April 2002
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Black Snow Revisited Tammie Gorzelsky
- Black Snow Revisited Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Black Snow Revisited John Buehler
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Black Snow Revisited John Buehler
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Black Snow Revisited Marc Bowden
- Black Snow Revisited Blane Bramble
- Black Snow Revisited Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Black Snow Revisited Matt Mihaly
- Anyone got anything to say about swamps? shren
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Jeff Cole
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisi ted] Koster, Raph
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] John Buehler
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Jeff Cole
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Fred Clift
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Brian Bilek
- Black Snow: The sky is falling? Robert A. Rice Jr.
- Black Snow Revisited Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Black Snow Revisited amanda@alfar.com
- Black Snow Revisited Matt Mihaly
- Black Snow Revisited Fred Clift
- Everquest blamed for suicide Talies the Wanderer
- Everquest blamed for suicide Jason Hart
- Death of a game addict Michael Tresca
- Death of a game addict Marc Bowden
- Death of a game addict Matt Mihaly
- Death of a game addict Dave Rickey
- Death of a game addict Patricia Pizer
- Death of a game addict Matt Mihaly
- Death of a game addict Larry Dunlap
- Death of a game addict David Kennerly
- Death of a game addict Brandon J. Van Every
- Death of a game addict quzah
- Death of a game addict Marian Griffith
- Death of a game addict Luke Parrish
- Death of a game addict Jon Lambert
- Death of a game addict John Bertoglio
- Death of a game addict Brandon J. Van Every
- Death of a game addict ghovs
- Death of a game addict Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Death of a game addict Richard Woolcock
- Investor Perceptions if BSI wins was( Black Snow Revisited) Derek Licciardi
- Black Snow Revisited Christopher Allen
- the design process Matt Mihaly
- the design process John Buehler
- the design process Koster, Raph
- Contract Law. Was: Blacksnow revisted Brian Bilek
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Pure Krome
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Sean Middleditch
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Kwon Ekstrom
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Sean Middleditch
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Kwon Ekstrom
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Sean Middleditch
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Kwon Ekstrom
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Greg Munt
- [DGN] [NEWBIE] Suggestions on (OO) Server Design. Kwon Ekstrom
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Robert Zubek
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Miroslav Silovic
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Robert Zubek
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Robert Zubek
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Sean Kelly
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems ? Robert Zubek
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Bruce Mitchener
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? Joshua Judson Rosen
- OpenCyc, design implications of ontological systems? dmiles@users.sourceforge.net
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Nick Yee
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Jeff Lindsey
- Methods to Foster Relationships? amanda@alfar.com
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Richard A. Bartle
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Sara Jensen
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Rayzam
- Methods to Foster Relationships? apollyon .
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Marian Griffith
- Methods to Foster Relationships? Peter Tyson
- [TECH] Shortest-Path William Murdick
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Bruce Mitchener
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Ben Greear
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Amos Wetherbee
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Richard A. Bartle
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Robert Zubek
- [TECH] Shortest-Path Miroslav Silovic
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited] Dr. Cat
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited] amanda@alfar.com
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited] Matt Mihaly
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited] Matt Mihaly
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited] Matt Mihaly
- Another Reality Check [was Black Snow Revisited ] Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Brandon J. Van Every
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Casbaria
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Brandon J. Van Every
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Dave Rickey
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Koster, Raph
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Brandon J. Van Every
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Dave Rickey
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Shane Gough
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives John Bertoglio
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives Patricia Pizer
- [DGN] MUD developer's motives David Yazel
- Black Snow Revisited Batir
- Black Snow Revisited - Value Of Time Dave Hochstaetter
- Black Snow Revisited - Value Of Time Brandon J. Van Every
- Black Snow Revisited - Value Of Time Dave Hochstaetter
- Fun in Games Paul Schwanz
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games Jeff Freeman
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games Paul Schwanz
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Jeff Freeman
- Fun in Games John Szeder
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Trickey, Rob
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Trickey, Rob
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Paul Schwanz
- Fun in Games Travis Casey
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Jason Booth
- Fun in Games Oreo Cookie
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games David Kennerly
- Fun in Games Paul Schwanz
- Fun in Games David Kennerly
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games szii@sziisoft.com
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games szii@sziisoft.com
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games shren
- Fun in Games Talies the Wanderer
- Fun in Games Sasha Hart
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Fun in Games Ron Gabbard
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games Ron Gabbard
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Matt Mihaly
- Fun in Games Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games Sasha Hart
- Fun in Games shren
- Fun in Games Damion Schubert
- Fun in Games Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Fun in Games Jasper McChesney
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Ron Gabbard
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Adam Dray
- Fun in Games Ron Gabbard
- Fun in Games Damion Schubert
- Fun in Games Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Fun in Games Tess Snider
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games Ron Gabbard
- Fun in Games John Buehler
- Fun in Games Brandon J. Van Every
- Fun in Games David Kennerly
- Fun in Games Koster, Raph
- Fun in Games David Kennerly
- What do game companies look for? Talies the Wanderer
- Black Snow Revisited Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Black Snow Revisited Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Black Snow Revisited holding99@mindspring.com
- Thank you from MudWorld ucmm@inetsolve.com
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Norman Short
- Re:Blacksnow revisited John Buehler
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Paul Schwanz
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Kylotan
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Norman Short
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Matt Mihaly
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Joe Andrieu
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Matt Mihaly
- Re:Blacksnow revisited Damion Schubert
- G4 cable channel Koster, Raph
- G4 cable channel Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- G4 cable channel Koster, Raph
- G4 cable channel Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
- G4 cable channel Valerio Santinelli
- G4 cable channel Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- G4 cable channel John Bertoglio
- G4 cable channel Amanda Walker
- [MLP] NPC Complexity shren
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Eli Stevens
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Koster, Raph
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Peter Tyson
- [MLP] NPC Complexity shren
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Sean Kelly
- [MLP] NPC Complexity shren
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Sean Kelly
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Kwon Ekstrom
- [MLP] NPC Complexity shren
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Sean Kelly
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Kwon Ekstrom
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [MLP] NPC Complexity Kwon Ekstrom
- META: What do game companies look for? Eli Stevens
- Reality check ...(long) [was Black Snow Revisited] Miroslav Silovic
- Virtual Societies Dave Rickey
- DGN: The Grand List Of Console Role Playing Game Clichés Michael Tresca
- MUDs and societal transformations Brandon J. Van Every
- MUDs and societal transformations shren
- MUDs and societal transformations Marc Bowden
- MUDs and societal transformations Brandon J. Van Every
- MUDs and societal transformations Koster, Raph
- MUDs and societal transformations Brandon J. Van Every
- MUDs and societal transformations Marc Bowden
- Reality check ... Dave Rickey
- Reality check ... Marc Bowden
- Reality check ... Vincent Archer
- Reality check ... Jon Leonard
- Reality check ... John Buehler
- Reality check ... Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Reality check ... Dave Rickey
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Marc Demesel
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Tamzen Cannoy
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Brandon J. Van Every
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Marc Bowden
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Shane Gough
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Brandon J. Van Every
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? John Buehler
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Brandon J. Van Every
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? John Buehler
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Sasha Hart
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Brandon J. Van Every
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? Sasha Hart
- Dilemmas in a (game) designer's life ? shren
- [Biz] Games investment Peter Tyson
- Legal enforcement mechanisms (was Re:Blacksnow revisited) Jon Leonard
- OT: 1 free introductory post Dan Scott
- Client platforms for rapid development of experimental worlds Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Client platforms for rapid development of experimental worlds John Bertoglio
- Client platforms for rapid development of experimental worlds Zach Collins {Siege}
- Client platforms for rapid development of experimental worlds Bruce Mitchener
- Client platforms for rapid development of experimental worlds Bruce Mitchener
- ADMIN: Thread deaths J C Lawrence
- Player matching in MMOGs (was Blacksnow revisited) Brandon J. Van Every
- Happy healthy players (was Blacksnow revisited) Brandon J. Van Every
- Happy healthy players (was Blacksnow revisited) Kylotan
- Happy healthy players (was Blacksnow revisited) Brandon J. Van Every
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Sasha Hart
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Sean Kelly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) shren
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Talies the Wanderer
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Sean Kelly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Paul Schwanz
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Damion Schubert
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexit y) Koster, Raph
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Sean Kelly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) David Kennerly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexit y) Mark Eaton
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexit y) Freeman, Jeff
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexit y) Damion Schubert
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexit y) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Matt Mihaly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Sean Kelly
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Damion Schubert
- [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Complexity) Matt Mihaly
- Avatars/character stables (was: Black Snow Revisited) Jon Leonard
- [TECH] [DGN] Hyper-realistic MUD David B. Held
- Progress of MUD32 Matt Owen
- Japanese wireless MUD Peter Tyson
- How much is enough? Justin Coleman
- How much is enough? Brian Hook
- How much is enough? Justin Coleman
- How much is enough? Damion Schubert
- How much is enough? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- How much is enough? Brandon J. Van Every
- How much is enough? Damion Schubert
- How much is enough? Ron Gabbard
- How much is enough? Sean Middleditch
- How much is enough? Talies the Wanderer
- How much is enough? Sean Middleditch
- How much is enough? Kwon Ekstrom
- How much is enough? David B. Held
- How much is enough? Ron Gabbard
- How much is enough? Justin Coleman
- How much is enough? Matt Mihaly
- How much is enough? Vincent Archer
- How much is enough? Matt Mihaly
- How much is enough? Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- How much is enough? Leverett, William
- How much is enough? Matt Mihaly
- How much is enough? szii@sziisoft.com
- How much is enough? Kwon Ekstrom
- How much is enough? Matt Mihaly
- How much is enough? Damion Schubert
- How much is enough? Sasha Hart
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) Eric Merritt
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) szii@sziisoft.com
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) Bruce Mitchener
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) szii@sziisoft.com
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) Bruce Mitchener
- TECH: Concurrent Process Based Mud (Somewhat Long) Eric Merritt
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Tand'a-ur
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Matt Owen
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Sean Middleditch
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD szii@sziisoft.com
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Crosbie Fitch
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Tand'a-ur
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD John Bertoglio
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD John Buehler
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Tand'a-ur
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD John Buehler
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD John A. Bertoglio
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Sanvean
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Crosbie Fitch
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Damion Schubert
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD lynx@lynx.purrsia.com
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Damion Schubert
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Brian 'Psychochild' Green
- Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD Damion Schubert
- Re:Re:Blacksnow revisited maddog@maddog.com
- Realistic Ecological Models, Differentiating Areas by Difficulty, and Socialization Ron Gabbard
- Realistic Ecological Models, Differentiating Areas by Difficulty, and Socialization Sean Kelly
- Realistic Ecological Models, Differentiating Areas by Difficulty, and Socialization Damion Schubert
- Realistic Ecological Models, Differentiating Areas by Difficulty, and Socialization shren
- Angry Gamer (was: Blacksnow revisited) Daniel Fischer
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Koster, Raph
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Sasha Hart
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Koster, Raph
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Madrona Tree
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Scott Jennings
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Dave Rickey
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Dave Rickey
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Dave Rickey
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Rayzam
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Clay
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Damion Schubert
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Freeman, Jeff
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Nick Yee
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Nicholas Yee
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Steve {Bloo} Daniels
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Steve {Bloo} Daniels
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Marian Griffith
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Marian Griffith
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies shren
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Dave Rickey
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Brad McQuaid
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies John Buehler
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Dave Rickey
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Matt Mihaly
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard Woolcock
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Madrona Tree
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Madrona Tree
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Freeman, Jeff
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Matt Mihaly
- Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies Richard A. Bartle
- [TECH] Preloading path information William Murdick
- [TECH] Preloading path information Kevin Mack
- [TECH] Follow-up to Shortest Path William Murdick
- Fun in Games (Long) Ron Gabbard
From: Raph Koster
> Which brings me back to the statement, "why don't we fix the fact
> that comic books do a better job of portraying the human condition
> than our games do?" There are many ways to provide fun, as you
> cite, and frankly, we as designers tend to explore only a very
> small subset of the possible means of doing so.
> FWIW, despite the extensive quoting of my writings in your
> original essay ;) my main quarrel with your entire premise is that
> online worlds aren't just games.
The extremely limited scope of activities and the accompanying
inefficiencies are the crux of the problem with most online worlds
out right now and is a primary reason online worlds don't 'portray
the human condition' well. A short story that illustrates this
principle:
My grandfather was an engineer at the University of Illinois U/C
back in the 1960's and 1970's. He wasn't a researcher or
instructor... he was in charge of the physical plant of the
university, i.e., the buildings, sidewalks, etc. One year he was
charged with putting in sidewalks in the quadrangle (the grassy area
between the student union and other major buildings).
Grass had just been put in and he knew that no matter how he
designed the layout of the sidewalks the students would use
shortcuts and ruin the grass. So, you know what he did? Nothing.
For the next year, he allowed the students to walk across the grass
with no sidewalks. Pretty soon paths began to wear in the grass
that indicated the major traffic routes that the students travelled.
That summer he went in and laid concrete over those worn paths and
made the diagonal sidewalk system that is still used in the UIUC
quad today.
The students got a sidewalk system that met their needs. My
grandfather wasn't having to repair ripped up grass. A win-win
situation with maximum efficiency for the greatest number of people.
In the case of online worlds, the sidewalks are being 'hardcoded'
then the players are being told 'this is where you walk.' This
process can work in games as there is a definite linear 'path' the
designer wants the player to follow in order to 'win' and incentives
and rewards can be placed along this path. In the case of worlds,
you have a non-linear 'experience' presented to the player. By
hardcoding the 'sidewalks', the designer has necessarily introduced
inefficiencies into the world. ('Inefficiencies' are defined as
activities the player must perform while receiving no
utility/enjoyment). It's these inefficiencies that are either
addressed by player activity or remain a frustration to players.
Between EQ, DAoC, AC, and AO, EverQuest definitely has the greatest
number of glaring inefficiencies. However, it also has the most
examples of players stepping in to fill these needs:
1. Travel time between locations is extremely high and sometimes
dangerous. Thus, druid and wizard 'taxi' services formed and a
market formed for buying run speed buffs.
2. Replenishing supplies and depositing coin in the bank for
players in remote zones like Lake of Ill Omen is 'inconvenient' at
best. Thus, you have players selling food, drink, arrows, and
performing 'money-changing' services for other players in these
zones.
3. Gathering skins and spider silks for the Tailoring craft is
extremely tedious for higher level players. Thus, a market for
these items formed where lower-level characters can actually make
decent money while hunting creatures appropriate for their level.
(Same can be said of bonechips for necromancers.)
4. The penalty for death is extremely severe which has created a
market (however dubious from an RP perspective) for clerics to
provide high-level resurrections for a fee.
5. Fine steel weapons dropped by mobs in Lower Guk, Cazic,
etc. have a good market value but are also cumbersome with no
convenient means of selling them. This has created a market for
players to purchase the weapons from other players in dungeons at
a discount and make a profit selling them to vendors.
6. Mana regeneration is extremely slow which has created a market
for mana regeneration buffs.
The player-created 'tradeskills' of taxi driver, money changer,
hunter/gatherer, ressurector, 'crack' dealer, and middleman are the
most valued trades to the community as evidenced by the fees earned
by these players compared with the profits earned by the hard-coded
tradeskill roles of blacksmith, cook, tailor, alchemist, brewer,
etc. That is the difference between designing online games versus
online worlds.
Another good example of how inefficiencies were addressed by
players, thus increasing socialization and community, is in
Asheron's Call. (Note: I haven't played AC in quite a while so this
may have changed). AC is the soloer's dream. A player can venture
out with a backpack full of healing, stamina, and mana potions, slay
beasts for a time, and come back with packs full of loot. However,
the absence of a banking system causes players to create storage
mules. This results in the formation of 'recovery' areas where
everyone knows everyone and knows they can trust those people to
hold their gear while they log on their mule. (Mine was a pub in
Hebian-to). While I don't recommend forcing players to create mules
in role-play environments, the inefficiency and the player-created
work-around facilitated the formation of the community.
The other extreme is the super-efficient world of Anarchy Online.
(That game is the Achiever's dream.) Insurance terminals, banks,
and mission terminals can be found even in the remotest zones.
Travel around the world can be achieved quickly at a relatively
low-level via whompa (port) or the Grid (picture the Matrix).
Players can get mission keys to dungeons that are theirs without
having to worry about the spawn being 'camped'. This efficiency can
be achieved because the NPC owners of these terminals and
transportation systems can print their own money and operate them
regardless of player demand for the services. The downside to
super-efficiency is that you end up with fewer logical gathering
spots as the players have been diffused throughout the world with
little to no need to travel to a central location. (Note: This
diffusion of players may be necessary to alleviate some of the
technical issues encountered at release.)
It is not possible to create a world completely without
inefficiencies... nor would you want to as a certain portion of the
player base enjoys filling that role and can probably do so in ways
better than the designer could ever dream. However, in an online
world, these inefficiencies have to be able to be removed (or at
least lessened) through player interaction. This forms community
and interdependence and provides more roles to be played within the
world. Which circles back to Raph's question...
Why do comic books do a better job of portraying the human condition
than online worlds?
That may be the nature of the beast in online worlds given the
concept of 'fair'.
In comic books, the innocent are allowed to be victims. The
villains exploit the weak and ultimately pay the price of justice
dished out by the 'hero'. In online worlds, anti-social behavior is
either not allowed (play nice policies) and/or justice is withheld
(no player-killing). It's like a Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) where both
sides are told they must cooperate... and most game theorists will
tell you that cooperation in a PD is irrational. The total utility
gained by both sides is higher than if the people were left to make
their own 'rational' decisions. However, it's contrary to the human
condition (but almost necessary) in worlds where there is no means
to enforce social contracts.
Secondly, online worlds typically ignore Adam Smith's 'Invisible
Hand'. As in the initial example of the sidewalks, online worlds
currently hardcode the paths and tell the players to walk on them.
This reflects a central planning (Communist) attitude which has
proven worldwide to be a failed societal system. Future online
worlds that allow for the player-driven construction and ownership
of banks, bind stones, travel systems, and vendors (with the
associated competition and maintenance costs) will create worlds
that are more efficient and more accurately reflect human behavior
as the worlds will be a culmination of every player acting
rationally (in their own best self interest).
In order to create worlds that accurately reflect the human
condition, designers are going to have to abandon one core
concept... fairness. The powerful players will have the ability to
prey on the weak and the rich players will have the ability to
dominate the poor. The challenge is then to replace 'fair' with
'just' and allow for the formation and enforcement of social
contracts.
Wow... this ended up much longer than I had intended. Sorry. =/
Cheers,
Ron - Fun in Games (Long) Brandon J. Van Every
- Games are not speech? Koster, Raph
- Games are not speech? Jeff Cole
- Games are not speech? Sean Kelly
- Games are not speech? Dave Rickey
- Games are not speech? Ron Gabbard
- Games are not speech? Crosbie Fitch
- How much is enough? Communication design Ron Gabbard
- How much is enough? Communication design Miroslav Silovic
- How much is enough? Communication design David B. Held
- How much is enough? Communication design Travis Casey
- How much is enough? Communication design Ben Chambers
- How much is enough? Communication design Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- How much is enough? Communication design Damion Schubert
- How much is enough? Communication design Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- How much is enough? Communication design shren
- How much is enough? Communication design John Buehler
- How much is enough? Communication design Damion Schubert
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Peter Tyson
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Sean Kelly
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs William Murdick
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Ammon Lauritzen
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Adam
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Peter Tyson
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs shren
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Kwon Ekstrom
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Damion Schubert
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Sean Kelly
- The quandry of mob combat in MUDs Edward Glowacki
- How much is enough? Communication design Sasha Hart
- [MLP] Why care about levels? (was: The use of ecology models) Sasha Hart
- [MLP] Why care about levels? (was: The use of ecology models) Sean Kelly
- [MLP] Why care about levels? (was: The use of ecolo gy models) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Realistic Ecological Models Sasha Hart
- Realistic Ecological Models David B. Held
- Realistic Ecological Models Mike Shaver
- Realistic Ecological Models Leland Hulbert II
- Realistic Ecological Models Sasha Hart
- Realistic Ecological Models Leland Hulbert II
- Realistic Ecological Models David B. Held
- Size of player-organizations Adam
- [Meta] [MLP] The use of ecology models (was: NPC Co mplexity) Koster, Raph
- The quandary of mob combat in MUDs Peter Tyson
- The quandary of mob combat in MUDs John Buehler
- Developing A Web Generator Kyndig
- Developing A Web Generator Kwon Ekstrom
- Developing A Web Generator John A. Bertoglio
- Developing A Web Generator szii@sziisoft.com
- Developing A Web Generator Derek Snider
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Jeff Cole
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Kwon Ekstrom
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Jeff Cole
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Kwon Ekstrom
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Zach Collins {Siege}
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) Kwon Ekstrom
- Powergaming (was How much is enough?) shren
- Fun in Games (the Fun Dogma) Clay
- Fun in Games (the Fun Dogma) David Kennerly
- Fun in Games (the Fun Dogma) Ron Gabbard
- Skotos Cellular Automata Simulation System - a Technical Summary (LONG) Christopher Allen