Re: PBEM vs. Non-ASCII

From: David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000

Bob King <SubBob@camden.tds.net> writes:
> First, I disagree that the turn results must be ASCII or plain-text to
> be considered PBEM.  The best example, as far as I'm concerned, is VGA
> Planets.  I realize there are probably many on this group that would
> not "be in the same room" as VGA Planets and do not consider it true
> PBEM.  However, just on the basis of how the game is played, it is.
> The data files are far from text as they are binary and must be
> processed with the player front-end.

But the data files don't have to be sent by email.  Suppose I ran a game
of VGA Planets where I received turns and provided results by FTP (far
more logical and convenient than using email, imho).  Then that would
not be PBEM by your definition, right?

I tend to think of PBM and PBEM as referring to a particular style of
play, rather than as to the specific detail of whether the data is sent
via TCP port 21 or TCP port 25.  However I don't have any objection to
your own usage; it's just different from mine.

> But couldn't we just agree that if it is 1) a game and 2) played via
> email then it is PBEM?

That's just not the way I tend to use the term.  The fact that I call
some games PBEM games and others not is, of course, not any kind of
comment on whether I do or don't like playing those particular games.
There are plenty of games which exchange data in binary formats which I
wouldn't call PBEM but wouldn't mind playing.

David desJardins

References

Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
ggshaw11@aol.com (GGShaw11)
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
PBEM vs. Non-ASCII
SubBob@camden.tds.net (Bob King)
Sat, 28 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
ggshaw11@aol.com (GGShaw11)
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
PBEM vs. Non-ASCII
SubBob@camden.tds.net (Bob King)
Sat, 28 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Spellbinder Games - best avoided!
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000