IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/simgam/v34y2003i1p69-88.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Problems in simulating social reality: Observations on a MUD construction

Author

Listed:
  • Holin Lin

    (National Taiwan University)

  • Chuen-Tsai Sun

    (National Chiao Tung University)

Abstract

The authors look at computer-mediated simulation as an approach to studying social science issues and discuss its limitations, with the design process for a Multiple-User Dungeon (MUD) game serving as a context. Using data gleaned from interviews with the MUD designers, the authors present three findings: (a) fun is a key difference between simulations and reality, because a MUD user can always walk away from a game that is not fun but cannot walk away from difficult real-life situations; (b) simulated social systems require time and commitment from a fairly large population, which conflicts with the typical level of patience observed in most computer game players; and (c) the roles of technicians and designers as mediators in simulated social environments is an area requiring detailed study, because their attitudes toward technical constraints, social values, and stereotypes exert a strong influence on the appearance of their final products.

Suggested Citation

  • Holin Lin & Chuen-Tsai Sun, 2003. "Problems in simulating social reality: Observations on a MUD construction," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 34(1), pages 69-88, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:34:y:2003:i:1:p:69-88
    DOI: 10.1177/1046878102250607
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1046878102250607
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1046878102250607?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:34:y:2003:i:1:p:69-88. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.