Category:General MU* Feeds
From WikiMU*
[edit] Top MUD Sites Discussion Feed
- Looking For Mercenary Mud
- Forum: Advertising for Players Posted By: Althi Post Time: 11-07-2009 at 07:57 PM [?]
- World of Inferno and similar muds
- Forum: Advertising for Players Posted By: dbiron1977 Post Time: 11-07-2009 at 02:23 PM [?]
- Looking For a complex Mud
- Forum: Newbie Help Posted By: Althi Post Time: 11-06-2009 at 03:40 AM [?]
- Advertising your MUD with TinTin++
- Forum: MUD Administration Posted By: scandum Post Time: 11-04-2009 at 02:13 PM [?]
- Quest Department on Daedal Macabre is Back in FULL SWING!
- Forum: MUD Announcements Posted By: Dakhno Ivanovich Post Time: 11-03-2009 at 02:32 PM [?]
- Client support for graphical maps?
- Forum: Advanced MUD Concepts Posted By: Fiz Post Time: 11-02-2009 at 07:23 PM [?]
- By What Name Will You Be Mourned?
- Forum: Advertising for Players Posted By: Grobbak Post Time: 11-02-2009 at 09:09 AM [?]
- OS and Necro: Trick or Treat!
- Forum: MUD Announcements Posted By: Brody Post Time: 10-31-2009 at 02:41 PM [?]
- Please Help Find!
- Forum: Newbie Help Posted By: SteveOofDFC Post Time: 10-30-2009 at 01:06 AM [?]
- Messaging Problems
- Forum: Bugs and Suggestions Posted By: prof1515 Post Time: 10-29-2009 at 04:27 PM [?]
- Atonement RPI - Hiring for Exceptional Staff
- Forum: Advertising for Staff Posted By: DonathinFrye Post Time: 10-29-2009 at 03:49 AM [?]
- Muds in Education
- Forum: MUD Administration Posted By: Bakha Post Time: 10-28-2009 at 09:02 PM [?]
- Your first MUD?
- Forum: Tavern of the Blue Hand Posted By: Violette Post Time: 10-28-2009 at 06:33 PM [?]
- one more option for Mac OS users
- Forum: Tavern of the Blue Hand Posted By: Violette Post Time: 10-28-2009 at 05:23 PM [?]
- RPMUD Network Election 2009 Information
- Forum: Tavern of the Blue Hand Posted By: prof1515 Post Time: 10-28-2009 at 11:48 AM [?]
- Aardwolf....oh crap
- Forum: Tavern of the Blue Hand Posted By: Violette Post Time: 10-27-2009 at 12:57 PM [?]
- News on Primordiax
- Forum: MUD Announcements Posted By: Milawe Post Time: 10-27-2009 at 01:05 AM [?]
- Shattered Kingdoms Bonanza! October 30-November 2
- Forum: MUD Announcements Posted By: EZE Post Time: 10-26-2009 at 09:25 AM [?]
- SMAUG Based MUD looking for Coders
- Forum: Advertising for Staff Posted By: rbouch Post Time: 10-26-2009 at 01:03 AM [?]
- Eternal Dawn is looking for builders/coders!
- Forum: Advertising for Staff Posted By: Lilian_the_Kitty Post Time: 10-25-2009 at 05:14 PM [?]
[edit] MUD Connector Discussion Feed
- LPC-based Mud: The Lands of Evermore is looking for Builders and Coders
- Posted to: Mud Staffing Board (November 8, 2009) [?]
- C# MUD - SQL or XML?
- Posted to: Coding and Mud Design (Advanced) (November 8, 2009) [?]
- Classes for tbamud
- Posted to: Coder's Forum (November 8, 2009) [?]
- Statistics from your MUD
- Posted to: General Discussions (November 8, 2009) [?]
- Raze the Dead <3 Zombieland
- Posted to: Mud Promotions (November 7, 2009) [?]
- Act of War: Return to Urth Klinkwall.net:4000
- Posted to: Mud Promotions (November 7, 2009) [?]
- Pk only please
- Posted to: Mud Promotions (November 7, 2009) [?]
- Looking for a coder to code Seeds of Hate MUD
- Posted to: Mud Staffing Board (November 7, 2009) [?]
- WoT themed Godwars mud seeking builders.
- Posted to: Mud Staffing Board (November 6, 2009) [?]
- Claymore Client (new java MUD client)
- Posted to: Coder's Forum (November 6, 2009) [?]
[edit] MUD Connector Review Feed
- Review: Waterdeep
- You can find me as Skyla on waterdeep. I searched and searched muds
and I came across Waterdeep. Let me tell you that this is the greatest
mud you will ever find. Who knew you could have so much fun on a mud
as a NPK'r.
Log onto Waterdeep and type 'CLAIMED' you will see a list of hero
runs that are set up to give a group of hero's a challenge. They are
not open all the time so the equipment they give is rare. And worth a
lot. The runs sometimes don't have enough equipment for everyone so
they h... (posted: 2009-11-02T21:51:38-05:00) [?] - Review: Realm of Shadows
- Hi. I think that this mud is worthy of a review so here it goes.
1. Class system 9/10. Has alot of classes, and the triple class
feature. Each one is built on a different basis so you dont have a
bunch of warriors running around. You know Warrior/Knight.
2. Racial features: 8/10 Each race gains stat bonuses along with
extra bonuses implemented into the code, and there are enough to
choose from.
3. Mud features: 9/10 Damage absortion to balance out those damage
seekers. Nice random drops. Fun ... (posted: 2009-11-02T21:50:19-05:00) [?] - Review: The Original Emperia
- I am a long-time mudder, somewhere around 15 years or so. A few years
ago I felt the need to find a new home. I've tried almost every mud
out there, but for some reason they just never seemed to be the right
fit. Finally a few weeks ago I saw the most recent review for Emperia.
I thought 'What the heck' and gave it a try. Everything said in
these previous reviews is true. Fun gameplay, interesting events,
helpful players, and good imms can all be found here.
There always seems to be at least a ... (posted: 2009-11-02T21:20:09-05:00) [?] - Review: Arcane Nites
- Okay, listen up. If you like MUDS, especially MUDs that have been
deeply established in the community for over 10 years, then listen
up...
Arcane Nites offers the most genuine MUDing experience with it's
excellent remorting system, adding into account it's rich fighting
system. No other MUD compares to it.
There is always a new area to pillage. There is always a quest going
on.
The only downfall, there are no players! AN has been stuck in a rut
the past few years due to it being shut down by ... (posted: 2009-11-02T21:18:58-05:00) [?] - Review: OtherSpace
- Otherspace, during the four years i've played it, has been through a
lot of change. But throughout all of it, it has always succeeded in
doing one thing; keeping it fun for the player. Once a new player logs
in, he is greeted by both staff and players alike, and asked if they
could provide any help or assistance. After a small bio and through
chargen, you're on the grid of OS. The players are consistent and
friendly and you can near always find roleplay somewhere.
The skill system is something ... (posted: 2009-11-02T21:15:53-05:00) [?] - Review: Bad Trip
- Like many of the others here, I'm a returning player, harkening back
from the days when an a fellow named Coby ran the game. At some point,
he closed the game down, and I'm just now finding out Bad Trip is
back.
It's a slightly different mud - new staff, but a lot of older and
returning players. Anyone interested in having a look around for old
time's sake shouldn't be put off by that. While some things are
changing and updating as a new crew settles in, they're keeping to
the spirit of old Bad... (posted: 2009-10-28T20:39:36-05:00) [?] - Review: DragonBall: Infinity
- I've played Dragonball:Infinity for a long time now, a really long
time. I think it's long overdue that I write a review for an awesome
mud. So, I'll do so... But I can't gut the flaws and awesome of DB:i
without gutting every category of it.
Gaining in DBi Gaining is great, there are so many different ways to
gain. You could medgain (Meditation gain) which is quite simply, lazy
gains. Split sparring with is sparring with a split form and can be
done with any form of split form. Sparring is als... (posted: 2009-10-28T20:37:03-05:00) [?] - Review: Underworld Dreams
- I just wanted to say that Underworld Dreams, by far is one of the
best MUDs I have played.
Having played it since the 6th grade, and currently a junior in
college, all I have to say is that it by far is the only mud I
continually play.
I highly suggest this MUD to any one looking to get into MUDing or
looking for a great community to play with. You won't be sorry for
playing Underworld Dreams.
... (posted: 2009-10-28T20:35:37-05:00) [?] - Review: Shadows of Isildur
- This mud is not friendly to newbies, frequently lags BADLY and
crashes often. I played for the last week, and have noticed the lag
NEVER lets up, and I had assumed the lag was on my end somewhere. That
was, until I asked other players who confirmed the lag problem, and
suggested I 'just deal with it'. Yeah, right. If your server can't
support a TEXT BASED game, it's time to look into other forms of
entertainment.
The mud has crashed for >1 hour three times in this week.
A great looking mud with... (posted: 2009-10-28T20:34:28-05:00) [?] - Review: Dawn of the Ages
- Dawn of the Ages is a fantastic MUD! There I said it! There's many
places to explore, quests to complete and people to kill. There are a
few balance issues I think when it comes to certain profession and
career combos, but everything can be overcome with some guile and
planning.
Leveling allows you to help grow and define your characters role in
the world, and gives the player enough freedom to feel like it's
really their own and not some cookie cutter build.
A reincarnation system gives playe... (posted: 2009-10-28T20:32:55-05:00) [?] - Review: Dragon's Exodus
- Over the last year or so I've become extremely bored playing the same
games over and over. Particularly WoW and Guild Wars. To me, they
seem to be nothing more than a group of twelve-year-olds. Maybe
it is due to me being quite a bit older than most of the players I
see there. One of the more mature players told me about a mud that
she played upon and the idea of a game where I can let my imagination
roam freely intrigued me.
I spent quite a bit of time looking over material about muds an... (posted: 2009-10-16T21:17:53-05:00) [?] - Review: Star Wars: Knights of Darkness
- I have been a player off and on from about the day the mud started
up. Back when chosen forcer was a class, and before the Pwipe that
happened a few years ago and for a little while after, I was a rather
active (if not liked), Immortal. Since then i have been taking a break
because of Real Life issues getting in the way. New comp, work, life
that sort of stuff. But I have been keeping up-to-date on the changes
they have been making and i must say i have been impressed as of late
with what they a... (posted: 2009-10-16T21:13:48-05:00) [?] - Review: Godwars Dystopia Mudders Delight
- They have a great class selection and plenty of newbie hours to get
you started. The mud is relatively stable with periods of crashes,
although they were brief due to an autorecovery system which kicked in
a good portion of the time. The only problem I had with the mud was
the staff. There was a discussion about a player who recently was
deleted without warning. When confronted as to why he was the deleted
the head gm's only response was his player file was too large. Then
he insisted it was not... (posted: 2009-10-16T21:09:45-05:00) [?] - Review: Fate of Kingdoms
- Fate of Kingdoms is a game I used to play quite a bit some years ago,
but time and life got in the way. Some friends of mine recently told
me that the game was still up and running after all these years, so I
decided I would check it out again.
As an past player, I am pleased to report that things are running
fairly well. The coders are working to improve classes, and it seems
like they're genuinely taking player ideas under consideration. Some
skills and spells that I remember as being ... (posted: 2009-10-16T21:07:13-05:00) [?] - Review: Static Chaos
- Having grown tired of MMOs of late, I decided to try mudding again.
Static Chaos, having been opened before, and having tried it before
seemed appealing. This game is a rare gem. It has a ton of potential.
The following are the pros and cons, in my opinion, of Static Chaos:
Pros:
+ 5 Unique Classes
+ Slower Progression
+ Helpful players
+ Helpful/Down to earth Implementor
+ Uses for Gold(A rarity for Godwars-ish muds)
+ Not actually a Godwars mud, but feels like one
Cons:
- Very few original ... (posted: 2009-10-16T21:06:38-05:00) [?]
[edit] TinyTalk Feed
- Tinytalk Episode 024: Bits and Bobs
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:39] Game Design Concepts, a free online course
- [02:35] Connecting with the media fanbase
- [04:10] Why MUSH is a good platform for RPG
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Game Design Concepts online course
- Serenity MUSH's Echoes from the Black podcast
- The Signal, a Serenity/Firefly podcast
- Revolution Void's Increase the Dosage album
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-202-0107.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk phone number change
The Tinytalk voicemail number has changed to +1 (206) 202-0107.
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 023: Books on Games
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:35] Mal@Serenity calls in about Tinytalk 022
- [01:46] Review of Things we think about games
- [05:33] Review of Play unsafe
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Indie Press Revolution (IPR)
- Things we think about games (also available from IPR, Amazon, and other booksellers)
- Play unsafe (at lulu.com) (also available from IPR)
- PMOG, the Passively Multiplayer Online Game
- Elvira's improv workshop at M*U*S*H
- Stidiek's Feelms album
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 022: Tales of a Fourth Grade Something
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Bill MacKenty's fourth graders reflect on text-based gaming
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:Special thanks to Bill MacKenty for recording this!
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 021: Interview with Shawn McCann
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Interview with Shawn McCann, North America's first Immersive Learning/Gaming Librarian
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Shawn McCann's page at McMaster University
- The blog of Jeff Trzeciak, McMaster Univeristy Librarian
- Second Life URL to Steel City
- Adelino's Bissardon album
Special thanks to Siobhan for suggesting this interview!
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 020: Is MUSHing dead?
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Is MUSHing dead?
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 019: Halting State
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Halting State and point of view
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Halting State
, by Charles Stross
- Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas
, by Tom Robbins
- The 2008 Hugo award nominees
- PMOG, the passively multiplayer online game
- Philippe Mangold's Voyage dans l'éther album
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 018: Good to Great for MUSH
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Intro
- [01:00] Good to Great for MUSH
- [12:35] News and Notes
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 017: WWORAA
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Intro
- [01:10] Interview with WORA admin Rasheem
- [14:25] Javelin on WORA
- [16:35] News and Notes
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- When online RPGs Attack (WORA)
- Obviously Grimy's Des mélodies à faire danser les ours album
- (Read bboard 1 on M*U*S*H for information on Elvira's "Managing your MUSH" working picnic on Sunday, Feb 10)
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
- Tinytalk Episode 016: Happy 2008!
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:00] Intro
- [00:54] My 2008 MUSH resolutions
- [03:52] Staff rotation
- [06:54] One Laptop Per Child
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Indie Press Revolution) (a place to find and buy indie rpgs)
- Nethack wiki
- The One Laptop Per Child donation site
- The OLPC wiki (a good place for developers to start)
- Obviously Grimy's Des mélodies à faire danser les ours album
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-333-1542.
Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
[?]
[edit] Electric Soup Feed
[edit] GATEWAY announcements
- Changes, etc.
- Hello! Sorry it has been so long since our last e-mail, but things got busy for lots of people involved. First off I'm sorry to report that Nephthys has decided to retire from staff. We wish her all the best of luck with her future endeavors. Next I'd like to welcome Anubis and Geb to the staff! They will be [?]
- Re: (Gateway) 45-Day Reminder for Ambassadors of Gateway
- Good day!
If you've not logged onto Gateway within 45 days, please do so to ensure your Embassy is being manned. This is your 45-day reminder for Ambassadors to log on to GATEWAY - The MU* Community. You can connect at connect.mu-gateway.net:6677 or 6700.
Thanks and have a good day!
Embassy Staff [?]
- 45 day reminder for Ambassadors
- Good day! If you've not logged onto Gateway within 45 days, please do so to ensure your Embassy is being manned. This is your 45-day reminder for Ambassadors to log on to GATEWAY - The MU* Community. You can connect at connect.mu-gateway.net:6677 or 6700. Thanks and have a super day! Embassy Staff GATEWAY - The MU* Community [?]
- Email addresses
- Hello Ambassadors, We're preparing mid-July to do an idle purge, and an Embassy check. So please make sure you log on regularly. As well please make sure to update your e-mail address. I sent out an e-mail to every Ambassador yesterday, and I got quite a few bounces. Please pass this on to your fellow Ambassador's whom may not be on this [?]
- Staff opportunities
- Good morning, everyone. Gateway - The MU* Community is currently seeking to expand its staffing opportunities. Gateway is looking for a minimum of 2 energetic individuals to join our dynamic staff. Qualified individuals should be self-motivated, self-reliant, have superior player service skills, and enjoy solving [?]
- Firefox 3
- Hi folks, Don't forget to download your copy of Firefox 3 today. You don't have to install it, but they're going for the world record. [link] Ra, Coordinator Gateway, The MU* Community [link] telnet://connect.mu-gateway.ne t:6700 "Turn around, look at what you see In her face, the mirror of your dreams [?]
- 45-Day Reminder for Ambassadors of Gateway
- Good day! If you've not logged onto Gateway within 45 days, please do so to ensure your Embassy is being manned. This is your 45-day reminder for Ambassadors to log on to GATEWAY - The MU* Community. You can connect at connect.mu-gateway.net:6677 or 6700. Thanks and have a super day! Embassy Staff GATEWAY - The MU* Community [?]
- Policy review
- Good evening, everyone. I apologize that it took so long, but the policy review is finally complete. The updated files have been installed in the +news directory, and on the website. If you wish to provide feedback for current or new policiies, please don't hesitate to +pitch those ideas to us. Thanks, [?]
- 45-Day Reminder for Ambassadors of Gateway
- Good day! If you've not logged onto Gateway within 45 days, please do so to ensure your Embassy is being manned. This is your 45-day reminder for Ambassadors to log on to GATEWAY - The MU* Community. You can connect at connect.mu-gateway.net:6677 or 6700. Thanks and have a super day! Embassy Staff GATEWAY - The MU* Community [?]
- Connection address
- Hi everyone, It was previously announced that we would stop using the old OGR connection address at the end of January, 2008. I have been a little lenient on that, and up to this point, it has continued to work. However, on May 1st, 2008 the old OGR addresses will cease to work. By then you should have updated your connection information. For those of [?]
- 45-day Reminder for Embassies
- Good day! If you've not logged onto Gateway within 45 days, please do so to ensure your Embassy is being manned. This is your 45-day reminder for Ambassadors to log on to GATEWAY - The MU* Community. You can connect at connect.mu-gateway.net:6677 or 6700. Thanks and have a super day! Embassy Staff GATEWAY - The MU* Community [?]
- How to loose a player in 10 hours
- Hi everyone, Join us this Saturday, as Rane (the Co-Goddess of Hogwarts Express) hosts a discussion "How to loose a player in 10 hours". It will take place at 5 pm EST. Ra, Coordinator Gateway, The MU* Community [link] telnet://connect.mu-gateway.ne t:6700 "Turn around, look at what you see [?]
- Gateway Roundtable Event - Villains and plots that worked... and those that REALLY didn't! ->Feb. 16, 2008
- *Roundtable: Who doesn't love a good villain?* Some of the most exciting plots for players are those that include a menacing, evil, wicked villain (or villains), but these are some of the hardest plots to run because they can be so fraught with GMing pitfalls and disasters. There are some excellent resources to read about and similar veins that can [?]
- 45 day reminder
- Good news, everyone! This is your first reminder to log on to Gateway. Ambassadors and Co-Ambassadors are expected to log on every 60 days to maintain their Embassies. Have you read news emb ambs lately? We look forward to seeing you soon! Sincerely, Ra, Coordinator Gateway, The MU* Community [link] [?]
- Logo contest feedback
- Good news, everyone! The entries for the logo contest are now in. All 4 submissions are up on our website at [link]. You may need to disable any ad-blocking software to view the 4 submissions. I have attempted to put them up in a fair, and impartial manner. File names have been changed to prevent any bias, and the images are stored [?]
[edit] community.pennmush.org Feed
- ITBG Conference Details
Log available at http://walker.pennmush.org/logs/itbg_2009.html
After a hiatus last year, the Innovations and New Directions in Text Based Gaming Conference (ITBG) is back! This year, ITBG will be hosted on M*U*S*H (mush.pennmush.org:4201) the morning of October 17th, and boasts a handful of most interesting presenters.
12 PM: Brian Moriarty, author of the Infocom titles "Wishbringer", "Trinity", and "Beyond Zork", designer of "Loom", and generally accomplished game developer, will kick off the presentations with a discussion of text gaming, where it's going, why it's going there slowly, and how it can go faster.
1 PM: Sketch of M*U*S*H will be rambling on^W^W hosting a forum about the nature of MUSHes, MUDs, and presenting a few ideas for using the medium of MUSHes to the best of their ability.
2 PM: Tarn Adams, developer of Dwarf Fortress, is stopping by for a Q&A session on his experience with text interfaces, procedural generation and recording of world history, and generally anything you want to ask him about.
All times are US Central (UTC-5).
Be there or else! (If you really can't attend, logs will be posted afterwards. Feel free to submit questions for the presenters to Zebranky@M*U*S*H in advance.)
[?]- MUDtoberfest 2009
M*U*S*H will once again be hosting the annual MUDtoberfest, a celebration of our shared pastime, through the month of October. You -- yes, YOU! -- are invited to stop by, partake of the festivities, and even run something should the inspiration strike you.
Currently scheduled events can be viewed with '+gda 10' on M*U*S*H. If you'd like to run something, schedule it with +gda (+gda/help for details). Don't be shy!
On a related note... The Innovations and New Directions in Text-Based Gaming Conference will be held on October 17th! Have you thought about where text is going? If you have ideas about the future of text gaming (online or offline), whether they're practical considerations or wild half-baked theories, we want to hear them! @mail Zebranky on M*U*S*H or email andzew@mezcuzic.net (replacing z with r) with your ideas!
Events scheduled as of 9/30:
- "Scrabble Tournament 2009", starting 10/1 (sign up now!)
- "Is AI Possible in MUSH?", month-long
- "The Innovations and New Directions in Text-Based Gaming Conference", 10/17
- "Iron Coder: 2009", 10/19
- Proposal: Ad Exchanges
This is a proposal sparked by a guest logging onto my game yesterday to propose an ad exchange. It made me think about this practice, which seems to have fallen by the wayside more and more over the years. Instead, it has been replaced by advertising on various community sites, either in the form of MUSHes or on the web.
This is all well and good, but in many cases those community sites would seem to be frequented primarily by other advertisers, who presumably are more likely to be staff as well as players rather than just players. That probably means they are also less likely to have the time and/or interest to join another game.
That's where my proposal comes in.
I am suggesting using c.p.o to facilitate ad exchanges. The process as I am currently imagining it would involve the following steps.
1) Those wishing to exchange ads post them to their blogs on c.p.o, tagging them with an "Ad" tag. Javelin has created this tag, and will be setting up a page or block for showing recent ads. This would, I believe, allow all ads to be browsed.
2) When someone wishes to initiate an ad exchange, they would pick an ad from the existing ones and post it to their game. They would then leave a comment on the blog posting containing the ad they posted, saying that they have posted it to their game and could the poster of the ad in question please reciprocate. To make it easy to verify this it would probably be a good idea to include ones game address in the post and, of course, a link back to ones own ad posting.
This would, hopefully, be a self-censoring system in that anyone who doesn't reciprocate after having their ads posted would not be likely to see any more exchanges initiated.
Any thoughts on this? Potentially useful? Very silly? Have I overlooked some huge, glaring holes? Please comment. :)
I am hoping to, after some feedback, work this into a set of guidelines for how to post the ads and conduct the actual exchanges. Points to cover would include how to provide updated ads (probably as edits of the original blog post), whether to include both an evaluated and a MUSH-formatted ad, and whether exchanges can be just mush-to-mush and perhaps web-to-web or also mush-to-web/web-to-mush. And probably some other things I haven't thought of yet.
[?]- Pokemon MUSH up for grabs to a competent admin
After a hearty and well played attempt to work with this infamous theme of a canon Pokemon universe, which seems to have went through many iterations over the years by different people, I am willing to hand over the reigns of this recent attempt to a competent mush/mud/mux administrator.
[Pokemon Adventures MUSH] is a canon universe Pokemon MUSH built to be focused on roleplay. No combat system currently coded or involved with the current codebase.
MUSH:
- ~290 rooms: Built from Pallet Town up to the western edge of Cerulean City with existing plans and abilities to build the complete 'verse grid
- 95% of softcode utilities and systems complete
- Faraday's mushcode suite installed with self-coded softcode intact as backups and set no_comm
- Myrddin's BB
- SQL based channel/login logger
- Wizard restricted security systems
- Some minor hardcode hacks, based on Pennmush 1.8.3p10
WEBSITE:
- Clean, cross-browser, xhtml compliant theme based on an existing free template, heavily modified
- SQL integration with in-game MOTD/News and some live stats (PHP based)
- Fresh unused wiki with a modified skin to accomodate the site
- Locked but used web board based on PunBB, replaced by ingame bboard
- pokemonadventures.game-host.org free DynDNS domain
I no longer have any time to continue putting work into it these days and am up for handing off the work already put into it to someone willing to take it on. I am willing to provide support on existing systems to help get acquainted and set things up if needed.
If interested, feel free to contact me either Teal@M*U*S*H, Vchat20 on community.pennmush.org, or Vchat20@gmail.com.
Current game and site locations at pokemonadventures.game-host.org:4202 and http://pokemonadventures.game-host.org/ respectively.
[?]- PennMUSH 1.8.3p10
PennMUSH 1.8.3p10 has been released, including a number of important bug fixes. All users are strongly urged to upgrade. Available at http://code.google.com/p/pennmush/downloads/list.
[?]- Corpolitick 2.0 - new game starting at M*U*S*H
Corpolitick 2.0 - The Game of Organizational Dominance(TM)(R)(C)
In the not-too-distant future, power is forged, wielded, shattered, reforged, sharpened, wielded again, broken again, and hung on the wall as a Relic of Mystery by Organizations, ranging from tiny partnerships to mammoth multicontinent corporations, from strange clans to stranger nonprofit NGOs, from Amalgamated Marketing Marketing ("We only sell salesmen who sell salesmen") to PhytoCarn Products ("Animal-based health food for plants") to Geeks'R'Us to Walt-You-Will-Have-Fun-Corporate-World.
Corpolitick is a turn-based strategy game with a humor-cyberpunk feel about to start running at M*U*S*H (mush.pennmush.org 4201).
Full game rules at http://mush.pennmush.org/corpolitick (or via the 'chelp' command on M*U*S*H). Create yourself a M*U*S*H character and conglomerate to the death!
[?]- Tinytalk Episode 024: Bits and Bobs
Click here to download this episode:
Click here to subscribe to the podcast:
Tinytalk is a podcast about MUSHes and other text-based virtual worlds, and the players who play them. In this episode:- [00:39] Game Design Concepts, a free online course
- [02:35] Connecting with the media fanbase
- [04:10] Why MUSH is a good platform for RPG
<!--break-->
Links to stuff mentioned in this episode:- Game Design Concepts online course
- Serenity MUSH's Echoes from the Black podcast
- The Signal, a Serenity/Firefly podcast
- Revolution Void's Increase the Dosage album
If you have mushing questions you'd like answered, or suggestions for future shows, send email (or audio files) to tinytalk at javelin.pennmush.org. You can also leave a voice message at 206-202-0107.
[?]Tinytalk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
- Rock, Paper, Scissors cheating competition
Anybody interested in a competition?
"IC"-ly, this is a competition to create an object that wins more often at Rock-Paper-Scissors than the other objects.
Realistically: This is all about how well you can cheat, in different ways.
There will be different categories, each with different structure (to allow/prevent different kinds of cheating). The basic setup is this:
A player is created with no powers, objects, etc. To this player is then @chown'd *clones* of three objects: The testing object, and the two competing objects, A and B. The testing object is then triggered to fetch the answers from A, then B. It then compares the answers and announces a winner or draw (if both give same answer). If it doesn't get a valid answer for some reason, it declares a draw. It is then repeated for B first, then A.
Different categories will be provided with different testing objects. (And thus, different ways to cheat).
e.g:
Basic Ufun: This simply does switch(u(A/guess)-u(B/guess),rock-paper,B,paper-rock,A,rock-scissors,A,scissors-rock,B,paper-scissors,B,scissors-paper,A,Draw)
Basic trigger: @trigger a/makeguess ; @trigger b/makeguess ; switch(get(a/guess)-[get(b/guess)],...)
And other, fancier categories and ideas thrown in:
* No money for owning player (so no lsearch()).
* localized u()s, with cleared q-registers.
* Inability to modify the calling object.
* Any other ideas?Prizes: Depending on how many people participate, and if anyone wants to sponsor prizes. (If we get at least 10 people, I don't mind sponsoring a $40 gift certificate to Amazon)
[?]- PennMUSH 1.8.3p9 released
1.8.3p9 has been released right on the tail of p8, to fix a number of issues found once that got into wider distribution (3 or 4 different test OSes just isn't enough, I guess...).
Find it at the usual spot, http://ftp.pennmush.org/Source/.
[?]- PennMUSH 1.8.3p8 Released
PennMUSH 1.8.3p8 has been released. Get it at http://ftp.pennmush.org/Source/.
Lots of bugfixes and minor additions. All users are highly encouraged to upgrade.
[?]
[edit] Wikia's Gaming Blog Feed
[edit] Gamasutra News Feed
- Game Boy, The Ball Admitted To National Toy Hall Of Fame
Nintendo's Game Boy portable console has been added into the Strong National Museum of Play's National Toy Hall of Fame, alongside the ball. The gaming device, primarily designed by Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi and introduced in 1989, "transformed the electronic-games market by popularizing handheld gaming," according to the museum's announcement of the induction. The ball has been used in innumerable activities across the entirety of known human history, with pictorial evidence dating back at least ...[?]
- iPhone Dev Storm8 Sued Over User Data Harvesting Allegations
iPhone developer Storm8 has been served with a class action lawsuit accusing the company of collecting and transmitting its users' phone numbers without prior consent or notification. Storm8 publishers a lineup of popular multiplayer online role-playing games for the iPhone and iPod Touch, including World War, iMobsters, and Vampires Live. The suit, filed by Washington resident Michael Turner and reported by technology blog Boing Boing, alleges that Storm8 engaged in the practice of "accessing, collecting, ...[?]
- Namco Bandai Swings To Loss In First-Half, Posts Lower Sales
Tokyo, Japan-based Tekken house Namco Bandai this week posted a net loss and lower sales for its fiscal first-half ended September 30, despite a software lineup led by subsidiary D3 Publisher's Ben 10 Alien Force. Sales for the period were ¥172.73 billion ($1.92 billion), a decrease of 9.5 percent year-on-year. The company swung to a net loss for the half, posting a loss ¥6.04 billion ($67.22 million), down from a profit last year of ¥1.28 ...[?]
- Infinity Ward's Emslie: Animation 'First And Foremost' Key To Visual Realism
A game that looks realistic may not be as overtly "artistic" as more stylized titles, but in order to portray convincingly authentic visuals, game artists need to have an innate sense of nuance -- and an arsenal of technology -- in order to translate realism into interactive gameplay. Joel Emslie, lead artist on Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 tells Gamasutra that high polygon counts aren't the most important aspect of creating a ...[?]
- Japanese Hardware: PS3 Closes In On Leader DSi
PlayStation 3 sales appear to have stabilized in Japan following the early September launch of the new slimmer form factor -- and this week, Sony's console outsold worldwide unit sales frontrunner Nintendo Wii for the ninth week in a row in Japan. PS3 sales for the week ended November 1 were 36,061 units, just behind the typical weekly leader, Nintendo's handheld DSi, which sold 37,517, according to Japanese tracking firm Media Create. The UMD-less PSP ...[?]
- Analyst: CoD: MW2 Could Sell $500 Million Week One, Music Genre Still Challenged
Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 could top $500 million in sales in its first week, and can "easily" sell 10 million units in its launch quarter, says Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. The analyst is just one of many predicting a massive, possibly unprecedented launch for the game, and joins retailer GameStop and Activision itself in preparing for a windfall. The publisher will benefit from such big numbers, says the analyst, who believes ...[?]
- Iwata: 35% Japanese Connectivity Ratio For Wii, 20% For DS
Approximately 35 percent of Wii consoles and 20 percent of Nintendo DS consoles in Japan are connected to the internet, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who says those figures will drop unless the company takes ongoing aggressive action. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the online service for Wii and Nintendo DS, sees connectivity spikes when new online functionality is announced and when games with online multiplayer support are released, Iwata said in comments following Nintendo's recent ...[?]
- Iwata: Nintendo Is Not 'Losing Its Edge' To iPhone, Rival Tech
As Nintendo gets ready to report its first profit decline in years, analysts are getting demanding about the future of the Wii and DS creator. Facing questions about the company losing its edge as its competitors adopt motion-sensing tech and the iPhone proliferates as a mobile gaming platform in the West, president Satoru Iwata fired back in a Japanese investor briefing. "I cannot understand at all why some people come to think that Nintendo has ...[?]
- RedLynx Intentionally Leaked Trials To Torrent Sites
Piracy is a rampant problem in particular for small PC developers, but Trials HD developer RedLynx says it's looking at ways to leverage the issue to its benefit -- like leaking its PC game Trials 2 to torrent sites alongside its commercial release. "Piracy is here, so how can we take advantage of that?" posed RedLynx CEO Tero Virtala, speaking at a Develop Liverpool panel reported on by GamesIndustry.biz. "What we did actually, on day ...[?]
- Top-Grossing iPhone Apps: Doom, Red Alert Challenge Rock Band
Every week, sister iPhone site FingerGaming rounds up the top-grossing iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as current that day in the iTunes App Store, and this chart is now available on Gamasutra. This week's U.S. iPhone revenue charts see EA's mobile version of Rock Band leading over Command & Conquer: Red Alert and a recently released port of id Software's classic FPS Doom. This relatively recently-added chart allows end users to see who is making ...[?]
[edit] Ten Ton Hammer Feed
- Loading... Fabled or Forgotten? - Ten Ton Hammer
- # 1,203 - Have holiday events taken the thunder out of anniversary celebrations?
Once upon a time in the magical land of MMOGs, in-game anniversary celebrations set the bar for what would become one of the staples of the industry in the years to follow. Much of the more recent flood of holiday themed events came into being thanks in large part to how developers formerly opted to commemorate milestones in the overall lifecycle of their creations. With two such major milestones just around the corner, we take a look at how one of these events stacks up to the celebrations of yesteryear today in Loading… Fabled or Forgotten?
[?] - Loading... DragonAge: Origins First Impressions - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,202 - A spattering of thoughts on how great story can carry choppy gameplay.DragonAge: Origins is perhaps the most anticipated Fantasy RPG of the year, and with good reason. It's a BioWare game (need we say more?) and its production values are top notch, but how does its novel group-based gameplay stack up? While our full-blown review is coming next week, join us for some initial impressions of DragonAge, thoughts on whether DDO Unlimited is going a step too far by putting levels and items on sale, patch previews, and much more in today's Loading... DragonAge: Origins First Impressions. [?]
- Loading... No Bad Words - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,201 - There are no bad words, but plenty of bad intentions.We all have different tolerance thresholds when it comes to language--what some find offensive, others shrug off. Words aren't innately bad; it's the intention behind them that matters. But are some words always derogatory, and thus people who use them always offensive? Despite a gaming culture littered with a certain offensive word, to the point that we're all but immune to it, I say yes. Read up on the latest video gaming bad word scandal in today's Loading... No Bad Words. [?]
- Loading... Dragon Age Origins - Now Available on the Everything - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,200 - How to decide on which platform to buy your gamesToday is Dragon Age: Origins Day! Even though not an official holiday, it should be. BioWare's biggest RPG hits the shelves today, and Ten Ton Hammer Executive Editor, Benjamin J. de la Durantaye, has a hard time deciding which version of the game to buy. With ports for the PC, Xbox, and PS3, the decision isn't an easy one; but in the end, will it matter? [?]
- Loading... Expansion Month? - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,199 - November used to be the month of expacs... what changed?November used to be the month of MMO expansions, now it seems like every developer is angling for their own spot on a crowded release date calendar. What's behind a mostly expac-less month this year? Is December the new November? Thoughts on this topic, plus links to Brad McQuaid and Star Trek Online interviews you don't want to miss in today's Loading... Expansion Month? [?]
- Loading... When XP Is Not Enough - Ten Ton Hammer
- How much xp is too much? Is there such a thing? With less and less patience from gamers now, why bother having it at all? Join us today as we mourn the loss of experience point value in Loading... When XP is Not Enough [?]
- Loading... Less Tricks, More Treats - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,197 - MMOG mechanics that should go the way of the dinosaurWe all have them – the MMOG mechanics that drive us bonkers each time we see them crop up again in a newly released title. The things that leave us scratching our head and wondering if the industry has progressed at all over the years in spite of all the fancy new graphics and vaunted voice acting. Since Halloween is universally known as a time of sharing, Reuben “Sardu” Waters takes a look at a few of the MMOG mechanics that haunt him in the wee hours of the night today in Loading… Less Tricks, More Treats! [?]
- Loading... A Grind by Any Other Game - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,196 - Can grinding be fun? It all depends on the game.Peruse any MMOG forum and you'll hear the same criticism over and over: "[Insert Game Title] is nothing but a grind." But are those words critical or merely factual? Perhaps MMOGs are a grind by their very nature. And perhaps the grind isn't such a bad thing.Join us as we explore the grind factor in today's Loading... A Grind by any other Game. [?]
- Loading... Laryngitis - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,195 - Voice chat vs. text chat - fight!Voice chat has improved at a lightning pace over the past few years, yet the non-raiding, non-coop PvP MMO crowd still emphatically prefers the plain comforts of decades-old text chat. Raids and tactics aside, why can't we overcome our general chat laryngitis? Is the problem (as usual) everyone else, or are there a few things developers could do to support communication whether you prefer the chat box or the voice box? Our thoughts in Loading... Laryngitis. [?]
- Loading... The Sinking Sub - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,194 - What can save the subscription model, and should it be saved?Ten to twelve years ago, players got nothing more than the ability to play an MMO and an occasional minor patch for the price of the monthly subscription. The rise of subscription-free gaming led to "content updates," free expansions, and other attempt to periodically add value to subscription games, but is there a simpler, simpler approach? Our thoughts in today's Loading... The Sinking Sub. [?]
- Loading... Halloweenery - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,193 - Ten holiday events that offer MMO players plenty of tricks and treats.Ah, fall. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and the evil undead are rising up to eat our brains. Halloween is always a popular season for MMO holiday events, and there's no shortage of werewolves, demons, and ghouls in your favorite MMOs this year. (The most fearful apparition of all, Zombie Cthulhu Boy Band, remains to be discovered. Maybe next year.) We'll list all the Halloween events for your favorite MMOs and demonstrate why the Halloween event is important (perhaps indispensable) to the gamer psyche in Loading... Halloweenery. [?]
- Loading... Shadows and Sparks - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,191 - Can Aion overcome the 1 month subscription hurdle?Today caps the end of the first month for Aion here in the western market. Historically speaking tomorrow will be one of the most important landmark dates for the game, as players stop to analyze the question of whether or not to continue their subscriptions. Join Reuben “Sardu” Waters as he takes a closer look at what the future might hold for the newest MMOG on the block today in Loading… Shadows and Sparks. [?]
- Loading... Follow the Leader - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,186 - A quick look at MMO subscription fees over the past 12 years.Look at subscription MMO pricing behavior over the course of its short history, and you'll discover some interesting things. Since the market has more than doubled since 2005, why haven't subscription fees changed? Are we paying more or less per month (factoring in inflation) than we were in 1999? When are we due for another increase? Evidence and thoughts regarding these questions in today's Loading... Follow the Leader. [?]
- Loading... Oct 16, 2009 - Sucking the Culture Out - Ten Ton Hammer
- How banning foreign investments could turn the MMOG market a little whacky
Welcome to the 1,188th edition of Loading...
Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.
Talk of banning foreign investments in... [?] - Loading... Oct 16, 2009 - Sucking the Culture Out - Ten Ton Hammer
- How banning foreign investments could turn the MMOG market a little whacky
Welcome to the 1,188th edition of Loading...
Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.
Talk of banning foreign investments in... [?] - Loading... Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy - Ten Ton Hammer
- Are we a generation of spoiled whiners?MMOGs are amazing. Just a couple decades ago we could have never imagined the technology we have today. And yet, if official forums and other outlets for pissing and moaning are any indication, none of us are happy. Are we a generation of spoiled whiners? Join me, Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg, as I try to answer this question in Loading... Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy. [?]
- Loading... An Uncanny Resemblance - Ten Ton Hammer
- Are childlike character models approaching creepy?Asian MMOGs often employ an art style that embraces youth. Aion, created by NCSoft Korea and westernized for North America and Europe, is no exception. But when do childlike character models in a MMOG approach creepy, or even just plain wrong? Join me, Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg, on a journey through the Uncanny Valley in today's Loading... An Uncanny Resemblance. [?]
- Loading... Competitive by Nature, Casual by Necessity - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,186 - Does life eventually make casual gamers of us all?There's certainly a subset of MMO gamers who are ultra-competitive. These power gamers race to the level cap, duke it out endlessly in PvP to stay near the top of the leaderboards, and aren't satisfied with anything less than the best gear. But staying on top takes a great deal of time and commitment that the average MMO player, the one with a career and family life, just doesn't have. It's to those gamers, the ones who have competitive spirits yet lack the ability or willingness to let MMO gaming consume their lives, that I dedicate this issue of Loading... Competitive by Nature, Casual by Necessity. [?]
- Loading... The Win Condition - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,185 - Soloers can't "win" at an MMORPG, but maybe co-op gamers still can. In the beginning, MMORPGs were social experiences. Then came the idea of "playing alone together" and group support took a back seat to a polished solo experience in many MMOs. Continuing last week's thoughts on the renaissance of grouped play in MMOs, today's column calls not for a return to clueless PUGs and lengthy grouped sessions where nothing gets done, but for a new wave of group support tools that make low- and mid-level grouping fun and worthwhile again. It's all in Loading... The Win Condition. [?]
- Loading... Sight for Sore Eyes - Ten Ton Hammer
- #1,184 - Gunnar has optics geared for gamers, but do these glasses make the cut?One of the more interesting products I've had the pleasure of reviewing lately wasn't a game at all. Gunnar Optiks has created a line of glasses for gamers, complete with stylish and functional designs said to reduce eyestrain for those who spend countless hours in front of a computer. Using my prescription glasses and a pair of similarly shaped and tinted shooting glasses for reference, we'll examine Gunnar's claims in today's Loading... Sight for Sore Eyes. [?]
[edit] The Escapist Feed
- A View From the Trenches
Most strategy games take a somewhat streamlined approach to warmongering. But one game has built its reputation on portraying combat in almost microscopic detail: Best Way's Men of War. Jim Rossignol sings the praises of this little-known Ukrainian RTS.
[?]- The Agony of Defeat
Typically, videogames about war are only interested in portraying the winners' perspective. But one World War II simulation discards the standard hero narrative in favor of a much deeper, darker and more nuanced approach. Rob Zacny explains why Silent Hunter III is a model of how to tell the losing side of a war story.
[?]- The New Basic Training
Thanks to movies and videogames, today's military recruits have more exposure to combat than those of any period in history. But when soldiers take unnecessary risks in the name of playing the hero, this exposure becomes a liability. Shawn Williams investigates how entertainment media's glorification of war may affect modern soldiers.
[?]- Wargaming Through the Ages
First-person shooters and RTSs may be modern inventions, but they're really only the latest in a long line of games that attempt to simulate the experience of combat. Greg Tito offers an overview of the history of wargames, from Ancient Egypt's Senet to Prussia's Kriegsspiel.
[?]- Pilgrimage to Mecha
Earlier this year, Namco Bandai celebrated the 30th anniversary of the seminal mecha series Mobile Suit Gundam with a life-size statue of its hero's iconic battle armor. But the country's love affair with robots goes much further back than Gundam. John Funk sheds some light on why robots - especially those of the "giant, fighting" variety - are so popular in the Land of the Rising Sun.
[?]- Notorious R.O.B.
Nowadays it's assumed that Mario has always been Nintendo's chief mascot. But for a brief period in the mid-'80s, that duty fell to an unlikely character: Nintendo's Robotic Operating Buddy. Sam Machkovech explains what went wrong with the ill-fated robot, and how his influence nonetheless lives on in modern games.
[?]- Electric Soul
Robots in science fiction often serve to remind us of what we're not: nuts and bolts versus blood and guts; unflinching steel versus frail flesh. But one videogame robot's story is more personal than those of his human companions: Chrono Trigger's Robo. Brendan Main examines what makes Robo more than just another mechanical sidekick.
[?]- A Brief History Of Artificial Life
A mechanical monk in the court of the Holy Roman Emperor in 1560 and a videogame NPC in 2009 have more in common than you think. Jim Rossignol looks at the history of automata and how they've managed to captivate audiences for millennia.
[?]- The Road to Recovery
Most of us have experienced the gaming binge, when you become one with a game and time becomes irrelevant. But for Connor Scully-Allison, it's more than just a way to spend a weekend: It's a path to lead him back to his hardcore gamer roots.
[?]- So Many Games, So Little Time
It's a sad fact of adulthood that you simply have less free time to do the things you want. For Ronald Meeus, that means buying games with more manageable single-player campaigns. So why is eight to ten hours of gameplay too short for most reviewers?
[?]- Behind the Counter at GameStop
Ever since he was a young boy, Jason Fanelli had a dream: to sell games at a specialty retailer like GameStop. Over a decade later, that dream finally became a reality. But would actually working behind the counter live up to his expectations?
[?]- Gaming Isn't Brain Surgery
Don't have enough time to stay current with the latest videogame releases? Imagine if you only had a few minutes a week to even think about gaming. Rich Retractor explains how his career as a brain surgeon leaves little room for games - and how they've become even more to him because of that.
[?]- TGI: Power in the Making
It seems an unlikely strategy at first: Join up with your competitors to promote your region and hope everyone reaps the benefits. But what has succeeded for Montreal and Austin is now benefitting the game development community in central North Carolina. Russ Pitts profiles the Triangle Game Initiative.
[?]- Obsolescence Pending: Rating the ESRB
To some observers, it may seem like the ESRB has hit its stride: It boasts some of the best compliance rates of any ratings system in the U.S., and parents seem to find the ratings genuinely useful. But as Sara Grimes notes, the Board may be willfully ignorant of the challenges it faces just around the corner.
[?]- Change We Can Believe In
The International Game Developers Association could be a force for positive change in the industry - but first it needs to change itself. Matthew Sakey highlights a few key areas where the IGDA needs reform.
[?]- M is for Massive
We're living in the age of Massive - MMORPGs, MMORTSs, MMOFPSs and so on. But what does the word actually mean? Brendan Main parses the terminology behind today's most popular online games.
[?]- Not That There's Anything Wrong With That
For straight gamers, videogames can often be an escape from a painful reality. But for gay gamers, videogames offer little respite from prejudice and homophobia. Robert Yang recalls his experience developing a Half-Life 2 mod featuring gay characters and the response it provoked.
[?]- Too Gay for the U.S.A.
Traditionally, Japanese developers haven't shied away from depicting gay and transgender characters in their games. But when these titles make their way overseas, it's a different story. Andrew Webster looks at how publishers have censored gay characters for North American audiences.
[?]- Straight and Narrow
Hateful name-calling on Xbox Live isn't the only kind of homophobia that gay gamers have to endure; there's also the conspicuous lack of gay characters in single-player titles. Alice Bonasio speaks with Peter Molyneux, George Skleres and Chris Vizzini about how developers can include more gay perspectives in their games.
[?]- Dude Looks Like a Lady
It's easy to feel sorry for the videogame princess: While the hero is off slaying dragons, her job is to wait around looking pretty. But one digital damsel refuses to be a victim. Brendan Main takes a closer look at the character of Sheik from The Legend of Zelda.
[?]- Parting Ways With Our NPCs
Sometimes it's hard for game designers to let go - they spend weeks, months, even years creating characters out of thin air, only to watch them recede into the distance after the series stalls. Brenda Brathwaite speaks with a number of prominent designers about the NPCs they miss the most.
[?]- Why Your Game Idea Sucks
Do you have an idea for a game so original with a story so amazing that it'll make you millions while simultaneously curing cancer and saving the whales? You might not want to get your hopes up. Erin Hoffman explains why your game idea isn't all it's cracked up to be - and why that might not be such a bad thing after all.
[?]- The Language of the Game
Ever felt the need to shout "ding!" after a raise or a promotion? Then you're already familiar with the concept of "talking in Game." Pat Miller takes a closer look at how gamers are communicating with each other the best way they can: by mining their favorite games for terminology.
[?]- Anyone Can Play Guitar
Guitar Hero and Rock Band may have ended up in living rooms across the globe, but they started out in a lab at MIT. Ronald Meeus interviews Professor Tod Machover about how his technology, the Hyperinstrument, and his tutelage of Harmonix's founders helped lead to a new way to appreciate music.
[?]- The Ludicrous
This year has been a good one for Felicia Day and the cast and crew of The Guild. The show recently partnered with Microsoft to offer episodes via Xbox Live, and the Season One and Two DVDs are now available wherever DVDs are sold. That's why this week, as part of our issue on comedy, we decided to reprint this interview with Day and the cast of The Guild, first published last year in Issue 147 of The Escapist.
[?]
[edit] Lost Souls Public Changelog Feed
- updated OIA spell Disperse Personal Flame
[?]# 4518 Type content revision By Lysator When Nov 8 2009 12:44 PM Description As per several requests, Disperse Personal Flame now has some additinal features. It lowers your heat and fire energies, and removes all of your personal enchantments. This means OIA now have a controllable means of dropping Immolate. It also reduces your resistance to heat and flame, which makes Cauterize a viable self-healing spell once again. Resistance reduction times were modified to facilitate energy recovery and casting of healing spells, which works in conjunction with recent adjustments in energy costs across all guild spells. Result OIA have a bit more control over the duration of their personal enchantments Reason Several players had made the request, and I finally got around to facilitating the request. Projects Ordo Ignis Aeternis Version not updated Rating Rate "updated OIA spell Disperse Personal Flame" - decommissioned the Hotel California
[?]# 4510 Type content revision By Chaos When Oct 30 2009 3:18 PM Description Removed the Hotel California area. Result Area decommissioned. Reason Okay, we've made our pop culture reference, let's move on. Projects Exoma Version not updated Rating Rate "decommissioned the Hotel California" - Kazarak join process modifications
[?]# 4509 Type content revision By Chaos When Oct 29 2009 4:19 PM Description Modified the Kazarak join process to make it abundantly clear that the person you previously were dies in the process, and you are now playing the kazar demon. Because of this, new Kazarak will have their alignment and ethics changed to neutral evil. Result Nature of Kazarak clearer. Reason Clarity. Projects Kazarak Version not updated Rating Rate "Kazarak join process modifications" - formaxians -> katakacha
[?]# 4506 Type content revision By Chaos When Oct 29 2009 3:13 PM Description Renamed formaxians to katakacha, with some history revision that properly integrates them with Travelers, the world's timeline, and the kazar. Result The crystal weapons Travelers use are called katakacha. Reason Because. Projects Travelers Version not updated Rating Rate "formaxians -> katakacha"
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