[MUD-Dev] Quote from a Simutronics developer

[Raph Koster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mud-dev-admin at kanga.nu [mailto:mud-dev-admin at kanga.nu]On Behalf Of
> Ananda Dawnsinger
> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 2:26 AM
> To: mud-dev at kanga.nu
> Subject: Re: [MUD-Dev] Quote from a Simutronics developer
>
> I agree with Jhyrryl's quote whole-heartedly.

Interesting. I disagree with it quite a lot. I don't think these things
(muds) are just games, I think they are forms of entertainment first, and
that therefore they should be approached designwise as being forms of
entertainment first and games second. This doesn't mean that the game aspect
may not take primacy in the design, but it does mean that you are proceeding
from a different premise: a form of entertainment that happens to be almost
all game, or a game in which other forms of entertainment may be optional.
That's why we can also make MUSHes, which are not games, with a 99% overlap
in functionality with a GoP mud.

When he says, "We're building a game" I go, no, you're building a mud. And
muds are more than just games.

Jhyrrl also says

> Since we're building a game and want to meet that goal and thereby succeed
> and ensure the continued life of this company, it is important not to
expend
> resources on incorporating unnecessary levels of entertainment into the
game
> which are not game-related.

This strikes me as interesting given that most games are finite, and most
forms of entertainment are not, which makes entertainment a better business
bet. Or perhaps we should call it "play" to bring up my favorite Bettelheim
terminology again. :)

-Raph





_______________________________________________
MUD-Dev mailing list
MUD-Dev at kanga.nu
http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev