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
- 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
From: "Sasha Hart" <Sasha.Hart@directory.reed.edu>
> -- No matter what your level of detail, you are going to
> reinvent the wheel. Even if you think you are doing something
> radically simplified, or unrealistic, you can probably learn
> something from what people wrote. (Learned the hard way).
I've already seen a lot of ideas both old and new, and I've been
taking mental note.
> -- Population control I: carrying capacity. This is useful for
> putting an upper bound on population growth and for simulating
> starvation due to food shortages.
Why should I simulate food shortages? If everything needs to eat,
either there will be a food shortage or there won't be. If food
magically sustains an explosive population, I figure I have a pretty
bad ecological model. Or perhaps making everything find food is
oversimulating? Too computationally demanding?
> -- Population control II: predation. Don't use these to control
> population.
Hopefully, a balanced ecosystem will include predation as a
population control measure; but I agree that it seems foolish to
rely on it alone, as predation relationships are not guaranteed to
be stable.
> So don't forget carrying capacity even if it seems redundant.
Actually, an ecology model doesn't deserve to be called
"hyper-realistic" if it neglects the aspects involved with carrying
capacity. Obvious examples are grazing animals that only need grass
and water to survive, or small mammals that primarily feed off
fruits and vegetables. Clearly, a generic measure of grass coverage
needs to be determined for fields if it is to be a limiting factor
in cattle growth. I think the sector system that I have devised
will help alleviate the "simulate every plant" problem, while still
providing a realistic ecology that allows for food shortages and the
corresponding population reduction. Again, major flora coverage
like trees, bushes, and fruit-bearing plants must be accounted for,
but at just the right resolution. Something akin to RTS game
resources is probably appropriate.
> -- Dynamics need to be played out at the right rate. Not hard to
> engineer this, but it's important - if you want players to
> interact with it rather than just be affected by it, if you want
> them to be able to see signs, predict events and control them to
> any extent, they have to be able to see it, and they have to be
> able to keep up. Birth rate and more concrete instantiations
> (gestation time) are perfect.
I'm not entirely sure what is covered by "dynamics", but if you
simply mean "active events", this will probably be the most
difficult part of the game. My natural reaction is to make
everything move. ;) Of course, this is far too expensive to
implement. But when mobs move around, even non-sentients, it will
be for a purpose. For instance, deer in the forest will move
towards the sectors that have the best feeding opportunities and
provide the best cover. Also, they will tend to move in small
groups and stay with their young. This should be fairly easy to
implement: The deer logic says "If x deer move to nearby sector 5,
move with them." "If more than y deer move, the group is too big,
and will result in overfeeding. Move to sector 8 instead." "If the
food level here is below 10%, move on, to avoid overgrazing." And
all the movement actions can be probabilistic, so that they tend to
use rule X in the proper situation, but might instead use rule Y.
This should allow small groups to form and move together, while
avoiding a "herd magnetism" trap that collects all the deer in the
world into a mega-herd. Of course, what would ultimately be
desirable is to have these rules encoded in a genome, and let the
best genome win. ;)
> -- Food webs need diversity to be stable.
This seems reasonable.
> -- Diversity can be pretty tough to get and maintain.
I suppose. It depends on your design and goals. But I can see that
there would be a problem that you can't just design a "tiny
ecosystem." You get to a point where you need more and more things
to balance out all aspects. Hopefully, there is a way to increase
the size iteratively.
> -- Dealing with this problem may entail speciation or other
> abstractions on genetics or at least variation in phenotype
I think this is a separate aspect that should be studied in its own
right.
Dave - 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
- 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