[MUD-Dev] Online Gamers become enemies in the Real World

[Peter Tyson]

From: Rayzam [mailto:rayzam at travellingbard.com]

>   The article is about the grief play in the Sims Online, the Sims
>   Mafia. <snip>

My girlfriend is a Sims fan and this is exactly why she never wants
to play Sims Online. It seems what she liked about the Sims is that
she has total control over the world and everyone in it. Watching me
play the Sims beta a bit she saw I didn't have total control,
especially over the actions of other players (obviously) and for
this reason wasn't interested. I think this is why Sims Online
hasn't managed to do quite as well as we expected and may represent
a barrier to mass appeal gaming that we never manage to cross.

I also think it's interesting that in a game with no PvP, players
find ways of exploring and engaging in conflict with and against one
another. I think the message is clear for MMORPG developers: Include
some means of organised conflict between players or your players
will find other means you may not have much control over to engage
in conflict.

Peter Tyson
Community Liaison Manager
Dragon Empires - http://www.dragonempires.com
Codemasters
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