The game's players (Was: Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start)

From: markiel@callisto.pas.rochester.edu (Andrew Markiel)

Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1993 07:08:30 +0000

In article <199307061948.AA19276@orion.lnec.pt> bc@lnec.pt (Luis Miguel Sequeira) writes:
>
>If the game is for people averaging an IQ above 150, well, it's not
>really my type of game.
>
Bing bing bing! We have a winner!

This is a critical point: different people like different things. Some
people like really complex, mathematical games that require writing
computer programs to analyze their turnsheets, while other people
much prefer games with simple rules. Some people like role-playing
games, and some like raw analytical games.

The simple answer is, if you don't like the game system, then don't
play the game: because obviously the game was not designed for your
tastes. There's plenty of room in the world for all of us, and
enough games that we can all find something we like. As long as
the designer is kind enough to point out what he expects from his
players, then everyone will be happy.

The point that I want to make is related to the quoted line, "If
the game is for..." This is a question of design, not of presentation.
If the game is designed for people with average IQ over 150, then
you can't just sweep that under the rug by not telling people
certain things. The assumptions the designer makes about his
players are built into the design, and if the design is any good
then people who satify those assumptions will enjoy the game, and
people who don't satify those assumptions won't. However, you
can't change a game into something it is not merely by presenting
the game in a different way.

This is why I think it is fallacious to argue for hiding formulas
because people are unable or unwilling to use them. If performing
mathematical calculations is important in a game, then eventually
someone will gather enough information to do calculations which
will give that person a significant advantage over others. If you
want to avoid mathematical calculations, the proper thing to do
is not hide the formulas, but design the game so that knowing the
formulas and doing the calculations gives no significant advantage.
If you want to avoid extensive calculations, but such calculations
are very useful in your game system, then the game is simply
designed poorly. Whether you choose to reveal or hide formulas
will not change this.

I'll consider the minimaxing problem in my next post.

>	Luis Sequeira, a role-playing play-by-mailer,  and  definitely
>_NOT_ a strategist/economicist type... :-)

-Andrew
markiel@callisto.pas.rochester.edu

References

Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
bc@lnec.pt (Luis Miguel Sequeira)
Tue, 06 Jul 1993 17:50:02 +0000