Re: Recommended Games

From: Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.co.uk>

Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 21:21:02 +0000

Daniel Vuurboom wrote:

> It seems to me that these web-based games are gaining support all the
> time. I just don't understand why!

I think there are a variety of reasons for this growing popularity.
Many, if not most, web games have the advantage over traditional PBMs of
being far more graphical and thus more attractive to play. I haven't
really come across one that is as complex as the most in-depth PBM games
(e.g. Legends, Absolute Power, Kings of Karadon, Serim Ral etc) but
there are huge multi-player online adventure games out there which takes
the 'traditional' MUD idea and riases it to new levels - at least equal
to the games of this sort run by post / email.

Im not convinced that web gaming is suitable for as many genres as
traditional PBM, but there are certainly some areas (space exploration
games, economic management simulations etc) where web games offer an
absorbing experience which probably outstrips their PBM equivalents.

> As a working man, I have time to login in the evening once on weekdays
> (If I have no social calendar) and 2/3 times per day in the weekend.
> (Holidays, weekends in the country, and other events are in the way as
> well). In my experience (which does not include StarKingdoms) this is
> not enough to be competitive.

I think you're right - and as a GM and designer of games with slower
turnarounds (e.g. fortnightly) I'm more than happy that people like you
are out there. However a quick survey of some of the people I'm web
gaming with shows that in fact, the vast majority of them are logging on
and playing games whilst at work. I have to say that it is also my
experience in traditional PBM that a great many people log on far more
than once a day during the week.

> Another problem with web-based games is that I haven't seen many with
> full documentation...

Agreed - with many such games it seems that the only way to really grasp
the rules is to talk to veterans and use the on-line help a lot! This is
certainly one area in which web gaming could learn from its elder PBM
relatives.

Colin

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References

Recommended Games
Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.co.uk>
Tue, 07 May 2002 14:59:41 +0000
Re: Recommended Games
Daniel Vuurboom & Gerry Damen <vuurdameDELETE@xs4all.nl>
Tue, 07 May 2002 17:10:20 +0000

Referenced By

Recommended Games
Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.co.uk>
Tue, 07 May 2002 14:59:41 +0000
Re: Recommended Games
Daniel Vuurboom & Gerry Damen <vuurdameDELETE@xs4all.nl>
Tue, 07 May 2002 17:10:20 +0000