Re: PBM design: advice please

From: MindShift Design LLC <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com>

Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000

In article <7j0tc3$lkl$1@soap.pipex.net>,
  "Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've been doing the pen and paper design of a PBM / PBeM game I have
wished
> to play for years.  I even tried getting some other people involved
but I
> guess its going to be a solo work.
>
> Anyway, now that the task of programming has begun, after three
months of
> designing, I thought I would ask the wiser members of this group some
> questions:
>
> 1.    What sort of turn input method would you recommend?
> I want to have it as automatic as possible so I thought it would be
cool to
> have my prog read the file and process the orders.  However, I would
need
> either some heavy amounts of code to check for syntax errors or some
client
> software to produce the turn orders.  The downside with client
software (or
> even a web interface) seems to be limiting potential users to those
with
> computers or even to certain platforms.

There are several ways to do it:

1) Web based turns with forms and drop down menus that write direct to
a database for you to read.
2) Web based turns with forms and drop down menus that are emailed
directly to you.
3) Client Software written in OS-specific code (limiting you to users
of that OS)
4) Client Softwware written in portable code (Java/C++)
5) Scripts that run and generate output files (Perl etc)

In saying that, 3 & 4 can be done to export a raw text file that can be
emailed, sent on a disk, or printed to hardcopy for posting. If you
maintain several different ways of doing it, keep the same data format,
then you can have GUIs on any platform read the data file - the
implementation of the reader may be different, but the data it's
manipulating is the same.

If you are going to run the game by postal mail, or allow for that then
you're going to end up with having to input the entries manually. This
allows you to have more error-checking in place for syntax.

With regards to checking automatic orders for syntax - yes, this is a
problem with fully automating a game, but at the end of the day,
players should be sending in turns correctly for them to be processed.
You can make this easier by developing an easy to use and understand
order entry system. Make your game more accesible and easier to use for
players, and you'll remove a lot of the headaches.

> 2.    Is there a market for a commercial PBM?
> Whilst it may be nice to receive some monetary compensation is there
any
> market out there for it or would I just be throwing money out.  Has
anyone
> investigated alternative revenue sources for PBeMs such as advertising
> banners or whatever?

If you ask any of the commercial companies that frequent this newsgroup
or any other - they'll tell you yes. And so would I. However as in any
business, there is often a lot of other costs involved in operating. Be
aware of those.

> 3.    What level of complexity do players go for?
> So far my design ranges from high complexity in certain areas (the
game
> world, the various resources, the major tokens) to low complexity
(combat
> formulas, character development).  Is simpler better? Or do people
like
> getting their teeth into something meaty?

For every player you ask, you're bound to get a different answer. And
every game itself is different. The best I can suggest is for YOU to
decide what the game should have, and then let players play and help
you improve the game.

> 4.    How much of the game mechanics should be available to the
players?
> Should I give players details of all victory conditions, items, etc.
etc. on
> the outset or leave them in the dark?  What about distribution on a
need to
> know basis?  Does this make success a factor of internal game
knowledge (and
> how to manipulate it) and not a factor of natural strategy  / logic?
Is
> this a bad / good thing?

A lot of these decisions you'll have to decide. Giving out to much
information to players can change the way a game is played as well as
the balance of play. Players who know some of the game mechanics can
(but not necessarily will) manipulate the game to their favor because
they know these rules/mechanics.  This puts new players at a
disadvntage and returning players at a complete advantage - which can
cause problems of gameplay.

Game elements can be dropped in on a need to know basis. Godfather is a
good example of this, where you start out with only a little
information on the kinds of rackets that you can run. As you get
further and further into the game, you discover more and this improves
your position in the game.

> Any help or advice will be much appreciated.
>
> PS.  The game is a space strategy game which will be fully computer
> moderated.  Whilst it has definite victory conditions the structure
of the
> game will allow new players to join in the middle of the game with
equal
> chances of success.

Good luck.

--
Jason Paul McCartan - jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com
CEO
MindShift Design LLC Website - http://www.mindshiftdesign.com
	"Altering Perceptions, Creating Worlds"

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References

PBM design: advice please
"Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com>
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

PBM design: advice please
"Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com>
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000