MUME poll results (fwd) Raph Koster
- MUME poll results (fwd) Charles Hughes
- MUME poll results (fwd) Eric Olsen
- MUME poll results (fwd) Charles Hughes
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods J C Lawrence
- selling Godhoods Chris Jacobson
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Phillip Lenhardt
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Darren Henderson
- selling Godhoods J C Lawrence
- selling Godhoods Raph Koster
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Darren Henderson
- selling Godhoods Tess Lowe
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Richard Woolcock
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Richard Woolcock
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods J C Lawrence
- selling Godhoods Tess Lowe
- selling Godhoods Richard Woolcock
- Selling Godhoods!?! Larvenz
- selling Godhoods Par Winzell
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- Selling Godhoods!?! Par Winzell
- Selling Godhoods!?! Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- selling Godhoods Jeff Freeman
- Selling Godhoods!?! Mud Imp
- Selling Godhoods!?! J C Lawrence
- Selling Godhoods!?! Kevin Scott London
- Selling Godhoods!?! Christopher Kohnert
- Selling Godhoods!?! Kevin Scott London
- Selling Godhoods!?! Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- selling Godhoods J C Lawrence
- selling Godhoods Raph Koster
- selling Godhoods Ananda Dawnsinger
- selling Godhoods Raph Koster
- selling Godhoods Laurent Bossavit
- selling Godhoods lapsos
- selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- selling Godhoods Par Winzell
- moving advancement away from experience Eli Stevens
- moving advancement away from experience Travis Casey
- moving advancement away from experience Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- moving advancement away from experience Lee Sheldon
- E3 and exhibit/session passes (follow-ups to Meta) Sellers, Michael
- attracting players Mud Imp
- attracting players Richard Woolcock
- attracting players Chris Lloyd
- Attracting players Koster, Raph
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Chris Lloyd
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Christopher Allen
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Schubert, Damion
- Self-Sufficient Worlds John Bertoglio
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Quzah
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Phillip Lenhardt
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Mordengaard
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Chris Turner
- Self-Sufficient Worlds lapsos
- Self-Sufficient Worlds F. Randall Farmer
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Chad Arnold
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Sellers, Michael
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Chris Lloyd
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Raph Koster
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Raph Koster
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Raph Koster
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Raph Koster
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds J C Lawrence
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Matthew Mihaly
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Sellers, Michael
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Powell, Warren
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Lee Sheldon
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Angela Ferraiolo
- Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- Self-Sufficient Worlds J C Lawrence
- Addressing newbies (was: attracting players) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Addressing newbies (was: attracting players) Jerry Hill
- Addressing newbies (was: attracting players) adam@treyarch.com
- Addressing newbies (was: attracting players) adam@treyarch.com
- reaction to selling godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- reaction to selling godhoods Kevin Scott London
- Crafts Systems (was:Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO") Ananda Dawnsinger
- Crafts Systems (was:Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO") Raph Koster
- Crafts Systems (was:Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO") Charles Hughes
- Crafts Systems (was:Simpson's "In-Game Economics of UO") Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- datagrams Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- a article on ai -- ANTS -- (fwd) J C Lawrence
- FW: selling Godhoods John Bertoglio
- FW: selling Godhoods Matthew Mihaly
- Skotos Bulk System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Christopher Allen
- "The client is in the hands of the enemy" Schubert, Damion
- "The client is in the hands of the enemy" Zak Jarvis
- "The client is in the hands of the enemy" Kevin Littlejohn
- Procedural Storytelling WAS Self-Sufficient Worlds Zak Jarvis
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Zak Jarvis
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling J C Lawrence
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Raph Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling rob@cs.nwu.edu
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Hess, Ian W {Ian}
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling J C Lawrence
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Raph Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Marian Griffith
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Zak Jarvis
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brian Green
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Sam Axon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Travis Nixon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brian Green
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Kevin Littlejohn
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Angela Ferraiolo
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Erik Jarvi
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Nathan F Yospe
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Erik Jarvi
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Nathan F Yospe
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Raph Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Batir
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Raph Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Kristen L. Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Batir
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Raph Koster
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Charles Hughes
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Erik Jarvi
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Matthew Mihaly
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Lee Sheldon
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Matthew Mihaly
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Joe Andrieu
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Rawlings@aol.com
- A footnote to Procedural Storytelling Brandon J. Rickman