[MUD-DEV] a shrinking pool of players?

[Chris Turner]

On Wed, 16 Feb 2000, Koster, Raph wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ryan P. [mailto:ixiterra at earthlink.net]

[Snip]

> >  Text muds are one step 
> > between AD&D
> > and video games. EQ/UO are video games, plain and simple.
> 
> Fighting words, my friend. I'll leave it to other posters to decide whether
> or not UO, for example (but I could just as easily pick one of the others)
> is a more simplistic mud than your average (or even moderately customized)
> text mud.

It's not really a case of being more simplistic, it's the fact that video
games are incredible accessable to the average person.  They're in shops,
they're reviewed in magazines and on the TV.  It's very easy to stumble
across a game you've never heard of.

Where as text (or rather free) muds, on the other hand, suffer from a lack
of exposure.  To find out that they exist, you have to first get onto the
'net and find them or know someone else that has found them.  Very catch 22.  

> Now, if they are capable of being played that way in order to attract more
> people... does that make them less a mud? Well, no. It arguably makes them a
> better mud (for that specific purpose).

True.  It'd be interesting to see just how popular a free mud could get with
the kind of advertising & exposure of UO though.

Chris
--
christ at rd.bbc.co.uk   #include <stddisclaimer.h>   http://www.fysh.org/~maddy

   "So this is really me? A no-style gimbo with teeth druids could use as a
       place of worship" - Duaine Dibley (Red Dwarf - "Back to Reality")




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