Intergalactic News Service
Beta 5 doesn’t include any notion of time flow. Nothing is really recorded and past events only remain as a part of the memory of players. However only relying on memory isn’t sufficient if we want to build up a real history. And history is what makes a game alive. As such we are planning to introduce a “true” time flow in Beta 6 as well as an event recording system, which feeds its entries to players through the Intergalactic News Service.
However, this notion of time poses some problems. Considering real life time or server time as the LegacyWorlds time doesn’t make much sense, since the game is supposed to take place in a relatively distant future. However we can’t only rely on a fictional time indication: it is important to inform players about real-life time so that they can infer what to do and when. Therefore we intend to use a dual time system, using both the real-life, “server” time and a fictional LegacyWorlds time.
As stated earlier defining such a time flow allows the recording of events as they occur. Several types of events can be considered. The first set consists in actual in-game events. These events can be unique in the game’s history, such as the first ship in space or the first colonised planet. Others can be recurring events such as random events, alliance creation or disbanding, etc. The second set consists in stories written by the administration team which add depth to the game universe. Of course these stories shouldn’t logically affect any game parameter (we can’t have a story about piracy in an area of space if no-one there sees their income decrease) and they should be impossible to check on by players (we can’t talk of a pest on a planet occupied by a player since he wouldn’t see any pest on the planet). These events can also be used to inform players about changes in rules. The last set consists in players’ requests. Each player can submit a story to be added, story which is reviewed before publication.
The transmission of information recorded in the news system is then fed to players through the Intergalactic News Service. This service can be considered as available in several forms (news on one of the game pages, RSS feeds, etc.) and is backed up as an archive which can be browsed.
What do you think of this idea of an Intergalactic News Service?
What kind of events do you think could be recorded and fed as news?
One issue we have considered is the recording and display of information regarding wars. This is difficult to do since we have no automatic means to know when battles are part of a given war or not. Moreover providing unbiased information regarding wars is difficult (usually each side reports its own perspective) and might not be welcome (stating side A hasn’t lost much so far is intelligence one might not want to see displayed). How do you think this could be managed?
rimtosser:
Well I have always loved the idea of the Intergalactic News Service because, as you have said, it would bring a great deal of depth to the game. I think that all of the mentioned types of events (as well as further into those categories i.e. first battle, first alliance over x members) are really great and the idea of ‘fictional’ stories by the admin team (and maybe general public) is also great. As long as they do not become too untrue (for example a war that didn’t really happen) they should be really good.
Another idea is to have user/admin created stories explaining events that did happen but not necessarily that way. That doesn’t really make sense but if you look at an example, say, a planet with a much smaller fleet successfully defends against a much larger fleet (similar to heroic defence) it would be fun to have someone write a story about how the people of that planet rose up and took arms to help it’s defence force against the horrible enemy.
Regarding wars, there is obviously the issue of bias but there is a fairly good chance that there is someone who isn’t invested in either side who can write a story, if not an admin/user could take it upon themselves to write an unbiased story. If anyone disagrees then they can file a complaint on the story and it can be discussed.
Relating to delicate information, that can be decided by those who that intell actually belongs to and in any case, the story could be written after the war or after that information is valid/applicable.
And just another idea, could there be a group of special users called journalists. These users work for the INS to write stories and could interview presidents, other users and admins as well as just write stories and perhaps editorials (from their own opinions?).
One last thing, the INS could be accompanied by a graphical timeline that highlights the important issues.
Cheers,
April 22, 2008, 6:25 amTimmy
Johns9994:
Can the news system also be used as a sort of event reporter. For example if a meteor shower is occuring in X/X, then the news will report it and so forth, but perhaps make it a bit inaccurate etc
April 25, 2008, 4:30 amTSeeker:
@Both of you:
Most of the INS news will be generated automatically; that is to say that we will write a set of templates for each possible event (possibly only one template for unique events … it’s not like you’re gonna read about the first fleet to enter Hyperspace too often), and that, when such an event occurs, a template from the set will be used. By definition, the INS is not meant to be 100% accurate.
@rimtosser,
Regarding reports about wars, I think it would be best to leave the “action reports” (who killed who) to the automatic generation system, possibly with a bit of delay in order to prevent too much information from being leaked. As I said, the reports would be inaccurate anyways, so it would read like (random short example) “Yesterday, the war between Alliance A and Alliance B took an interesting turn after Alliance A managed to destroy most of Alliance B’s superior forces through ruthless tactics”. This doesn’t give away too much information, and can’t really be biased.
I don’t know if Ju said it (haven’t re-read the post) but yes, there will be a graphical timeline as well - it makes it easier to find the information you’re looking for.
Last thing, I love your idea of “journalist” accounts, but there is still the problem of bias in it. It would require a lot of oversight.
April 25, 2008, 1:24 pmYuckwitte:
OK, if we are going for the News Service I look too another game I play… Merchant Empires for inspiration…
The INS should be a bit like a news paper… It should have a place for humour where people can submit jokes (not too many) or a small comic. It should have a few interviews with some important players and with those who just think they are :P. As well as the sorta news feed ‘Planet X was taken from Player A by the forces of Player B etc.’
And, why not have some fanfiction for those who are bored? (and desperate losers :P)
Oh, and put in some major updates to the system.
And not have it as the sort of ‘Overview’ page, so that when you log on, you can see it.
May 6, 2008, 12:59 pmYuckwitte:
And why not have it*
Also, I wouldnt mind being a reporter
May 6, 2008, 1:44 pmTSeeker:
@Yuckwitte,
Regarding player submissions, I think it was part of the idea; whatever is submitted will be reviewed, to avoid e.g. reoccurring references to mammary glands, but that’s the idea in general. Fan fiction, why not? As long as it isn’t furry pr0n… ;->
The news feed as you suggest would be too precise and would give away too much information; it has to be 1) delayed and 2) a lot more imprecise; see my example in the comment above, or this one: “Continued skirmish has been taking place in layer 72 as the locals are fighting over access to the supergate”. Better than giving away player X and Y’s respective locations and activities.
Major updates to the game -> yes, that would fit in there.
Regarding having it displayed when you log on, maybe not, as it shouldn’t be mandatory to read it and besides, it’s never as precise as your own overview. You could however get a dialog box, something like this:
May 7, 2008, 7:47 amYuckwitte:
[quote: TSeeker]The news feed as you suggest would be too precise and would give away too much information; it has to be 1) delayed and 2) a lot more imprecise; see my example in the comment above, or this one: “Continued skirmish has been taking place in layer 72 as the locals are fighting over access to the supergate”. Better than giving away player X and Y’s respective locations and activities.[/quote]
I am all for the auto-generated stuff, but I reckon it should consist of BOTH.
I reckon, for events and the like (random events as well), sure Auto-Generate them. But to make it a news paperish, why not add like a comedy section (at the back), some made up sports or real events, some fan fiction with people reporting on something made up that has no relavence at all.
Kinda like the pub, but in News Paper form.
And for the reccord, I am not into mammory glads, just what they make
May 7, 2008, 8:04 amYuckwitte:
(By make I mean what they are part (ie boobs) of not make… (ie milk…))
May 7, 2008, 8:05 amju:
The made up news kind of thing has been suggested in the original post as stories written by admins or players (with admins’ approval)
June 15, 2008, 12:07 pm