Solaria - WEB based pbem comments From: flemyng@cse.ucsc.edu (E.P. Flemyng) Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000 I recently joined the on-line game _Eath_2025_ by Solaria Interactive. I am curious about other players' comments and thoughts on the game. Both my partner and I are playing, and while we enjoy the game, we're curious about some things. First, there's the problem of connectivity. I understand that the designers didn't intend for such a large player population joining so fast, and it is often (frustrating) difficult to even log in. Once in, it is common for your connection to be refused in mid-turn because of demand. Obviously, for a free game, this is a problem to be endured. While the play is straightforward and understandable, the game suffers from the normal or common situation of military prowess and nothing but military prowess. There's no option really besides an ongoing arm's race, building armaments, attacking other players, building more armaments, etc. Since the game is supposed to be set in the near future, a future of imperial rebuilding, this is somewhat understandable, but leads to predictable and monotonous play. I doubt either my partner or I will stay with the game much more than a few a more weeks. How do you build a game that appeals to male and female players of all ages, allows new players a chance to survive, is simple to run, yet provides multiple options or pathways to fame and success? International trade, aerospace research and development, resource management, domestic policies, realistic relationships between resources and output...all of these would make the game much more appealing, challenging and interesting. I don't know. Any one else out there playing the game who wants to comment on my comments? I realize I "typoed" up at the top. The game is titled _Earth_2025_. Ciao, EPFlemyng Up