Re: i don't understand

From: nicholso@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Melvin H. Nicholson YBH)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 23:12:47 +0000

In article <1992Oct15.192143.14095@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> jblonon@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Jason B Lonon) writes:
>
>I'm sure I am missing the point.. but my question is why go to all this
>trouble for a PBM game through internet, when there are literally 100's
>of MUDS scattered throughout the net. I mean a MUD is free, and its
>quicker than PBM (its real time folks)
>I can understand how the fun might be in creating the game, but if thats the
>case create your own MUD.. I did.
>
Yup.  You're missing the point.  The real time aspect of MUDS is their
strength, but it is also a very big weakness.  Many players would much
prefer to have a game where participation is incremental --- where they
have much time to consider each move, and the flexibility not to have
to submit their moves at the exact same time.  Also, many don't want to
put forth the QUANTITY of time that goes into MUDing.

Another thing many PBeM'ers feel is: MUDS are boring.  My feeling with
MUDS is: if you've seen one, you've seen them all.  The format is mostly
static hack and slash, with occasional variations where you need to hack
and slash something in particular, or move some object from X to Y.  I
went through a breif phase where I played MUDs, then got bored and moved
on --- it's all a matter of taste.

I have yet to see a MUD that let's you be a sports mogul, or one which
lets you control large scale combat above the individual level with any
detail ("kill snake; bash snake; kick snake" isn't what I mean), or one
which allows you to make a real economic competition (other than a brute
force race to plunder treasure).

The reason that these games are worth the trouble even though MUDS exist
is that they are different from MUDs, and come complete with their own
set of appeals that MUDs don't satisfy.  I hope this does not sound too
harsh toward the MUDs, but the tendency to really believe FASTER IS
BETTER a bit too seriously is a vey real problem.

What I suggest is "Don't knock it 'till you try it"  Next time the great
PBeM List comes out, pick one of the free ones towards the end and sign
up for it.  You may find out that you like it.

Mel

References

i don't understand
jblonon@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Jason B Lonon)
Thu, 15 Oct 1992 19:21:43 +0000