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KaVir · 09-01-2007, 05:27 PM

<Snippy: Removed reference to snipped post - Xerihae>

No, you haven't. In fact I specifically asked if anyone could come up with any situations that didn't fit the four-option system, and nobody has.

You're saying that the following are functionally the same?

1. Everything in the game is free, but you can buy t-shirts from the website.
2. It costs $10 per month to play.
3. Play for free, but costs $1000 perks to create a full strength character.

Don't you think there might be a difference from the perspective of the player who's looking for a new mud to play?

The four-option system also takes into account whether or not money changes hands.

The concept is both clear and accurate, and has already been explained. No examples have yet been provided which aren't clearly and easily identified as being rewarded in game or not.

You'd be clicking on the wrong search box. If you want a game where people can't even buy merchandise, you should have clicked only the last box:

[ ] Payment and/or donations required to play.
[ ] Payment and/or donations accepted, rewarded in-game.
[ ] Payment and/or donations accepted, not rewarded in-game.
[X] Neither Payment nor donations accepted.

No listing option does that. There's no way to guarantee that a mud has been truthful about its creation date, or that an LPMud doesn't list itself as "Custom". If you dismiss the value of options that people could potentially lie about, you'll end up with no search options at all.

But the four-option system is about as clear and unambigious as you can get, and while nobody is likely to find out about the player who slips the mud owner $50 for a secret in-game bonus, neither would your own two-option system.

Is anyone other than the Thresholds actually still arguing in favour of a two-option system?

09-01-2007, 05:27 PM	#309
KaVir Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Name: Richard Home MUD: God Wars II Posts: 2,052	Re: What does "Free" Mean? <Snippy: Removed reference to snipped post - Xerihae> No, you haven't. In fact I specifically asked if anyone could come up with any situations that didn't fit the four-option system, and nobody has. You're saying that the following are functionally the same? 1. Everything in the game is free, but you can buy t-shirts from the website. 2. It costs $10 per month to play. 3. Play for free, but costs $1000 perks to create a full strength character. Don't you think there might be a difference from the perspective of the player who's looking for a new mud to play? The four-option system also takes into account whether or not money changes hands. The concept is both clear and accurate, and has already been explained. No examples have yet been provided which aren't clearly and easily identified as being rewarded in game or not. You'd be clicking on the wrong search box. If you want a game where people can't even buy merchandise, you should have clicked only the last box: [ ] Payment and/or donations required to play. [ ] Payment and/or donations accepted, rewarded in-game. [ ] Payment and/or donations accepted, not rewarded in-game. [X] Neither Payment nor donations accepted. No listing option does that. There's no way to guarantee that a mud has been truthful about its creation date, or that an LPMud doesn't list itself as "Custom". If you dismiss the value of options that people could potentially lie about, you'll end up with no search options at all. But the four-option system is about as clear and unambigious as you can get, and while nobody is likely to find out about the player who slips the mud owner $50 for a secret in-game bonus, neither would your own two-option system. Is anyone other than the Thresholds actually still arguing in favour of a two-option system? Last edited by Xerihae : 09-01-2007 at 06:37 PM.