May 2002

• Random Resets John Robert Arras
• • Random Resets Kwon Ekstrom
  • • Random Resets John Robert Arras
• [MLP] The use of ecology models Rayzam
• Interesting things to do (was: Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD) John Buehler
• • Interesting things to do (was: Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD) Damion Schubert
• Apple WWDC? amanda@alfar.com
• • Apple WWDC? Nathan F. Yospe
  • • Apple WWDC? Amanda Walker
    • • Apple WWDC? Sasha Hart
      • • Apple WWDC? amanda@alfar.com
        • • Apple WWDC? Brian Hook
          • Apple WWDC? John A. Bertoglio
          • • Apple WWDC? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
            • Apple WWDC? Matt Mihaly
            • • Apple WWDC? shren
              • • Apple WWDC? Matt Mihaly
              • Apple WWDC? John A. Bertoglio
            • Apple WWDC? James Edward Gray II
        • Apple WWDC? Brian Hook
• Encouraging groups without grouping Brian 'Psychochild' Green
• Introduction and My solution to Powergamers, Treadmills, and Content Devaluation. Ken Raisor
• • Introduction and My solution to Powergamers, Treadmills, and Content Devaluation. shren
  • Introduction and My solution to Powergamers, Treadmills, and Content Devaluation. Gladimir
  • Introduction and My solution to Powergamers, Treadmills, and Content Devaluation. szii@sziisoft.com
• The audience is the medium. For now. John Szeder
• • The audience is the medium. For now. John Buehler
  • • The audience is the medium. For now. Damion Schubert
    • • The audience is the medium. For now. Ted L. Chen
      • • The audience is the medium. For now. Shane Gough
        • The audience is the medium. For now. Michael Tresca
        • • The audience is the medium. For now. Ted L. Chen
          • • The audience is the medium. For now. Marian Griffith
            • The audience is the medium. For now. Vincent Archer
  • The audience is the medium. For now. Damion Schubert
  • The audience is the medium. For now. David B. Held
  • The audience is the medium. For now. Ted L. Chen
  • The audience is the medium. For now. Marian Griffith
  • The audience is the medium. For now. F. Randall Farmer
  • • The audience is the medium. For now. J C Lawrence
  • The audience is the medium. For now. Frank Crowell
• Ownership of characters Jasper McChesney
• Explorers? (Was: Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies) Brian 'Psychochild' Green
• • Explorers? (Was: Codename Blue & Facets - Nick Yee's new studies) Matt Mihaly
• Befriending Critters (was: Random Resets) Arthaey
• • Befriending Critters (was: Random Resets) Rayzam
  • Befriending Critters (was: Random Resets) shren
• Questions about server design Ben Chambers
• • Questions about server design Michael Bayne
  • Questions about server design Sean Middleditch
  • Questions about server design Mike Shaver
  • Questions about server design Kwon Ekstrom
  • Questions about server design szii@sziisoft.com
  • Questions about server design F. Randall Farmer
  • • Questions about server design James Edward Gray II
  • Questions about server design Shane Gough
• Extensibility Ben Chambers
• • Extensibility Ammon Lauritzen
  • Extensibility Kwon Ekstrom
  • Extensibility Ben Chambers
  • • Extensibility "Christopher {siege} " OBrien
  • Extensibility Sean Middleditch
  • Extensibility Sean Kelly
  • • Extensibility John Buehler
    • • Extensibility shren
      • • Extensibility John Buehler
    • Extensibility szii@sziisoft.com
    • • Extensibility John Buehler
      • • Extensibility szii@sziisoft.com
  • Extensibility Mike Shaver
• Question: Any published research on Sims type game personae? susan wu
• • Question: Any published research on Sims type game personae? Robert Zubek
• [MLP] Why care about levels? (was: The use of ecolo Richard Woolcock
• [MLP] Why care about levels? (was: The use of ecolo gy models) Jon Lambert
• Component Design (was: Extensibility) Scion Altera
• [BIZ] Selling Stock (formerly Blacksnow revisted ) Robert A. Rice, Jr.
• Games are Hot. Period Michael Tresca
• • Games are Hot. Period Gladimir
  • • Games are Hot. Period Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
    • • Games are Hot. Period Freeman, Jeff
      • • Games are Hot. Period Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
      • Games are Hot. Period Koster, Raph
      • • Games are Hot. Period Vincent Archer
        • Games are Hot. Period Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
  • Games are Hot. Period Matt Mihaly
• fun Matt Mihaly
• [TECH] Shortest Path William Murdick
• [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
• • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction John Buehler
  • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
    • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction John Buehler
  • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
  • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Eli Stevens
    • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Jon Leonard
      • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
      • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction Robert Zubek
      • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction ceo@grexengine.com
  • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
  • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
    • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction Koster, Raph
      • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction lynx@lynx.purrsia.com
        • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
  • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Rudy Neeser
  • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
  • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Matt Mihaly
  • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
    • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction John Buehler
      • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Ted L. Chen
        • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction John Buehler
        • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction Mike Shaver
        • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction John Buehler
          • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Reconstruction amanda@alfar.com
        • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction Koster, Raph
        • • [TECH] Voice in MO* - Phoneme Decomposition and Rec onstruction Steve {Bloo} Daniels
• Combat with Style (was Player Accounts on a Non-Commercial MUD) lynx@lynx.purrsia.com
• Playskins Koster, Raph
• People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
• • People were talking about resets.. Sasha Hart
  • • People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
  • People were talking about resets.. John Buehler
  • People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
  • People were talking about resets.. Arnau Rossell=?US-ASCII?Q?=F3?= Castell=?US-ASCII?Q?=F3?=
  • • People were talking about resets.. shren
    • People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
    • • People were talking about resets.. David B. Held
  • People were talking about resets.. shren
  • • People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
    • • People were talking about resets.. Michael Tresca
      • • People were talking about resets.. Fred Clift
        • • People were talking about resets.. Lars Duening
          • People were talking about resets.. Michael Tresca
          • • People were talking about resets.. Rayzam
            • • People were talking about resets.. Matt Mihaly
  • People were talking about resets.. Tand'a-ur
  • • People were talking about resets.. John Buehler
    • People were talking about resets.. Leland Hulbert II
  • People were talking about resets.. lynx@lynx.purrsia.com
  • People were talking about resets.. Jason Murdick
  • • People were talking about resets.. Jeff Lindsey
    • People were talking about resets.. Ben Chambers
  • People were talking about resets.. Sasha Hart
  • • People were talking about resets.. David B. Held
    • • People were talking about resets.. Sasha Hart
      • • People were talking about resets.. Anderson, David
        • People were talking about resets.. David B. Held
        • • People were talking about resets.. Acius
          • • People were talking about resets.. Marian Griffith
• Question about copyovers. Anderson, David
• • Question about copyovers. Tand'a-ur
  • • Question about copyovers. Anderson, David
    • • Question about copyovers. Kwon Ekstrom
      • • Question about copyovers. Adam
        • Question about copyovers. Oliver Jowett
        • • Question about copyovers. Kwon Ekstrom
          • • Question about copyovers. Adam
      • Question about copyovers. Lars Duening
  • Question about copyovers. Jon Lambert
  • Question about copyovers. fred@clift.org
  • • Question about copyovers. Zach Collins {Siege}
  • Question about copyovers. Smith, David {Lynchburg}
• non-violent activities (was People were talking about resets..) Ammon Lauritzen
• References on personality and emotion models Robert Zubek
• Multimodal interface conference. Rayzam
• Hyperbolies R Us shren
• • Hyperbolies R Us Matt Mihaly
• TECH: Systems Administration Issues Thomas Leavitt
• Questions about ... XML as data format Adam
• • Questions about ... XML as data format Anderson, David
  • Questions about ... XML as data format Kwon Ekstrom
  • • Questions about ... XML as data format Adam
• R&D Matt Mihaly
• • R&D Dave Rickey
  • • R&D apollyon
    • • R&D shren
    • R&D Zach Collins {Siege}
    • • R&D Sean Kelly
      • • R&D Matt Mihaly
        • • R&D Sean Kelly
        • R&D Derek Licciardi
        • R&D Brian Bilek
        • • R&D Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
          • • R&D Brian Bilek
            • • R&D Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
              • • R&D Brian Bilek
          • R&D Damion Schubert
          • R&D Matt Mihaly
          • • R&D Brian Bilek
              Matt Mihaly wrote:
              > On Mon, 3 Jun 2002, Brian Bilek wrote:
              
              >> Why aren't more of the business executives in the industry more
              >> knowledgeable, passionate, or otherwise have a better
              >> understanding of games and gaming in general? Is it that hard to
              >> find someone with a business background who likes games?
              
              > Well, why aren't hard-core gamers in the industry more
              > knowledgeable, passionate, or otherwise have a better
              > ounderstanding of the business of games, and business in general?
              
              Because they are the customers. They buy what they want to, and
              while that knowledge or understanding might affect product choice,
              it isn't a requirement. I would argue that for the provider of a
              product or service, the reverse is necessary (though perhaps
              "passion" was misplaced here)...more thoughts below.
              
              > (Actually, maybe they do, I really don't know. Just making a
              > point.)
              
              (me too ;)
              
              > Games are a product/service developed through certain processes,
              > and I don't really see why directing the business behind them
              > necessarily requires a passion for games. A passion for the
              > business of games, definitely.
              
              Fair enough, point made - the executive in charge of a game company
              needs no passion for the games themselves. However, I think the
              point is still salient - if we make an assumption (granted, a rather
              large one) that the gentleman who originally stated that gaming
              executives and marketing types lack an understanding of games and
              gamers was correct in a general sense, does that not hurt their
              ability to bring successful products to market? I would think that
              the successful marketing manager or product manager has an in-depth
              understanding of their products and customers.
              
              The strategic direction of business has to involve a core
              understanding of the market - if the executives and the marketers
              only understand revenue streams, expenses, and so on...in other
              words, are solely focused on the financial aspect of the business, I
              would argue that the business will not be truly successful.
              
              I should have separated passion from understanding above, please
              forgive my miscommunication.
              
              > To make it easier to think about, consider a marketing
              > executing. Why does he need to be passionate about games? It might
              > help, but it may also cloud his judgement by letting an emotional
              > attachment to the game get in the way of marketing it shamelessly.
              
              > In the end, games are a product or service with certain costs,
              > risks, processes, potential, and so on, and from that perspective,
              > isn't fundamentally different from running other businesses.
              
              Absolutely not, I agree. See above - I apologize for mixing my
              thoughts together. It must have been from a lack of sleep :)
              
              Here is the perception I have from my friends who work in the
              industry: Often found in game companies, especially regarding
              publishing houses that rely on outside developers, marketers and
              business executives lack a true understanding of the product
              concepts, and the customers they are selling to. Business
              decisions, from their point of view (granted, limited), seem to be
              made solely based on the financials involved, without the
              understanding of the product which would grant them true insight
              into how the financial decisions affect the product and product
              teams, in turn affecting the long-term financial viability of said
              product.
              
              On the other hand, another perception that I have is that the
              industry, from the developer level at least, is extremely closed to
              new blood (so to speak). Outsiders are not welcome, and previous
              game launch experience is necessary for one's resume not to meet an
              untimely demise.
              
              So, I have observed, based on assumptions yes, what I think is an
              interesting dichotomy: It seems like at the 'business' level, there
              is a lack of product understanding. This is somewhat different that
              a normal consumer product, given the complexity and the fact that
              they are an entertainment product (and in the case of online games,
              services). Games aren't your standard off-the-shelf business
              applications. So from my point of view, it would help immensely if
              the business people had a deep understanding of the products and the
              consumers, in order to make strategic decisions that ensure the
              long-term viability, and success, of the business.
              
              But at the 'game development' level, the company seems to be
              extremely closed to outside influence. Due to the way most game
              companies seem to hire, business experience means little here. For
              someone looking to make an 'in' into the industry, that person would
              need to demonstrate a passion for games and some skill that is
              useful at an entry level, since that is the only type of job
              available to an 'outsider,' so to speak. When hiring, game
              companies seem to look for previous experience on successful game
              launches above all else, and someone's education or experience
              outside of the industry means practically nothing at all.
              
              So, the perception I have is of an industry where the business types
              know little about games, and those working on the games know little
              about business. Isn't this, in general, bad for the business and
              for games?
              
              If this perception is incorrect, I would enjoy having it shattered.
              
              >> Perhaps a related question: With how incestuous the games
              >> industry is, is it any wonder that the same mistakes are
              >> continually made with respect to some of the practices mentioned
              >> earlier in the thread?
              
              > I'm not saying this is the case, but your comment suggests that
              > the problem is maybe TOO many executives-from-the-gamers-ranks.
              
              Again, I wasn't separating my thoughts properly. My comments are
              meant to suggest that based on my (probably flawed) perception of
              the gaming industry as an outsider, that there are too many
              executives who don't have a real understanding of their products,
              and perhaps a lack of extensive business experience on the part of
              developers and the management of development.
              
              Your thoughts?
              
              Cheers,
              
              -Brian
            • • R&D amanda@alfar.com
              • • R&D Brian Bilek
                • • R&D Koster, Raph
                  • • R&D Ron Gabbard
                    • R&D Amanda Walker
                    • R&D Frank Crowell
              • R&D Dave Rickey
              • • R&D Brian Bilek
              • R&D Matt Mihaly
              • • R&D Dave Rickey
            • R&D Richard Aihoshi aka Jonric
    • R&D Jessica Mulligan
    • R&D Damion Schubert
• Conversation logs? Robert Zubek
• • Conversation logs? Rudy Fink
  • • Conversation logs? Vincent Archer
  • Conversation logs? Shane Gough
• DGN: Elastic Advancement in MUDs? Jeff Lindsey
• • DGN: Elastic Advancement in MUDs? David B. Held
• Building histories off civilizations automatically adam Martin
• ADMIN: Virii and mail forgeries J C Lawrence
• Hi from the Dragon Empire's CLM Peter Tyson
• Linux gaming ( was Apple WWDC? ) Kevin Mack
• [TECH] Preferred LPC replacement? Jeff Bachtel
• • [TECH] Preferred LPC replacement? Damion Schubert
• Who `owns' conversation logs? Joshua Judson Rosen
• The Online Gaming Life for Me! Michael Tresca
• Boredom Ben Chambers
• • Boredom Michael Tresca
  • Boredom Matt Chatterley
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility [was Boredom] Ron Gabbard
• • Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility [was Boredom] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
• "MMOG" Bible Brian 'Psychochild' Green
• • "MMOG" Bible David Kennerly
• TECH: Single process v.s. multi process? Philip Mak
• • TECH: Single process v.s. multi process? Smith, David {Lynchburg}
  • TECH: Single process v.s. multi process? Bruce Mitchener
  • • TECH: Single process v.s. multi process? Bruce Mitchener
• In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Clay
• • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] apollyon
  • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Caliban Tiresias Darklock
  • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishi ng Marginal Utility] Koster, Raph
  • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Jeff Cole
    • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Damion Schubert
    • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] John Buehler
    • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] amanda@alfar.com
      • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] John Buehler
  • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Michael Tresca
  • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Paul Schwanz
    • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Martin C. Martin
    • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Dave Rickey
      • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Vincent Archer
      • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Sanvean
      • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Matt Mihaly
      • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] F. Randall Farmer
        • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Matt Mihaly
      • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Michael Tresca
  • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Kwon Ekstrom
  • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Marian Griffith
    • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Yannick Jean
      • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Marian Griffith
  • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Ron Gabbard
  • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Sean Kelly
    • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Ron Gabbard
      • • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Sean Kelly
        • In defense of "soloability" [was Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility] Matt Mihaly
• Game shows Peter Tyson
• What keeps people interested in social muds? Martin C. Martin
• • What keeps people interested in social muds? Rudy Fink
  • • What keeps people interested in social muds? Martin C. Martin
    • • What keeps people interested in social muds? Joshua Judson Rosen
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? Ron Gabbard
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? Marc Bowden
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? Joshua Judson Rosen
  • • What keeps people interested in social muds? Matt Owen
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? lynx@lynx.purrsia.com
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? Richard A. Bartle
  • • What keeps people interested in social muds? Martin C. Martin
  • What keeps people interested in social muds? Richard A. Bartle
• New Beginings Drylar Levre
• • New Beginings Acius
  • New Beginings ceo@grexengine.com
  • • New Beginings Bruce Mitchener
    • New Beginings David B. Held
    • • New Beginings Kwon Ekstrom
      • • New Beginings David B. Held
        • • New Beginings Kwon Ekstrom
          • New Beginings Sean Kelly
      • New Beginings Lars Duening
      • • New Beginings David B. Held
        • • New Beginings Lars Duening
      • New Beginings Bruce Mitchener
      • • New Beginings David B. Held
        • • New Beginings Kwon Ekstrom
          • New Beginings Paul Schwanz
          • • New Beginings Zach Collins {Siege}
          • New Beginings Miroslav Silovic
        • New Beginings David B. Held
  • New Beginings Draymoor a Vin il'Rogina
  • New Beginings David B. Held
  • • New Beginings Kwon Ekstrom
    • New Beginings Bruce Mitchener
• [DGN] Creating a MUD Richard Krush
• • [DGN] Creating a MUD Acius
  • [DGN] Creating a MUD Caliban Tiresias Darklock
  • • [DGN] Creating a MUD Edward Glowacki
    • • [DGN] Creating a MUD Kwon Ekstrom
  • [DGN] Creating a MUD Edward Glowacki
  • • [DGN] Creating a MUD Fred Clift
    • • [DGN] Creating a MUD David Bennett
      • • [DGN] Creating a MUD fred@clift.org
  • [DGN] Creating a MUD Damion Schubert
  • • [DGN] Creating a MUD Taylor
  • [DGN] Creating a MUD Matt Mihaly
  • • [DGN] Creating a MUD Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
• On the creation of constructive/social behaviours in online games! Marc Demesel
• [DGN] MUD Books James Edward Gray II
• • [DGN] MUD Books Scion Altera
  • [DGN] MUD Books Jeremy Noetzelman
  • [DGN] MUD Books Tand'a-ur
• Positive reinforcement for socializing [was In de fense of "soloability" ] Jeff Lindsey
• Character skill distribution and trade-offs Ron Gabbard
• • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
  • • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Vincent Archer
    • • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
    • Character skill distribution and trade-offs John Buehler
    • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Sean Kelly
    • • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Ron Gabbard
      • • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Travis Casey
        • Character skill distribution and trade-offs Rayzam
• Space partitioning, R-Trees? Dread Quixadhal
• • Space partitioning, R-Trees? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
  • • Space partitioning, R-Trees? Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
  • Space partitioning, R-Trees? Crosbie Fitch