Virtual Worlds - Past, Present and Future Flashcards
Definition of a Virtual World
It must have underlying, automated rules that enable
players to effect changes to it – its physics.
Players represent single individuals “in” the world
through which they act – their character
Interaction takes place in real time.
The world is shared.
The world is persistent.
The world is not Reality.
When do Virtual Worlds formally begin and who started them?
October 1978.
Roy Trubshaw and Richard Bartle.
Version 3 is the version that catches on, which is known as MUD1.
Which game introduced the concept of levels? And when?
Dungeons and Dragons.
1976/1977
State one of the earliest “Choose your own adventure games” and what was different about it.
The Solo Dungeon.
It was open-ended.
State a few differences in development of Virtual Worlds back in 1978.
Teletypes and punched. cards were used for I/O. No internet. No "fantasy" genre. Very few computer games. Computers were less powerful.
When was the “First Age” of Virtual Worlds?
From 1978 to 1985.
In which occasions were Virtual Worlds reinvented?
5 Times:
- Sceptre of Goth (originally EMPIRE)
- Avatar
- Island of Kesmai
- Habitat
- Monster
When Virtual Worlds was reinvented, who has done this and when?
Sceptre of Goth -> Alan Klietz 1978
Avatar -> Bruce Maggs, Andrew Shapira and David Sides 1979
Island of Kesmai -> Kelton Flinn and John Taylor 1981
Habitat -> Randy Farmer and Chip Morningstar 1985
Monster -> Rich Skrenta 1989
Which game has not have any ascendants?
Avatar
Which game was the first to display graphics?
Island of Kesmai (with ASCII)
When was the second age of Virtual Worlds?
1985 to 1989.
What other independent Virtual Worlds were written by players of MUD?
MUD1, Shades, Gods, Mirrorworld and Federation II
What is the Great Schism? How did this happen?
The separation of game-oriented games and social-oriented games.
1989, Jim Aspnes creates TINYMUD - drops all game elements and concentrates on building.
Eventually three social world branches come to existance: Mucks, Mushes and Moos.
Which social game was the most famous?
LambdaMoo (Second Life of its day).
When was the third age of Virtual Worlds? What started it?
1989-1995
The schism started it.
