Re: PBM design: advice please

From: lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)

Date: Wed, 02 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000

"Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com> writes:

> 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

If you think that's a lot of code, you shouldn't be automating your
game. Seriously. Parsers should be easy.

> 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.

Only if you make that the only way to play. Many games are available
in both pbm and pbem versions. However, this does affect the design;
if the user is doing the input, you can afford many more orders than
if a typist has to retype everything.

> 2.    Is there a market for a commercial PBM?

Yes.

> Has anyone
> investigated alternative revenue sources for PBeMs such as advertising
> banners or whatever?

Sure, many play-by-web games work that way. I suspect that most sites
don't make that much from it, though.

> 3.    What level of complexity do players go for?

Some players like high, some like low.

> 4.    How much of the game mechanics should be available to the players?

Some players like discovering the rules, some don't. This issue has
generated several long discussions here in the past.

-- g

References

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