[MUD-Dev] Re: WIRED: Kilers have more fun

[Robert Woods]

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.

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.
 
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I'm not insane, I'm just irrational.

-Bob