From: gmaples@NetConnect.NET (Greg Maples)
Subject: Commercial MUD - Continued
Summary: some responses discussed
Keywords: commercial mud
Organization: Single Source Network Systems, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:58:10 GMT


	A few days ago, I posted an article posing the question 
"what do you think of the idea of a commercial mud?".  

        It's taken me some time to determine exactly how to reply to
some of the responses.  Most of the mail I got was enthusiastic and
encouraging.  One response was hostile and abusive.  A couple of the
letters were unclear on the idea.  Overall, there appears to be a set
of incorrect assumptions in the messages that could have come from my
posting.  If so, let me state the following:

	1: The proposed new MUD will not be based in whole or in part
	   on the code currently existing for ANY known mud system.
	2: We are more than willing, in fact quite pleased, to comply
	   with any and all existing copyright conventions.  These 
           protections will apply to our efforts as well.

	Simply stated, the game we are looking into developing would 
be mud-like, but would not be like any existing mud around today.  As
an example, here are some features we are looking to implement:

	1: Continuous, not 'room to room' movement
	2: Combat and skills totally divorced from the D&D assumptions
           that normal muds are based on.
	3: Implementation of a single, coherent campaign world - all new
	4: Game design by professional game designers from game companies

	Some more examples: See some trees in the description of an
area? They are NOT just description, you could climb them, chop them for
firewood, climb them and see farther, etc.
	Meet an NPC character? Talk to them, get news from around their
home areas, ask them questions, convince them to follow you, etc.  You
might also observe that each of them has a DISTINCT personality.  This
includes background people like farmers and peasants.

	Now to the central point of your letter - why would we want to
charge for it, and why would anyone want to pay to play this game?

	Well... First off, if several professional programmers with
game experience are going to devote a significant part of their lives
for the next couple of years to developing it, they might like to get
paid for their time.  If our company is going to invest in dedicated
hardware, space, power, overhead, etc. just for this game, we might
like to get paid for it.  If we are going to offer cash prizes for the
best roleplaying, quest solutions, etc. it would be nice not to bounce
those checks.  
	Yes, a lot of very nice and dedicated folks are spending a lot
of time running and designing muds for free.  We respect and admire 
those folks.
	However, what we propose is probably beyond the scope of even
the most dedicated mud-hacker.  We're aiming for literally hundreds of
users online at one time, a database of people, places, and events to
be measured in the 100's of megabytes, unlimited access for anyone who
wants to play, etc...

	Is it really so much to ask the the users of this system
pay for the priviledge?  If you're going to pay for access, then
is $1.25 to $2.00 per hour too much to ask?

	Once again, Im very interested in hearing from those of you
that have a response, any response to this proposal.  It wont offend
me to get flamed one way or the other.  I'm a gamer, both rpg-type
and mud-type.  I like the hobby, and I want to advance the state of
the art.  So, let me know what you think.

Greg Maples
gmaples@NChost.NetConnect.NET
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These opinions are mine, all mine...
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