Re: The Death of PBM

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000

>>The point is that with the advent of the internet and proliferation of home
computers the sheer number of quality free PBeM's has grown to the point
where commercial PBM's will find it extremely difficult to survive.<<

You know the weird thing about comments like this?  They dont seem to be based
on any actual facts!  You guys have heard somebody say something and just taken
it to heart because it sounds right.

I'm not going to get into this again, because I am aware there are some
free-pbm fanatics on the list and its pointless to argue with them.  But I will
say this; I can't speak for all other commercial companies, but I can speak for
mine.  We are showing another year of consistent *growth*.  We get a great many
new players at a constant rate.  We do not run games for free, nor even cheap,
but at a fair price for the work we do.  Things are looking rosy here, and they
are also looking rosy for our USA counterpart. So we are living proof that
there's nothing wrong with the commercial PBM hobby.  If it's done right,
there's plenty of life in it.

>> So while
the original statement above may be true that it is not novel it has
certainly become more significant.<<

I think free games are great.  I think *any* good games are great.  More power
to them!  I do not believe that they affect what I do at all.  I know that
people out there will accuse me of ''sticking my head in the sand''.  They can
continue to accuse me of this for as long as they like.  Doesn't bother me at
all.

>>You might also want to consider that with the advent of online gaming
(Archmage)  and online worlds such as Everquest and Ultima, why bother with
a turn based game at all?<<

These games have a little more effect than the free ones, but still not much.
The *main* problem there is that they cost money and take time, which is less
money and time for commercial PBMs. I haven't lost many players to online
games, but certainly more than I have to free ones.  Even so, I do not feel
threatened by them.  There is a distinct difference between PBM and online
games.  They target a different market, although there is some crossover.

>>Before the computerisation of PBM's most games were hand processed and even
hand written, which gave the feeling of interaction between you and the GM,
computerised games are to a large extent sterile in their nature.<<

This sort of sweeping statement doesnt actually say much.  Unless you have
played *all* pbms, you are just talking
about your own sphere of reference.  I can assure you that there are many
computer-mod games which still give a feeling or interaction with other players
and the GMs.

>> This fact
alone probably explains the hugh popularity of Ultima and Everquest, real
time interaction and feedback and a constantly evolving plot/world. How can
PBM's compete against that?<<

''real time interaction'' PBMs don't attempt to compete with.  That's the whole
point.  Diplomacy in your own time has its benefits.  It doesn't need to
''compete'' at all.  As for constantly evolving plot/world.... Ultima and
Everquest don't offer any more of that than our own game, DungeonWorld.

>>There will always be a market for PBMs but I personally believe it will be a
decreasing market, and one where the commercial will eventually become
extinct.<<

And I would add that I was reading the same thing in very similar words five
years ago.  Yet here we still are, growing and expanding.  I really don't mind
how many people think it though.  Time will tell.

>>if anyone has any comments I'l be interested to read them<<

I hope my comments have been interesting.

Steve
-Madhouse UK

References

The Death of PBM
"Mark Grimbley" <doctor@grimbley.freeserve.co.uk>
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

The Death of PBM
"Mark Grimbley" <doctor@grimbley.freeserve.co.uk>
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000