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<H1>[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: [MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun </LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: "Jon A. Lambert" <<A HREF="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 01:19:33 -5</LI>
<LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
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<PRE>
On 5 Aug 98, Robert Woods wrote:
> On Wed, 5 Aug 1998, Jon A. Lambert wrote:
>
> > I would suggest that most all games place a value on certain actions.
> > Such valuations may or may not coincide with the valuations placed
> > on comparable actions in the real world. Yes, I said most. Even in
> > mud games where most all of the rules regarding RL morals, civility
> > and ethics are suspended, there are usually some rules which are
> > enforced merely to hold players. I don't know many free-for-all
> > games that hold players for long if it is well known that admins and
> > their personal friends roam about with invincible characters randomly
> > killing anyone who logs in. Game players will always bring a very
> > basic (e)valuation to any game. If the game is fixed and/or known to
> > be unwinnable and without enjoyment it is not a desirable game to
> > play. It may not even qualify as a game at all. Sort of like
> > "Calvin-ball", if anyone gets the reference. ;)
>
> I'm not sure that Calvinball is a good analogy. After all, for Calvin,
> Hobbes, and even the babysitter on one occasion, Calvinball is a great
> game. Even though the rules are subject to change at whim (which,
> incidentally, I was on the staff of a MUD like that), the point of
> the game is to waste time being silly. A better example to me would be a
> blackjack/poker game where the deck is marked and the dealer is a known
> cheater.
Your probably right. My notion of Calvinball was that he was
essentially playing the game alone, since Hobbes was just an
imaginary friend to play with. I would imagine that some less mature
admins view players in a similar light. Like toy tigers that often
talk and fight back. Ultimately Calvin directed and manipulated
Hobbes into situations for Calvin's personal entertainment.
I must have missed the ones with the babysitter.
Loved that strip :)
> But, I agree totally with you that there are many rules that are there
> simply to keep players from giving up and leaving. I have noticed also
> that the smaller MUDs tend to have more of these rules, where the larger,
> more established MUDs tend to be a lot more relaxed about it. There are
> probably exceptions on both ends of the spectrum, but most that I have
> experienced have been like that.
Hmm, you might have something here with your observations on rules
to scale. 5 players threatening to leave because of a "perceived"
injustice or unfairness on a 100-300 player game may be less
significant than on a 20-40 player game. Could it be that muds with
smaller populations engage in more player appeasement which
translates into more game rules?
--
--/*\ Jon A. Lambert - TychoMUD Internet:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com /*\--
--/*\ Mud Server Developer's Page <<A HREF="http://www.netcom.com/~jlsysinc">http://www.netcom.com/~jlsysinc</A>> /*\--
--/*\ "Everything that deceives may be said to enchant" - Plato /*\--
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<LI><STRONG><A NAME="00484" HREF="msg00484.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></STRONG>
<UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> "Jon A. Lambert" <jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com></LI></UL></LI>
<LI><STRONG><A NAME="00486" HREF="msg00486.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></STRONG>
<UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> Robert Woods <rwoods#nebula,honors.unr.edu></LI></UL></LI>
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
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<LI><strong><A NAME="00320" HREF="msg00320.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Marian Griffith <a href="mailto:gryphon#iaehv,nl">gryphon#iaehv,nl</a>, Thu 23 Jul 1998, 20:23 GMT
</LI>
</ul>
</ul>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00466" HREF="msg00466.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Mon 03 Aug 1998, 20:55 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00484" HREF="msg00484.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Wed 05 Aug 1998, 07:38 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00486" HREF="msg00486.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Robert Woods <a href="mailto:rwoods#nebula,honors.unr.edu">rwoods#nebula,honors.unr.edu</a>, Wed 05 Aug 1998, 08:49 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00554" HREF="msg00554.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Sat 08 Aug 1998, 05:22 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00487" HREF="msg00487.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
s001gmu <a href="mailto:s001gmu#nova,wright.edu">s001gmu#nova,wright.edu</a>, Wed 05 Aug 1998, 13:28 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00553" HREF="msg00553.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Sat 08 Aug 1998, 05:22 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</ul>
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</ul>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00035" HREF="msg00035.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
Koster, Raph <a href="mailto:rkoster#origin,ea.com">rkoster#origin,ea.com</a>, Thu 02 Jul 1998, 19:46 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00278" HREF="msg00278.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun</A></strong>,
J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Tue 21 Jul 1998, 18:02 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
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