Post by Morreion on Jan 18, 2010 7:48:13 GMT -5
Evolution as it does and doesn't apply to MMOs (Massively)
MMOs: Living games (Of Teeth & Claws)
Perfection would be a fatal flaw for evolution (Killed in a Smiling Accident)
We Need A Mutant MMO (We Fly Spitfires)
Those of you familiar with evolutionary science might be quirking your eyebrow a bit, as did Of Teeth and Claws, where it was pointed out that mutation is a part of evolution. Continuing the analogy, it's a part of the slow improvement we see in our genre of choice, as the source leading to feature implementation and improvement. And as Killed in a Smiling Accident added, evolution is not a straight line, nor does it select features based on inherent quality -- the current "standard features" have evolved because they're best at succeeding in the current environment (that is, the market).
Ultimately, aside from fascinating extension of the analogy, the biggest point to be taken away from both this discussion and the previous one is that change in the genre isn't something which will happen overnight. While the powerful influence that World of Warcraft has placed upon the genre is beginning to abate a bit, it'll be quite some time before it's discarded wholesale.
Ultimately, aside from fascinating extension of the analogy, the biggest point to be taken away from both this discussion and the previous one is that change in the genre isn't something which will happen overnight. While the powerful influence that World of Warcraft has placed upon the genre is beginning to abate a bit, it'll be quite some time before it's discarded wholesale.
MMOs: Living games (Of Teeth & Claws)
Evolution is not a discrete operation, it is a complex one that, in genetic programming, is made up of two operations: crossover and mutation. Crossover mimics reproduction in nature, and is a chance for two different organisms to share their genes in order to create a new organism. Mutation, on the other hand, is accomplished by randomly changing the values of genes and is used to introduce novelty into the system and prevent stagnation. Long term evolution is impossible without mutation, and difficult without crossover. Thus, the minor features that Gordon observes and the sweeping changes that he hopes will happen are both evolutionary - only the scale differs.
Perfection would be a fatal flaw for evolution (Killed in a Smiling Accident)
Something that struck me from an Introduction to Evolution was:
“Evolution is not progress. Evolution is not “improvement”; it is simply change. These changes can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the situation. Evolution may seem progressive at times, because beneficial traits tend to out-compete less helpful traits under selection. However, evolution does not aspire toward any goal; there is no such thing as ‘backward evolution’ or ‘de-evolution’ because there is also no ‘forward evolution’ — evolution does not move in any particular direction.”
Change “the situation” to “the player’s perspective”, and that’s an interesting take on it.
“Evolution is not progress. Evolution is not “improvement”; it is simply change. These changes can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the situation. Evolution may seem progressive at times, because beneficial traits tend to out-compete less helpful traits under selection. However, evolution does not aspire toward any goal; there is no such thing as ‘backward evolution’ or ‘de-evolution’ because there is also no ‘forward evolution’ — evolution does not move in any particular direction.”
Change “the situation” to “the player’s perspective”, and that’s an interesting take on it.
We Need A Mutant MMO (We Fly Spitfires)
...I wanted to add the following point to the debate: mutation. I think we can all accept that MMORPGs are evolving and providing some sort of innovation however I personally feel that the rate of which seems to have declined over the past few years. We now see evolutions of minor features, like guild windows, instead of sweeping and grand gestures that drive the industry forward. Mutation, the anomalies which bring radical changes and ideas to the table, are necessary in order to challenge the status quo. As I was taught on my Evolutionary Computing course, without mutation your gene pool will stagnate and cease to diverge and you will never reach the optimum solution.
I think that’s what die-hard MMO gamers, such as myself and Keen and Graev, are looking for - a mutant MMO. We need a game that’s radically different from what’s currently on the market in order to excite us and stimulate new growth. It may fail completely but if it succeeded, it could radically change the way future games develop.
Evolution is based upon the principle of natural selection and survival of the fittest. MMORPGs are evolving and the fittest are surviving yet what we’re lacking is mutation. Mutation increases divergence and the ultimate chance of success. To put it another way, if we don’t start seeing some mutations soon, we’ll end up with a lot of inbred MMOs.
I think that’s what die-hard MMO gamers, such as myself and Keen and Graev, are looking for - a mutant MMO. We need a game that’s radically different from what’s currently on the market in order to excite us and stimulate new growth. It may fail completely but if it succeeded, it could radically change the way future games develop.
Evolution is based upon the principle of natural selection and survival of the fittest. MMORPGs are evolving and the fittest are surviving yet what we’re lacking is mutation. Mutation increases divergence and the ultimate chance of success. To put it another way, if we don’t start seeing some mutations soon, we’ll end up with a lot of inbred MMOs.
