Richard A. Bartle, Ph.D., co-wrote the first virtual world, MUD ("Multi-User Dungeon"), in 1978, thus being at the forefront of the online gaming industry from its very inception. A university professor working in both Artificial Intelligence and Game Design, he is an influential writer on all aspects of virtual worlds. As an independent consultant, his thoughts have influenced almost every major online gaming company over the past 40 years. Richard lives with his wife, Gail, in a village just outside Colchester, England. He works in virtual worlds.
Designing Virtual Worlds, authored by a true pioneer, stands as the most comprehensive examination of virtual-world design ever written. This seminal work is a tour de force, remarkable for its intellectual breadth, encompassing the literary, economic, sociological, psychological, physical, technological, and ethical foundations of virtual worlds. It provides readers with a profound, well-grounded understanding of essential design principles.
This second volume examines and explains the tasks and perspectives involved in designing the "world” of virtual worlds, from abstract spaces through concrete spaces to physics. The non-player inhabitants of virtual worlds are discussed in detail, along with the artificial intelligence techniques that can control them. The volume is rounded-off with an analysis of how player characters fit in virtual worlds.
No other book on online games or virtual worlds matches the level of detail, historical context, and conceptual depth found in Designing Virtual Worlds.
Preface
Chapter 1. Early Decisions
Chapter 2. Physiography
Chapter 3. Spatial Abstraction
Chapter 4. Extraplanetary Components
Chapter 5. Planetary Components
Chapter 6. Terrain
Chapter 7. Climate and Weather
Chapter 8. Constructions
Chapter 9. Realisticness
Chapter 10. Laws of Physics
Chapter 11. Time
Chapter 12. Objects
Chapter 13. Population
Chapter 14. Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 15. Machine Learning
Chapter 16. Society
Chapter 17. World-Building
Chapter 18. Advancement
Chapter 19. Character-Creation
Chapter 20. The Virtual Body
Chapter 21. Outerlude
Bibliography
Designing Virtual Worlds, authored by a true pioneer, stands as the most comprehensive examination of virtual-world design ever written. This seminal work is a tour de force, remarkable for its intellectual breadth, encompassing the foundations of virtual worlds.
