Re: PBEM websites

From: Paul Walker <usenet@blacksun.org.uk>

Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:19:12 +0000

On 3 Apr 2006 01:24:06 -0700, PBeMPortal wrote:

> Actually the reason I set up PBeM Portal was *because* I am a GM of two
> successful PBeMs (a Dune PBeM over at
> http://www.dunepbem.tapirdesigns.co.uk, and a Trek PBeM over at
> http://www.trekpbem.tapirdesigns.co.uk --> might as well plug them while I
> write this lol).

Why not? :) But why stop at two?

> As a GM I found that once PBEM.com had gone down, it was much much more
> difficult to advertise to find players to fill vacancies in either
> game. Took me months to stumble on the idea (weird considering how
> simple it was), but I suddenly realised that the more announcement

My memory isn't what it was, but I don't remember you advertising them
particularly in this newgroup.

> sites there are the better:
> i) greater exposure for games and therefore GMs can get players more
> easily;
> ii) greater ability for players to find a game they're looking to play;
> iii) greater choice for players once they've found games.

No, I would have to disagree with you there. It's possible that two sites
might be useful, though to be honest most of the sites outside of Greg's
that I've seen have been focused on RPGs. There's really not enough room for
(as an example) 4 sites focused on a specific game type. Even if they were
all general, that's four sites that a user has to go to in order to find all
the games.

My thinking is that PBM is not a big hobby as it is; we're in danger of
shrinking beyond the viable point. It's surely better for people to put
aside differences and concentrate on making a good *centre* for people to
come and look for PBEM games, and for newbies to be directed to in the
fairly likely hope of finding what they want.

Flagship is very good, and fills that niche for those of us already in the
hobby. For others, however - and particularly those who've known nothing
other than the instant gratification of the web - a website is needed. Greg
Lindahl and I have had our differences in the past, but his PBM list serves
the job, does it well, and has done for some time. Most of the game
announcements that I see are still from his site.

With the understanding that a couple of sites can probably complement each
other, I still do not see the need for three or four sites competing. I
don't think I'll ever believe that's healthy for the hobby in the state that
it's currently in.

Please understand there's no hostility in this, I just want to see PB[e]M
survive. The nature of programmers and designers is to try and create
somethign new, and sometimes that needs to be tempered with reality.

--
Paul

Documentation: Cryptic, lacking, erroneous.  Pick any three.
              -- Arvid

References

Re: PBEM websites
"PBeMPortal" <pbem@tapirdesigns.co.uk>
Mon, 03 Apr 2006 08:24:06 +0000
Re: PBEM websites
Geoste <geoste@ATsympatico.DOTca.nospam.invalid>
Mon, 03 Apr 2006 02:31:51 +0000

Referenced By

Re: PBEM websites
"PBeMPortal" <pbem@tapirdesigns.co.uk>
Mon, 03 Apr 2006 08:24:06 +0000
Re: PBEM websites
Geoste <geoste@ATsympatico.DOTca.nospam.invalid>
Mon, 03 Apr 2006 02:31:51 +0000