July 2001
- [TECH] Open Source oodb/object persistence toolkit library alpha release Brian Price
- In-game email (was On socialization and convenience) Gavin Doughtie
- In-game email (was On socialization and conveni ence) Freeman, Jeff
- In-game email (was On socialization and convenience) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: Single user MOB arena Trevyn
- TECH: CRPGs vs. RPGs, Way Back When... Michael Tresca
- TECH: CRPGs vs. RPGs, Way Back When... Matt Owen
- TECH: CRPGs vs. RPGs, Way Back When... J C Lawrence
- TECH: CRPGs vs. RPGs, Way Back When... Michael Tresca
- (no subject) Alan Unsworth
- (no subject) Edward Falconer
- (no subject) J C Lawrence
- (no subject) Bruce Mitchener
- (no subject) Travis Casey
- (no subject) J C Lawrence
- (no subject) Travis Casey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Freeman, Jeff
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Trump
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jeremy Noetzelman
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Matt Mihaly
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Matt Owen
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jeremy Noetzelman
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Bryce Harrington
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Vincent Archer
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Madman Across the Water
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J Todd Coleman
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Sean Kelly
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jon Lambert
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Sean Kelly
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Bruce Mitchener
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Sean Kelly
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Dave Rickey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Travis Casey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Bryce Harrington
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Alistair Milne
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Travis Casey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Travis Casey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jon Lambert
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Adam Martin
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Vincent Archer
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Travis Nixon
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Adam Martin
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Vincent Archer
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Adam Martin
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Vincent Archer
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Adam Martin
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Dave Rickey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Travis Casey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Dave Rickey
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Timothy Dang
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Alistair Milne
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Sean Kelly
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Gavin Doughtie
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Brian Hook
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Joel Chestnutt
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Aaron Mulder
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Max Gilead
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jon Lambert
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Luke Carruthers
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jeremy Noetzelman
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers J C Lawrence
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Jeremy Noetzelman
- Libs for 3D Client/Servers Adam Martin
- New polls claw@kanga.nu
- virtual mind project Phillip Lenhardt
- [TECH] Data-transfer protocols for MUDs Adam Martin
- Chatbot Michael Tresca
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Joackim Birgersson
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Travis Casey
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) ghovs
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Vincent Archer
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Max Gilead
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Bobby Martin
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Joackim Birgersson
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Patrick Dughi
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Matt Mihaly
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Koster, Raph
- GPL (was:Libs for 3D Client/Servers) Joackim Birgersson
- Graphical Mud-in-a-box musings Brian Hook
- Graphical Mud-in-a-box musings Justin Rogers
- Graphical Mud-in-a-box musings Rob Bartel
- Graphical Mud-in-a-box musings Adam Martin
- Chatbot, NLP and explaining away NPC limitations Erin Mulder
- Server hosting Brian Hook
- Server hosting Corey Crawford
- Server hosting Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Server hosting Valerio Santinelli
- Server hosting Madman Across the Water
- Server hosting Frank Crowell
- Server hosting Alistair Milne
- Server hosting Brian Hook
- Server hosting Freeman, Jeff
- Server hosting Matt Mihaly
- Server hosting fred@clift.org
- Chatbot, NLP and explaining away NPC limitations Robert Zubek
- Edged weapon damage John W Pierce
- Player characters as a prey species Jon Leonard
- Player characters as a prey species Justin Rogers
- Player characters as a prey species Ling Lo
- Player characters as a prey species J C Lawrence
- Player characters as a prey species lhulbert@hotmail.com
- Player characters as a prey species Dan Shiovitz
- Player characters as a prey species Justin Rogers
- Player characters as a prey species Matt Mihaly
- Request to mailing list MUD-Dev rejected J C Lawrence
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Peter Tyson
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Derek Licciardi
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Matt Mihaly
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Peter Tyson
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Eric Lee {RAT}
- Chatting in MMPORPGs John Buehler
- Chatting in MMPORPGs lhulbert@hotmail.com
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Adam Martin
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Eli Stevens
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Dave Rickey
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Vincent Archer
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Adam Martin
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Kevin Littlejohn
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Lee Sheldon
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Madman Across the Water
- Chatting in MMPORPGs Peter Tyson
- Chatting in MMPORPGs J C Lawrence
- TECH: Mail (was On socialization and convenience) Chris Jones
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Derek Licciardi
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Sean Kelly
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Justin Rogers
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Chris Dern
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation David Bennett
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragm entation Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Kwon Ekstrom
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Bruce Mitchener
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Adam Martin
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragm entation Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragm entation Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragmentation Derek Licciardi
- [TECH] String Classes, Memory Management, and Fragm entation Bruce Mitchener
- Mudpie Matt Mihaly
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication David Bennett
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Edward Glowacki
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Derek Licciardi
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication shren
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Ben Tolputt
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Edward Glowacki
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Edward Glowacki
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Ben Tolputt
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Vincent Archer
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Sean Kelly
- strong encryption for authentication Tamzen Cannoy
- strong encryption for authentication Sean Kelly
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Tamzen Cannoy
- strong encryption for authentication Travis Casey
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Travis Casey
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Travis Casey
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Travis Casey
- strong encryption for authentication Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- strong encryption for authentication Edward Glowacki
- strong encryption for authentication Matt Mihaly
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Freeman, Jeff
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Bruce Mitchener
- strong encryption for authentication Brian Price
- strong encryption for authentication Kevin Littlejohn
- strong encryption for authentication Brian Price
- strong encryption for authentication Kevin Littlejohn
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Robert Fleck
- strong encryption for authentication Sean Kelly
- strong encryption for authentication Edward Glowacki
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Fred Clift
- strong encryption for authentication Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- strong encryption for authentication Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Oliver Jowett
- strong encryption for authentication Kwon Ekstrom
- strong encryption for authentication F. Randall Farmer
- strong encryption for authentication Kwon Ekstrom
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Kwon Ekstrom
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- strong encryption for authentication Dave Rickey
- strong encryption for authentication Jon Lambert
- strong encryption for authentication Dave Rickey
- strong encryption for authentication J C Lawrence
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Paul Schwanz
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Maximus
- Toward a Craftier Dragon rayzam
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Matt Owen
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Michael Tresca
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Travis Nixon
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Paul Schwanz - Enterprise Services
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Andrew Reisse
- Toward a Craftier Dragon J C Lawrence
- Toward a Craftier Dragon rayzam
- Toward a Craftier Dragon J C Lawrence
- Toward a Craftier Dragon rayzam
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
- Toward a Craftier Dragon Michael Tresca
- Toward a Craftier Dragon John Hopson
- Toward a Craftier Dragon yospe@kanga.nu
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Tand'a-ur
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Sean Kelly
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers J C Lawrence
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Greg Underwood
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Robert Fleck
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers J C Lawrence
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Tand'a-ur
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers Adam Martin
- Grief players with ip/dns spoofers J C Lawrence
- character transfer in EQ Matt Mihaly
- character transfer in EQ Derek Licciardi
- character transfer in EQ Dave Rickey
- character transfer in EQ Derek Licciardi
- character transfer in EQ S. Patrick Gallaty
- character transfer in EQ Michael Tresca
- DGN: Craftier dragon and players as GMs Mathieu Castelli
- DGN: Craftier dragon and players as GMs Matt Mihaly
- DGN: Craftier dragon and players as GMs Mathieu Castelli
- DGN: Craftier dragon and players as GMs Travis Nixon
- DGN: Craftier dragon and players as GMs Marian Griffith
- Biz/Media Peter Tyson
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? David Loeser
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Kwon Ekstrom
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Xuri
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Adam Martin
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Justin Rogers
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? David Loeser
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Matt Mihaly
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Matt Mihaly
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? luke@rocketship.com
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? J C Lawrence
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Freeman, Jeff
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Koster, Raph
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Freeman, Jeff
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Koster, Raph
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Joe Andrieu
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Koster, Raph
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? John Hopson
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Steve {Bloo} Daniels
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? J C Lawrence
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Travis Casey
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Joe Andrieu
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Dave Rickey
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Marc Bowden
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Sean K
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Freeman, Jeff
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Matt Mihaly
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Koster, Raph
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Dave Rickey
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? J C Lawrence
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Michael Tresca
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Trump
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Kristen L. Koster
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Sean Kelly
- To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG? Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- [NEWS] New MUD Magazine Derek Snider
- Real-world skills Was: strong encryption for authentication Travis Nixon
- Real-world skills Was: strong encryption for authentication Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Something in the water Koster, Raph
- Something in the water Dave Rickey
- Something in the water Koster, Raph
- Something in the water John Hopson
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Sean Kelly
- Something in the water rayzam
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Travis Casey
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Joe Andrieu
- Something in the water Sean Kelly
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water Hulbert, Leland
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Something in the water Hulbert, Leland
- Something in the water Matt Mihaly
- Something in the water Jon Morrow
- Something in the water Trump
- Something in the water Matt Mihaly
- Something in the water Matt Chatterley
- Something in the water Sparrowhawk
- Something in the water Matt Mihaly
- Something in the water Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Something in the water Tamzen Cannoy
- Something in the water Matt Mihaly
- Something in the water Tomas Clark
- Something in the water Matt Mihaly
- Something in the water Marc Bowden
- Something in the water Koster, Raph
- Something in the water Jessica Mulligan
- Something in the water SavantKnowsAll@cs.com
- Something in the water Miroslav Silovic
- Something in the water Travis Casey
- Something in the water rayzam
- Something in the water Travis Casey
- Something in the water Ian Hess
- Something in the water Marc Bowden
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Marc Bowden
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Dave Rickey
-----Original Message-----
From: Koster, Raph <rkoster@verant.com>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dave Rickey
>> I think that once we accept that what we have is not a new
>> dramatic medium, but is instead a superior form of escapism,
>> we'll make a lot more progress.
> To me, that characterization carries with it assumptions as
> well. I don't see those two statements as necessarily being in
> contradiction. Is the written word not both a form of escapism and
> also a dramatic medium (and a communications medium, and several
> other things to boot)?
But in most "media", utilitarian applications come first. I'm not
so sure we'll *ever* see a virtual world filled with people
conducting mundane activities.
> It seems undeniable to me that there is significant potential for
> online worlds as a dramatic medium, just as it is patent that it
> is a form of escapism. It's clearly a medium of communication, of
> course.
Where my stance is the opposite, traditional storytelling was
directed, the teller aimed it at an audience. We *can't* seem to
tell stories very well in this environment, the usual player
response to attempts at "plot" is a yawn. Is it because we don't
know how, or because it just isn't a place to "tell" stories?
>> We're *entirely* too wound up in concepts from other mediums,
>> ideas of story and pace and symbolism.
> All new media begin this way. Theater started with the
> underpinnings of verse, film with theater, the novel with the
> letter and the modern notion of song with the news report. Some
> concepts translate, and some do not (we don't see nearly as many
> topical songs, epistolary novels, plays in verse, or stagey films
> as we used to).
We don't see nearly as many games with strong story emphasis,
either. Even single-player games seem to be moving in the direction
of non-channeled playgrounds.
> Some concepts translate pertty well. Symbolism, as an example,
> strikes me as thoroughly bizarre for you to place on your list. We
> live lives rife with symbolism, and I'd be hard-pressed to imagine
> a medium that does not make use of it in one way or another, even
> ones devoted mostly to dryly factual content. I don't think that
> as a medium online games have yet made good conscious use of
> symbolism in ways that do not borrow liberally, though there are
> some neat ones in common usage (the Void, as used by many Dikus,
> is a great example).
Symbolism in other media is a form of shorthand, a way of evoking
meaning without exposition. In these games, the players look behind
the curtain and often see that the symbol is a cardboard cutout.
You can't just invoke a symbol, you have to embody it.
>> All of these things represent the embroidery around a very simple
>> thing: People's desire to escape from the here and now into a
>> world that isn't just strange and different, but strange and
>> different in ways that make them happier.
> Here I believe you are carrying with you the baggage of a very
> particular approach to online world design, one perhaps inevitable
> given the preponderance of entertainment uses of the medium when
> compared to other uses. There are many other applications for
> online worlds beyond the game. It may well be (and I tend to
> believe this personally) that going forward, the most prominent
> use of the online world is as an escapist entertainment, but that
> does not mean that such is what online worlds are FOR.
What *utility* does a virtual world offer for real-world operations?
If an interface for real-life activities does not allow greater
control or convenience, people won't use it. Why should Joe Shmoe
virtually walk up to a virtual ATM, when he could just peruse a
web-page for his online banking? Which is more *convenient*?
> Can escapist, wish-fulfilling forms of entertainment not also
> inform, educate, and challenge? Of course they can, and they often
> do. Granted, the most common theme is the very Apollonian
> affirmation of custom, but there's a wealth more even in heavily
> conformist and thematically conservative mass media forms of
> escape such as TV and the Hollywood film. Online worlds could be
> put to many uses, they just haven't been yet.
Educate, inform, challenge, anything that occurs primarily inside
the skull of the user, we can potentially do.
> Online worlds are most successful when they manage to make you
> forget about the technological crutches and impedimenta that got
> you into the shared world in the first place. Books are most
> successful when they make you forget you're reading, movies when
> they make you forget the seat and the sticky floor, music when you
> lose track of your body.
But is it really the same thing? It's the active vs. passive
question in another form, is an active entertainment fundamentally
different from a passive one? I say that it is, few would get
engrossed in *watching* someone play one of these games. In spite
of all efforts, sports-style broadcasts of Quake matches just
haven't caught on.
> Yet live action roleplaying, improvisational theater, and the
> murder mystery party game have all had to build up a repertoire of
> tricks too, despite the environment being interactive and the
> other participants being real. I suspect you'll argue that they do
> not present an alternate world in which the action takes place,
> and this is true. Yet the mere fact that it is an alternate world
> seen through a screen means that there's substantial reason to
> need tricks, and we work assiduously on them all the time: cleaner
> interfaces, better expressivity for the avatars, more realistic
> worlds, etc.
All of those tricks are based on "Pretend that didn't happen" when
something out of the context occurs. In these, you don't have to do
that. You still have to pretend things *are* happening that are
not, especially on realism questions, but that's not a long-term
restraint.
>> How "real" is a friendship? How "virtual" are the feelings of
>> grief in "A story about a tree"? How imaginary was the original
>> Siege of Trinsic (The one between the Obsidian Order and the
>> Trinsic Miner's Co-op on Baja)? When these games succeed, they
>> succeed because what is important to the players is reflected in
>> the game, not by making what's important to the game affect the
>> players. It's the reverse of dramatic liscense.
> And yet, it seems that most often, what's important to players is
> the game's reaction to their actions. The feedback loops, the
> "ding," the level up and the new skills. Perhaps what is most
> insidious about this fact is the way in which it undermines the
> presence of others in the game; one works with others for the
> game's approbation, not for the approval of one's peers. There's
> no reward mechanism established right now in the genre for
> "interacting with others" which is the key differential between
> online worlds and single-player ones. One might argue that until
> players shift their attention from the game/world's reactions to
> the reactions of others in the environment, that we're still in
> silent single camera movie days.
That, I can agree with. Leveling treadmills are simply an
expedient, we use them because they work, not because we want them.
> Currently, the mechanisms of approval by others, of friendship, of
> emotion aroused by human contact, are still second-order effects
> in online games. The primary mechanisms are still that of
> recognition by the system.
Recognition, or empowerment? In the game context, you are gaining
in strength, given enough time you can become arbitrarily strong.
> It may be that until we jettison the trappings of roleplaying
> games, which enforce those mechanisms, online worlds cannot
> evolve. Yet despite many attempts going back to 1989, we seem to
> have real trouble doing so.
I think we'll never entriely ditch them, because if we do people can
progress only up to the limit of their personal abilities. Since
only 1 person in 1000 has 1 in a thousand capability, that wouldn't
deliver empowerment. Without empowerment, I don't think you'll see
them *engage*.
>> Realism is important only to the extent that it makes the
>> player's actions resonate as "real" on a gut level. It's not
>> "realistic" to throw around spells, but if those spells allow the
>> player to interact with the world in an empowering way, the
>> player doesn't care.
> Empowerment is often seen as the cheapest, easiest target to hit
> in entertainment and art. Are you aiming too low?
In trying to make thousand of people all feel empowered, while
interacting with (and measuring against) each other? Okay, granted,
empowerment is not enough, we have to allow them to reach each other
in meaningful ways, as well. Otherwise, what's the point?
>> "Virtual Tourism" will succeed only to the degree that it allows
>> the player to be someone of *consequence* in that context. A
>> simple walking tour of Rennaissance Italy or the Ch'in Dynasty
>> Middle Kingdom, realistic or not, does not do that any more than
>> a documentary of the same setting, but being minor nobility in
>> the same contexts *would*.
> Being minor nobility in those contexts is also a far more
> educational experience than a documentary could ever be. If all
> you get out of it at the end is a virtual execution and an acute
> understanding of the limitations of a given role in that society,
> do you deem that experience a failure? (It may well not have
> commercial viability, but neither does lots of other valuable
> stuff).
Hmm.... Actually, one of my favorite characters in P&P gaming was
the one that got so strong and arrogant the rest of the party
conspired to kill him (successfully).
As the market for these games grows, and the population of each
rises, I expect to see a lot more movement towards custom server
sets. In a way, DAoC is three different games, with a lot of
commonality but still distinctly different. Once we've got servers
for peak populations of 30K+, we've got enough money coming in that
each can have a full-blown development team in it's own right.
That's a fairly "niche" interest we can potentially serve, if our
systems are robust and flexible enough. I expect we'll be
redefining what a "Commercially Viable" concept is.
Escapism is *more* than entertainment. If reality is defined
through concensus, how real is an escape you share with such large
numbers of people?
--Dave Rickey - Something in the water Marc Bowden
- Something in the water Travis Casey
- Something in the water Marian Griffith
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Eli Stevens
- Something in the water J C Lawrence
- Something in the water Adam Martin
- Something in the water Dave Rickey
- Something in the water Dan MacDonald
- Something in the water Adam Martin
- Something in the water John Hopson
- Something in the water rayzam
- Something in the water Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Gearing up against GEAR Ted Milker
- Gearing up against GEAR Dan MacDonald
- Gearing up against GEAR Sean Kelly
- Gearing up against GEAR Vincent Archer
- Gearing up against GEAR Travis Nixon
- Gearing up against GEAR Kevin Littlejohn
- Gearing up against GEAR Sean Kelly
- Gearing up against GEAR Justin Rogers
- Gearing up against GEAR Sean K
- Gearing up against GEAR Alistair Milne
- Gearing up against GEAR Travis Nixon
- Gearing up against GEAR Vincent Archer
- Gearing up against GEAR J C Lawrence
- Gearing up against GEAR Vincent Archer
- Gearing up against GEAR Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Gearing up against GEAR Sean K
- Gearing up against GEAR Vincent Archer
- Gearing up against GEAR Sean K
- Gearing up against GEAR Dave Rickey
- Gearing up against GEAR Derek Licciardi
- Gearing up against GEAR Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Gearing up against GEAR Marc Bowden
- Gearing up against GEAR J C Lawrence
- Gearing up against GEAR Travis Nixon
- Gearing up against GEAR F. Randall Farmer
- OT: Writer needs help from people in the gaming industry Alex Oren
- What is cheating? [Was: Strong encryption for authentication] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Joe Andrieu
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) J C Lawrence
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Sean Kelly
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Joe Andrieu
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Sean K
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) SeronisROTv3@aol.com
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Joe Andrieu
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) J C Lawrence
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Sean Kelly
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Adam Martin
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Jon Lambert
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Kevin Littlejohn
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Robert Zubek
- TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long) Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Real-world skills luke@rocketship.com
- Real-world skills Mathieu Castelli
- Real-world skills J C Lawrence
- Real-world skills Kwon Ekstrom
- Real-world skills rayzam
- Design patterns for game database implementations Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Design patterns for game database implementations Sean Kelly
- Design patterns for game database implementations J C Lawrence
- Design patterns for game database implementations J C Lawrence
- Real-world skills Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Real-world skills Chris Lloyd
- Real-world skills Justin Rogers
- Real-world skills Koster, Raph
- Real-world skills Travis Casey
- Real-world skills J C Lawrence
- Real-world skills Luke Parrish
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills R.Fry
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills Luke Parrish
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills Bruce Mitchener
- Real-world skills Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Mud Clients (was Real-world skills) Kwon Ekstrom
- Mud Clients (was Real-world skills) David Bennett
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills Justin Rogers
- Real-world skills Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Real-world skills J C Lawrence
- Real-world skills Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Real-world skills J C Lawrence
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills Luke Parrish
- Real-world skills Dave Talk21
- Real-world skills Adam Martin
- Players playing NPCs Vladimir Prelovac
- Players playing NPCs Christopher Allen
- Real-world skills Koster, Raph
- Real-world skills Bruce Mitchener
- Real-world skills Andrew Wilson
- Game Survey Michael Tresca
- Game Survey Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
- Game Survey Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Game Survey J C Lawrence
- MMORPG Construction Kit Koster, Raph
- MMORPG Construction Kit Lee Sheldon
- MMORPG Construction Kit Lee Sheldon
- MMORPG Construction Kit Lee Sheldon
- MMORPG Construction Kit Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- MMORPG Construction Kit J C Lawrence
- MMORPG Construction Kit Brian 'Psychochild' Green
- MMORPG Construction Kit Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Christopher Allen
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Adam Martin
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Hulbert, Leland
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Chris Gray
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] David Loeser
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Dave Rickey
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Jon Lambert
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] F. Randall Farmer
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Travis Nixon
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] F. Randall Farmer
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Kevin Littlejohn
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Jessica Mulligan
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] F. Randall Farmer
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Frank Crowell
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Adam Martin
- DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] F Farmer
- Re[4]: Something in the water Travis Casey
- Population divisions (wasTo good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG?) Matt Mihaly
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG?) Alex Kay
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an M MPORPG?) Koster, Raph
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an M MPORPG?) J C Lawrence
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an M MPORPG?) Vincent Archer
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an M MPORPG?) Koster, Raph
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an M MPORPG?) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Community feeling (was: To good to be TRUE, in an MMPORPG?) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Re:DNA Game Patent [was Randy's Resume] Jessica Mulligan
- Multi-threading ( was: TECH DGN: a few mud server design questions (long)) Jon Lambert
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness Trump
- Wilderness Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Wilderness Edward Glowacki
- Wilderness Dave Rickey
- Wilderness Sean Kelly
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Brian Hook
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Koster, Raph
- Wilderness Ling Lo
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness Nathan F. Yospe
- Wilderness Ling Lo
- Wilderness Nathan F. Yospe
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Wilderness Hulbert, Leland
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Kwon Ekstrom
- Wilderness Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Wilderness Matt Mihaly
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Nathan F. Yospe
- Wilderness Travis Casey
- Wilderness Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Wilderness Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Wilderness Koster, Raph
- Wilderness Dave Rickey
- Wilderness Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Wilderness Brian Hook
- Wilderness Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Wilderness Brian Hook
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness lhulbert@hotmail.com
- Wilderness Matt Mihaly
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Matt Mihaly
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Matt Mihaly
- Wilderness Freeman, Jeff
- Wilderness Madrona Tree
- Wilderness Nathan F. Yospe
- Wilderness Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Wilderness Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Adam Martin
- Wilderness Koster, Raph
- Wilderness John Buehler
- Wilderness Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Wilderness Adam Martin
- Wilderness Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Wilderness David Loeser
- Wilderness Matt Owen
- Wilderness Peter Tyson
- Wilderness Adam Martin
- Death among Friends Jon Morrow
- Death among Friends Tommy Wang
- Death among Friends Jon Morrow
- Death among Friends Matt Mihaly
- Death among Friends Jon Morrow
- Death among Friends Matt Mihaly
- Death among Friends shren
- Death among Friends Michael Tresca
- Death among Friends John Buehler
- Death among Friends Jon Morrow
- Death among Friends Matt Mihaly
- Death among Friends Michael Tresca
- BSD licenses Ross Dmochowski
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Tommy Wang
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Matt Mihaly
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Ling Lo
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Matt Mihaly
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Jon Morrow
- Hoping for more... (interfaces) Kwon Ekstrom
- d20 shannon hall
- Group sizes and MUDs as sport? Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- free release of graphical MUD Chris Gray