Re: Player-Killers II - (Was Playtests and other game comments ... )

From: "MindShift Design" <teammsd@mindshiftdesign.com>

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 +0000

"MadCentral" <madcentral@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001017200111.02757.00000251@ng-ba1.aol.com...
> >>I'm glad that DW doesn't suffer from it. But that might be down to the
> types of players you have and not just the game world and how it
> handles things ?<<
>
> Of course it isnt.  We have dozens of players who are exactly the sort of
> people who are infamous for PKing.  And with the amount of players we have
you
> are seriously suggesting we just 'got lucky' with all the non-aggressive
ones?
> Its the system, Jason.  Ask the players.  They'll tell you.

I'm not suggesting you got lucky. Well, not too much anyway <g>. Not having
played DW I couldn't comment truly on how it handles. Might be an idea for
me to sign up... anyone got a spare few hours a week they can lend me so I
can play ?

> >>As for protecting income, we're not looking at it that way. Yes, a
> player that stays with us continues to pay us to play. But what's
> important is that the players continue to play.<<
>
> Hmmm.

Heh. I expected that response. Hell, I got it from some our of team when I
mentioned it, including a "Erm, but how will we be making money ?" <lol>.

> >>I think there are more reasons than just game design for Pking, though
> I'll  agree that it is a major part of it. <<
>
> Game design can most definately discourage antisocial play.  The problem
is
> that theres a big difference between a game designer, and somebody who can
> program and wants to design a game.  (And no, this is not a reference to
you at
> all, since I've never seen your game I reserve my opinion, and hope for a
good
> one I can play!)

I didn't take it as a reference to me. We've got a good solid team working
on the revision of STSI, all with varying levels of design and programming
experience, including non-designers and non-programmers, all of which have
very positive constructive criticism of any of the projects we do, including
web development projects. And I do agree. Good game designers and good
programmers are something that don't often come in the same package, unless
of course you work for Blizzard. Hopefully with the rebirth of STSI, we'll
create something that will be enjoyable and playable.

Getting back to the original point about the "non-combatant" setting, it's
an option for players to use, and it's our thinking that it's better to give
the option than not. It's not necessary except in startup, where we think
that it will create a cushion for new players to acclimate to the gameworld
and playing system without having to worry about fighting for their lives.
As a player progresses further in the game there are elements in the game
that they will want to pursue, and a lot of them end up in fighting with
other parties. We're not trying to remove the ability for PKing, but rather
to minimize the effects upon players who would much rather not get involved
in stuff like that. For those that go that road, there will be consequences
though. A lot of the same elements that are in DW are in STSI, such as the
"outlaw" feature, but DW and STSI are very different animals I think.

If we go down the road of putting in the "non-combatant" feature and find
that it doesn't work, and that your advice on not including it is the best
way for STSI to go, then expect an apology from me in this forum. That'll
shock em all here - someone apologising to Mr Steve Tierney <g>.

> >>Sometimes it's the calibre
> of the players. Or the fact that it costs money to get new characters
> in DW <g>.<<
>
> Not really.  Maybe thats true in a game with ten players.  But in a game
where
> player numbers creep towards the thousands you get all sorts of players.

I'll concede that point. More players can dilute the possibilities of any
one type of player group or classification dominating a game, and it can
increase the variance in the types of players.

I do appreciate the openness of this conversation though. It's helping me
formulate some of my thoughts on some issues.

--
Jason Paul McCartan - jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com
CEO/President
MindShift Design LLC
http://www.mindshiftdesign.com

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References

Re: Player-Killers II - (Was Playtests and other game comments ... )
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 18 Oct 2000 00:01:11 +0000
Re: Player-Killers II - (Was Playtests and other game comments ... )
MindShift Design <teammsd@mindshiftdesign.com>
Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Player-Killers II - (Was Playtests and other game comments ... )
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 18 Oct 2000 00:01:11 +0000
Re: Player-Killers II - (Was Playtests and other game comments ... )
MindShift Design <teammsd@mindshiftdesign.com>
Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 +0000