[MUD-Dev] Re: Trusting the Client (Re: Laws of Online World D esign)

["Koster, Raph" <rkoster#origin,ea.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vadim Tkachenko [mailto:vt#freehold,crocodile.org]
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 1998 10:29 PM
> To: mud-dev#kanga,nu
> Subject: [MUD-Dev] Re: Trusting the Client (Re: Laws of Online World D
> esign)
> 
> 
> Steve Sparks wrote:
> 
> [skipped]
> 
> > > And, the crackers play a positive role as well - I doubt 
> your losses
> > > would be THAT bad if even you charge $20/hour, but they 
> will definitely
> > > spot the weak links in your system, and ultimately you 
> will thank them.
> > 
> > This is true, and the people who write the "crack" programs do you a
> > service sometimes but most of the time it disrupts normal 
> play....whatever
> > thing might be....
> 
> Now, back to school. What is a definition of a normal play?

Strict: play that obeys the intent of the rules created by the games'
designers.

Loose: whatever keeps the most players happy.

Crack programs break both of these. I have NEVER seen a game where
prevalence of hack programs was regarded as a good thing by either the
designers or the playerbase as a whole.

-Raph