Comments on: VW vs. MMOG

By: Ryan Shwayder

Ryan Shwayder — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 06:23:33 +0000

I’ll Netflix Alien Planet if they have it. On the comment about creatures not spawning unless someone’s nearby, they do. At least in EverQuest II, there are creatures around even if nobody is in the zone.

By: chabuhi

chabuhi — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 20:53:32 +0000

I think VW’s can exist without being games, however I think many users have difficulty occupying VW’s without trying to play them as a game. Second Life or Project Entropia, for example, are probably the two prime examples of “game-less” (or “goal free”) VW’s out there. Yet “games” grow out of the very process of simply existing in the VW with your avatar. You are trying to achieve *something*, aren’t you?

By: jwmaynar

jwmaynar — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:07:57 +0000

Wow, that’s some interesting stuff. I think I’ll pop over to the forum and chime in. I have a few sticking points with your definitions though.

By: Shade2074

Shade2074 — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 05:52:42 +0000

I’ve always thought of Virtual Worlds as something along the lines of Alien Planet. (I believe it still on the air but they also put it out on DVD, if you haven’t seen it already it’s worth watching) Here’s a link : http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/alienplanet/alienplanet.html

‘Virtual World’ being something that is created by a programmer with ‘the basic laws of nature’ set in place. A world set up with its own virtual Eco system(s) where many ‘programs’ or virtual organisms within these virtual environment(s) will interact with each other with no outside influence from we who are observing it. A world that is capable of evolving along many paths. The above example was so intricate that the programmers themselves even learned new things while just watching it.

I’ve always dreamed of playing a game that would be a merging of the two concepts – a Virtual World that not only responds to it’s own sub programs (so it could conceivably evolve and grow without any outside influence at all such as the previous example) but also reacts and interacts with people entering that virtual world; perhaps even shaping that worlds future. Can you imagine a game such as this where once it leaves the programmers hands it grows and changes all on it’s own so that even the programmer that gave it birth won’t know what it will ultimately become…

By: Zygwen

Zygwen — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:56:46 +0000

That begs the question,

If a creature spawns in the middle of a forest and no one sees it, did it really spawn?

By: Cael

Cael — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 06:36:01 +0000

“The NPCs would still have their jobs, and there would still be creatures roaming the landscape.”

Given that creatures usually only spawn when there’s someone to see them, i’d dispute that.

By: Massive Multiplayer Online Games | MassMOG.com - MMORPG Game News & Info

Massive Multiplayer Online Games | MassMOG.com - MMORPG Game News & Info — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

that asks the question “Are Virtual Worlds and MMOGs distinct from one another? If so, what are the distinctions?” …I know, I know.. that’s a flurry of links all at once there, but I think you can handle it. TheNerfbat article is probably a good place to start this journey since it provides a solid introduction to the topic followed by Ryan’s opinions. He starts with his definitions of each and rolls from there: Massively Multiplayer Online Game

By: Quylein the Mage

Quylein the Mage — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

[IMG ] In the past few days when I’ve had time enough to sit down and enjoy EQ2 I have pondered about NPC’s and various actions. It kind of hit me even more when reading aboutNerfbats Virtual worlds vs. MMO’s. I won’t get into the little debate I just brought it up because it made me think about my MMO world. I like emersion and the feeling as if something is going on. Like the feeling the first time you go into Nektulos castle or

By: Massively Multiplayer Online Round Table

Massively Multiplayer Online Round Table — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

s on the far end of the spectrum, though. According to the thread in the tavern, not too many people agree with me. Check out that thread for more on the VW vs. MMOG discussion. posted by Ryan “Blackguard” Shwayder @ 8:50 pm Comments Off

By: Thames's Blog

Thames's Blog — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

. The possibilities are limitless. There are many more, but I’m trying to keep this post somewhat shorter than a novel. After all this talk one would think that a MMOG is a Virtual World. I tend to think so, buthere is an opposite take on it and here. Now that we have created this virtual world and are doing real work…….. wait….. this is starting to sound a lot like The Matrix. Are we actually batteries or doing work for someone else. Are we the super computer to find the