Comments on: Cooking by the Book http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/ a group of adventurers on an epic quest Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:21:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Losing the Illusion of Permanence at Kill Ten Rats http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-25969 Losing the Illusion of Permanence at Kill Ten Rats Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:30:14 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-25969 [...] tide comes in. You have sand again. It might be fun making sand castles, but that fun is more like baking a cake than raising a barn. We know the barn will be gone someday too, but it is less [...] [...] tide comes in. You have sand again. It might be fun making sand castles, but that fun is more like baking a cake than raising a barn. We know the barn will be gone someday too, but it is less [...]

]]> By: delijoan http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-10165 delijoan Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:13:07 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-10165 erm, the end of it, about the fansites predating the tv show i meant. erm, the end of it, about the fansites predating the tv show i meant.

]]> By: delijoan http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-10164 delijoan Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:12:31 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-10164 hmm, this sounds a lot like the 'snakes on a plane' hype, too... hmm, this sounds a lot like the ’snakes on a plane’ hype, too…

]]> By: Ethic http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-9438 Ethic Fri, 28 Jul 2006 04:45:47 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-9438 Arr Yarr Ahoy and Avast Dig a deep trench, and dig it deep fast Hang the black flag at the end of the mast You are a pirate! ---- I freely admit I watch this show with my kids on occasion. Arr Yarr Ahoy and Avast
Dig a deep trench, and dig it deep fast
Hang the black flag at the end of the mast
You are a pirate!
—-
I freely admit I watch this show with my kids on occasion.

]]> By: Oz http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-9417 Oz Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:47:38 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-9417 "cut twice, then measure, then throw away the saw and blame the lumberjack" is now printed really big and hanging up in my work cube. It is so close to our normal model of work here... Great post Z. You've got a winning way of framing your thoughts! “cut twice, then measure, then throw away the saw and blame the lumberjack”

is now printed really big and hanging up in my work cube. It is so close to our normal model of work here…

Great post Z. You’ve got a winning way of framing your thoughts!

]]> By: Psychochild http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-9407 Psychochild Thu, 27 Jul 2006 08:33:53 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-9407 Very thoughtful post. As a developer, it's definitely a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Giving out information means that you will eventually give out incorrect information: every team has ideas for a ton of things that will never see the light of day (or be delayed to a comic extent, UO Necromancy, anyone?). Eventually one of those ideas that seemed great on paper but unimplementable in reality will be talked about and people will be disappointed. Alternative, not giving out much information frustrates people because they're used to developers giving out tons of information. We've been very careful about what we talk about for <a href="http://www.meridian59.com/" rel="nofollow">Meridian 59</a> because we don't want to give out false information. Part of the gameplay is also figuring out the game systems, so spilling out details would hinder part of the game. But, this doesn't stop people from crying for our blood because we won't commit to a patch schedule. (Ignoring the fact we only have 2 part-time coders on the project these days.) In the end, I agree with one of the main themes: not everyone will be a customer in all games. Every businessperson likes to pretend that they will be able to attract every breathing person with spare cash in the world, the reality is that you will get a subsection of that "market". I think games really need to embrace the niche and give people what they <i>really</i> want, but we have to realize that this means that the game won't appeal to everyone. Carebears won't like a PvP game, Star Trek nerds may not like a Babylon 5 space RPG, etc. That's fine, as long as you can make enough money to keep the game going. My thoughts, Very thoughtful post. As a developer, it’s definitely a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. Giving out information means that you will eventually give out incorrect information: every team has ideas for a ton of things that will never see the light of day (or be delayed to a comic extent, UO Necromancy, anyone?). Eventually one of those ideas that seemed great on paper but unimplementable in reality will be talked about and people will be disappointed.

Alternative, not giving out much information frustrates people because they’re used to developers giving out tons of information. We’ve been very careful about what we talk about for Meridian 59 because we don’t want to give out false information. Part of the gameplay is also figuring out the game systems, so spilling out details would hinder part of the game. But, this doesn’t stop people from crying for our blood because we won’t commit to a patch schedule. (Ignoring the fact we only have 2 part-time coders on the project these days.)

In the end, I agree with one of the main themes: not everyone will be a customer in all games. Every businessperson likes to pretend that they will be able to attract every breathing person with spare cash in the world, the reality is that you will get a subsection of that “market”. I think games really need to embrace the niche and give people what they really want, but we have to realize that this means that the game won’t appeal to everyone. Carebears won’t like a PvP game, Star Trek nerds may not like a Babylon 5 space RPG, etc. That’s fine, as long as you can make enough money to keep the game going.

My thoughts,

]]> By: Kat http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-9404 Kat Thu, 27 Jul 2006 05:46:08 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-9404 I LOVE Lazytown! Great post!! I LOVE Lazytown! Great post!!

]]> By: Nicodemus http://www.killtenrats.com/2006/07/26/cooking-by-the-book/#comment-9403 Nicodemus Thu, 27 Jul 2006 05:28:33 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=765#comment-9403 I'm singing along. Great post. I’m singing along. Great post.

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