[MUD-Dev2] [DESIGN] Interactive fiction equation

[Johnicholas Hines]

On 1/9/07, Mike Rozak <Mike at mxac.com.au> wrote:
> I've gone all theoretical again. You might find this writeup interesting if (a) you're into theory, and (b) you're interested in the tradeoff between story and choice. It mostly ignores the effects of other players though.

I like theory and equations a lot - my degree is in math. However, I
just don't buy this "freedom of choice equates to fun" thing. I'm all
for freedom of choice in the real world, but that's not because I
think it is pleasurable.

Tetris is a fun game. There are not that many good moves, and the
long-term effects of a choice of one good move over another are not
large. Dance Dance Revolution has even fewer choices and it is still
fun. Progress Quest is a lot more fun than it ought to be. The
sensation of becoming more skillful is completely ignored in your
tradeoffs.

Johnicholas