Topic: Interactive Story based on Perp. This is not a joke; please read it
So, I took a small break for personal reasons,RL stuff(christ I hate deadlines), but now I'm thinking of coming back... and I've had a horrible realisation: If you don't stay in Perpetuum constantly the sheen slowly vanishes. Firstly, I love this game; I love the world, the bots the people who play(even the ones I troll)... I love it all... more then anything I love the creative potential. So, what's happened to me?
I'll let you in on a secret, I approached Avatar Creations proposing a dynamic story concept that would feed off the goings on within the game world. A.C. would of course retain full editorial discretion vis a vie the content but the concept was, when reduced to total basics, the creation of an interactive, charcter driven story.
With a wary and justifiably conditional nod from David Maros I put together an exegesis outlining a dynamic plot in which the games population and developers would form the characters and hence dictate the plot. Once completed I took said exegesis to my publisher and we harangued back and forth over details, mainly the fact that the story was, in theory, never ending. The end result was positive... until now.
I've come back after a very brief break and nothing is happening; there are no more epic battles, no more wresting control of territory. The Super Pacs here make the U.S. electoral process look like a sewing circle.
To the Players: Stop being kissing cousins! Get out there and act like you want something more then Sid Meier in Space. PvPers... you're the god damned conflict... get on with the internal betrayal and make it bloody!
To the Devs: Why is everyone getting Syndicate protection when they have their own island holiday home. They want independence then make them take it with blood and oil! I have a plethora of justifications for it and they work within the present game mechanics.
I was going to send this as a private email but it's as stale as week old bread in here. There are plenty of MMOs around and none of them have what Perpetuum does; minimal back story, an unlimited time frame unimpeded by causality and a population that is by and large intelligent enough to engage in a dynamic story. Perpetuum is a Fort Knox of untapped creative potential.
The purpose of this comment is to gauge the reaction of the community, both players and staff. If you wish to 'troll' this post please keep it brief as I shall not be the only one reviewing it. Interactive stories have been attemptedf before and have usually failed under the weight of preconception; Perpetuum does not suffer that burden.
To TOG members; I am deeply sorry if you feel that I have used you as a 'focus group' of sorts. If I do end up back in this game I honestly hope you'll let me stick around. If not then kill me for all you're worth. Either way you have my thanks.
-:does speak for NSA on the forums:-