Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.

From: keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)

Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 09:09:02 +0000

google@gameskingdom.co.uk (evilb) wrote in message news:<65be3a3b.0305280657.18bbdba@posting.google.com>...
> I'm glad that this thread has at least stirred some debate.
> I'm not sure where the whole 'its bad form to pay for extras' came
> from.

Bad form? There's something of a British tradition that money is
somehow 'dirty', that you shouldn't strive to make money, etc.
Probably an outgrowth of the class system. But that's not the point.

My personal objection is social. I want to play power games, where the
stated aim of the game is to struggle with others to gain power in the
game world. I want to pit my wits and determination against other
opponents on a level playing field. I enjoy this, and think that it's
a perfectly reasonable way to play a game.

If we introduce a pay-for-power element, then the situation is either:

(a) I cannot afford to compete with my enemies, which is no fun.

(b) I can crush my rivals beneath the weight of my cheque book. This
makes me, quite frankly, a sad loser. There's a beautiful quote
somewhere (possibly on this group) where a PBMer's non-PBM friend said
something like "They pay extra to beat up other players? So that's how
geeks get their kicks!"

I want to play in power games, but I don't want to be a 'sad loser'.
Hence I avoid pay-for-power where I can.

I'm also concerned that if PBM doesn't establish a more
customer-friendly pricing system, it is doomed. I think it's extremely
difficult to convince people to play a game when the charges will grow
as they become established. Ordinary computer-game players are leery
enough about fixed monthly subscriptions, and I've even heard it
suggested that this is becoming more of a problem rather than less.

In the case of a fast-action web game like Turf Wars, I'd imagine that
the situation isn't too bad. Since the 'donations' are very much
optional, and not paying them won't exclude you from important areas
of the game, I can see how people would start playing without worrying
about them. Perhaps they would go on to become regular 'donators'.

I don't mind paying for 'more game' in an adventure-based game such as
DungeonWorld, because I'm not really competing with other players. If
I pay more, I get more fun. No problem.

> Regardless, I felt it right for this game, and also that it was
> introduced early into the game so that all the players knew the score.

Certainly, if you'd introduced it later you'd have had a lot of
resistance from established players. And I'm not saying that you
shouldn't do it, just that I don't like it and that it turns me away
from games that I might otherwise play.

My objection to the term 'donations' is that it's simply the wrong
word. When you give money to Turf Wars, it is a payment for an
improved service, not a donation.

yours,
rob

References

Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 28 May 2003 10:55:16 +0000
Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
google@gameskingdom.co.uk (evilb)
Wed, 28 May 2003 14:57:57 +0000
Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Tue, 27 May 2003 20:01:34 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 28 May 2003 10:55:16 +0000
Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
google@gameskingdom.co.uk (evilb)
Wed, 28 May 2003 14:57:57 +0000
Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Tue, 27 May 2003 20:01:34 +0000