Posted by Uli on August 8, 2000 at 14:03:59:

In Reply to: Discussion of the future of Muds, and how they effect us... posted by Not An Immortal on August 8, 2000 at 12:20:52:

> 1) Approximately how many hours have you put into CF total, with
> all your characters? Is there any other form of entertainment that has
> taken near the number of hours as CF?

Uli was my most long-live char, and I had to stop playing her at about
300 hours. So I think total amout is about 1500 hours, not more.
(Though I am ... eh ... visiting CF for 4 years now)

> 2)> there? Ultima Online, Asheron's Call, Everquest, etc? Do you think any
> of them could ever replace what CF means to you?

No I haven't

> 3)Do you think text-based muds will be able to continue to compete
> in the coming years? Will they evolve enough to continue attracting new
> players?

They will survive as long as there are dedicated people to administer/write
them. Ergo, forever.

> 4)When you think of your life 5 years from now, do you imagine
> yourself still playing mud-type games?

I can't play any mud other than CF. So if it is still around, and I am still
around, I'll play it.

> 5)If you had the time, and money/hardware was not a factor, would
> you spend 8 hours a day playing CF in its current form? Would you
> play one of the graphical Pay-muds? Or would you divide your time between
> them, depending on your mood?

8 hours a day are absolutely impossible. Playing CF has much more
impact on your eyes than, say, programming, because you look at the
display much more attentively. So when I feel that my eyes hurt, I know
it's time to say "quit". But I would play as much as I can.
Graphical muds? Unlikely.

> 6)Have you ever forced yourself to quit mudding, only to lose
> control of yourself at some point and find yourself back? Do you or others
> ever look at CF as an addiction or Illness? Have you ever lost a close
> relationship/job/class because you could not pull yourself away from the
> game?

I never tried to quit playing. Face the truth, you are weaker than yourself,
I always told myself. The main problem is that frequently think about CF even
when I don't play. But it never was so much of a problem. I graduated successfully (with
excellence), got a job which I, sorta, like, and I don't think CF is killing me
in any way. I can't live without CF at all, but I don't need large doses.

> 7)Have you ever seriously considered ways to make mudding a paying
> career or job? Have you ever mudded while working, even though it might
> get you in trouble?

Calessin once quoted a barman he was aquainted with:
"You can drink before the work, you can drink after the work, you can drink
during the work, but you can't drink instead of work"
I mean, as far as the work is done, mudding doesn't threaten to get me in trouble.
And if I really feel that I have to do something before I start playing,
I just do it before I play. I am very lawful person in RL.

> I am writing a research report on the future of mud-type games, so am
> interested in any opinions people might have on these topics. Feel free
> to make any other comments or insight on these topics, just keep in mind
> that no matter how pathetic you might think of yourself for putting a
> ton of hours into this game may be, there's always somebody who has played
> more.

Good luck. BTW, care to answer the same questions about yourself? Or are you a
tourist, like Marla Singer from "Fight Club"?

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