"The Next Big Thing" (was RE: [MUD-Dev2] [DESIGN} Who to design for?)

[Peter Keeler]

Sean Howard wrote:

> Here, I'll tell you what a Next Big Thing is going to be. Procedurally
> generated content. And I'm not talking Spore. I'm talking about the
> ability to type "build random scifi rpg" and it does. Because if we can
> design a way to define patterns and their relationship to each other, it
> will completely change how we view design. It's already happened with A
> Timeless Way of Building / A Pattern Language, but it didn't go far
> enough. By the time we can randomly generate a game from start to finish,
> EVERYTHING about design will change for EVERYBODY. That's going to come
> from gaming, and it's going to change the world.

I'd just like to point out that it's not only about having a solution.
It's also about being the right person in the right place at the right
time, with the right resources. Give me a talented team, a sizeable
budget, and a few years to work and I'll give you a world-changing
procedurally generated game. I've got plenty of ideas. Unfortunately I
don't have a resume that says I'm the one to do it, I'm not best buddies
with any angel investors, and I don't work in the game industry. I've
just been doing it as a hobby since I was in high school. So, chances
are it's not going to be me either, because I can't afford to quit my
job and make a game.

I suppose my real point is that the disruptive technology (procedural
games or some other NBT) may not come from within the industry. It's
just as likely to be from some other source. Maybe some other field
entirely (architecture?). That seems to be the nature of disruptive
technologies.

So, if anybody has a game company and is out of ideas, feel free to
contact me off the list. Heh. ;) 

   Pete