Driftwurld: Hail to the King

This wouldn't be the hell king - more like one of his underling. Even a grunt. That's how powerful the hell king is!

You know, I've really got to code in the threat of the HellDrift King for my browser game, Driftwurld, into the raptor slayage code.

See, it's about time he showed up as a threat. Before, you were so living on the fringes it's like the roaches living inside the walls of your house, you just don't notice them. But once the roaches build a little fort...

The idea was I add a variable to the database to indicate the HellKing's notice, which also gives a message when you log in. Each day there is a chance of it going up (or...down...maybe!). Once it gets to a certain point, he simply sends a minor force to wipe out your fortification.

It's supposed to annoy you - it makes him a bad guy who actually affects the world. Unlike those in warcraft, who only affect anything once your in a raid with them.

Besides, you can buy a basic new fort for $1500, which is a sting but not the worst...

Driftwurld: Teaming with possibilities!

At the moment I'm working on a method of forming a party in Driftwurld.

The idea is that you work as a team by each of you dealing with a random scenario that you face. You then have a number of options you can choose from as a response, one of which is the right response (which you discover either by experimentation (or paying!) then need to remember it (it's a small memory game).

The response you give is actually sent to another player as a signal. When they log in, they see the signal you gave as to what action to take and they have a number of options shown to them. Their part in the team play is to follow the direction you gave them and hit that option.

If they do and you gave the right signal to begin with, you get tactical strength points, which make the battle a hell of alot easier (read: less horrifically expensive) to fight.

And likewise, they will be getting a random scenario and then sending a signal to you to respond to as they direct as well. It's like everyones giving each other commands - so everyones the leader for a moment, telling others what to do, then it switches around equally and you follow their directions. Do it all right and you grow strong as a team!

Two Player MMORPG

Of course, eventually you'd end up hitting each other, streets of rage style...

Sounds funny, doesn't it? A two player mmorpg.

Yet I've thought about this for ages and would really like it!

What I mean is that two people can play from one computer. So you can actually journey together through the mystical world. Remember the old fashioned version of together, which didn't involve squinting at a chat box or wearing a headset?

Maybe split screen, or maybe both on one screen (ala lego star wars).

Maybe I should try and make a browser game like that, some day...?

Are you really playing that mmorpg?

I just realised one thing that bugs me about traditional mmorpgs play method.

Okay, here's the contrast - imagine a browser game that gives you say 24 action points per day. And it takes about five minutes to use them all up.

Okay, now say you only ever used 2 of those action points a day, on average. Would you say your really playing the game? I mean, it's only 2 your using - how much of the game can you be playing?


Now, astute reader, you've obviously recognised why I used 24 action points. Because a mmorpg gives you 24 hours of play per day. But how much do you play for?

Two hours a day, maybe?

Are you really playing the game at that rate?

Hey, loser, play our game!

Wow, Travian advertising opts for the non conventional approach again! Previously the 'Play (with my boobies) my lord' adverts were infamous (and entirely miss leading of content).

Now...well, you have to self identify as a nobody...I suspect the guy in charge doesn't actually have a sense of conscience. Well, you can imagine that - you see anyone else in the world but you as mere pawns to you. Meat puppets. Of course such an advert makes sense to you.

Though the horrid truth is, don't we all use these games as a pecking order/keeping up with the jones's method, to some degree? Must have the epic purple Jimmy got last week?

GOGOGOGOGOGO ANDY!