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[MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP
On Wed, 31 Dec 1997, Travis Casey wrote:
> Jon A. Lambert <jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com> wrote:
> >On 29 Dec 97 at 13:39, JC Lawrence wrote:
>
> >> Something that just struck me is that all the commercial
> >> representatives we have on the list seem to espouse their games as
> >> being RP games, and discuss their values in terms of the RP values
> >> generated by their games.
> >>
> >> Is this valid in a commercial sense? What are its origins?
> [much cut]
>
> > I do believe Ola hit on this directly or around the edges. :)
> > If you can pick up a sword, cast a spell or fire a phaser, the game will
> > likely be marketed as a role-playing game in a commercial sense.
>
[ snip ]
>
> Now, a personal opinion:
>
> I believe that any well-designed, realistic mud will make a good
> environment for roleplaying. To explain why, let me first give my
> definition of roleplaying:
>
> Making decisions about how your character will act based on the
> character's personality, rather than on such bases as what will give
> the most advantage in the game or what must be done to win the game.
>
> Well-designed muds can be played in this way as a consequence of the
> fact that they are multi-player games. Since they are multi-player
> games, there must be multiple activities available for characters;
> multiple goals to choose from, if you will. This means that players
> can choose which goal(s) they want their character to pursue --
> which further implies that that choice can be made on the basis of
> the character's personality.
>
> This stands in contrast to single-user RPGs; most of these have only
> one overall goal for the game. If a player decides that his/her
> character would not want to accomplish that goal, there's nothing else
> to do in the game but waste time.
>
Not to repeat JCL's point, but using Travis's opinion of
what "role-playing" is, is "that" a viable comercial pursuit? The
comercial RPG games atm, seem to have the ability for "role-playing" but
in a competitive game, where possibly the players are paying by usage, or
advancing through time spent, are they going to be willing to put forth
the extra effort to "role-play" and/or is/will the game reward the players
for role-playing? Basically, if the game can be played without
role-playing, how will you get the people to role-play. Also, if not
everyone is willing to role-play, how do you keep the ones that don't from
detracting from other peoples ability to role-play within the environment?
In approach to some of those questions, I agree that first off, a
realistic and well designed, interactive world/environment is a must,
either that or a very flexible world structure like some of the Mush/muse
etc bases.
Brandon L. Cline | Imagination is more important than knowledge.
brandon#sedona,net | -- Albert Einstein
- Thread context:
- Re: [MUD-Dev] Time travel and Logging, (continued)
- [MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP,
Brandon Cline brandon#sedona,net, Mon 05 Jan 1998, 09:41 GMT
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: [MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP,
Mike Sellers mike#online-alchemy,com, Tue 06 Jan 1998, 20:16 GMT
- Re: [MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP,
Travis Casey efindel#polaris,net, Fri 09 Jan 1998, 05:46 GMT
- Re: [MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP,
Travis Casey efindel#polaris,net, Fri 09 Jan 1998, 06:04 GMT
- RE: [MUD-Dev] Commercial value of RP,
Koster, Raph rkoster#origin,ea.com, Fri 09 Jan 1998, 15:33 GMT
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