I'm wondering if the need for advanced parsing and AI is becoming diminished by increasing amounts of online multiplayer interaction. There are so many people playing games these days where they don't need worry about what they type because the "parser" interpreting their input is another human brain.
That's an interesting point. At least two of the IMPS mentioned that MMOs seem to represent the future of IF, or at least that's where they saw the most influence of Zork and the like. My problem with that is that it's always good in theory, but then you login and realize you're dealing with cretins. The only way it would really work well is with the right group, and that's very hard to find. Again, it's not unlike real AD&D. To really get the most out of it, you have to have so many things--very smart and nimble DM, very fun group willing to do "get into the role," and so on. If even one element is off, it can throw off the whole thing. It takes a lot of talent all around.
I know a few times people have hired professionals to try to do this stuff. A MMO could feature paid actors, for instance, to really provide atmosphere and make the quests muich more interesting than just simple "instances," or whatever the hell they call it. I just don't think it will ever be efficient though. You really need to have this programmed in, and it needs to be much better than any "NPC" we have today. I can imagine how great it'd be if they could pull if off. You could even have "gossip magazines" about what the NPCs were doing, because even the developers wouldn't be able to predict precisely what would happen.
That's also interesting about the doppleganger. It does sound like good stuff for a novel or movie! "Your virtual self has abducted your family! You're their only chance, because he thinks just like you--only much faster." Heeheh.
I'm wondering if the need for advanced parsing and AI is becoming diminished by increasing amounts of online multiplayer interaction. There are so many people playing games these days where they don't need worry about what they type because the "parser" interpreting their input is another human brain.
That's an interesting point. At least two of the IMPS mentioned that MMOs seem to represent the future of IF, or at least that's where they saw the most influence of Zork and the like. My problem with that is that it's always good in theory, but then you login and realize you're dealing with cretins. The only way it would really work well is with the right group, and that's very hard to find. Again, it's not unlike real AD&D. To really get the most out of it, you have to have so many things--very smart and nimble DM, very fun group willing to do "get into the role," and so on. If even one element is off, it can throw off the whole thing. It takes a lot of talent all around.
I know a few times people have hired professionals to try to do this stuff. A MMO could feature paid actors, for instance, to really provide atmosphere and make the quests muich more interesting than just simple "instances," or whatever the hell they call it. I just don't think it will ever be efficient though. You really need to have this programmed in, and it needs to be much better than any "NPC" we have today. I can imagine how great it'd be if they could pull if off. You could even have "gossip magazines" about what the NPCs were doing, because even the developers wouldn't be able to predict precisely what would happen.
That's also interesting about the doppleganger. It does sound like good stuff for a novel or movie! "Your virtual self has abducted your family! You're their only chance, because he thinks just like you--only much faster." Heeheh.
Matt Barton, Managing Editor
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
Email: matt@armchairarcade.com