[LARP/MMO Crosstopic] Will technology blend these two things?

[TheLazyBlank]

I was thinking that someday, with the sci-fi/cyberpunk type of technology that we all think might happen..Would LARPs become less likely to be done in small groups, and become more like MMOs?

I'm not talking about anything we have now. I mean, if "virtual reality" and all of that came to being, would the two start overlapping in some sort of LARP/MMO persistant world where anyone could come in at any time and do, um, whatever?

This isn't very specific, but it's an idea that came to my head recently.

[Radendaren]

Interesting question. One thing that might happen is a greater implementation of technology into downtime systems, to the extent that the game might in fact run quasi-permanently between events in realtime. Coordinate your downtime resources on the fly - armies, trading, etc, like a resource-based MMO.

What makes big LARP events fun, though, is the fact that everyone is playing at the same time. MMOs can be frustrating due to their 'log in, log out' nature which doesn't follow any set pattern. Now, if personal wireless networking really catches on, you might get 'online' games that are played by people IRL (think of Shadowrun's "Miracle Shooter") - these have been done with cellphones on a limited scale, but the potential to link thousands of players globally is definitely there...

[Samhaine]

It's always been my contention that big chat room games (like the free form chats that used to be big on AOL and White Wolf's New Bremen) are closer to LARPs than to tabletops. The types of roleplaying that computer-based chat/mud/MMO interfaces default to seems to be standing around talking with little GM interference, which is also the style that many LARPs default to.

I think computer-based games will replace LARP at the same rate that they'll replace tabletop gaming (which could be "not at all" or "quickly"). Computer-based RP continues to be different from physically gathering in a location to play, whether that be via tabletop or LARP. As the technology gets more immersive, and GMs are given better toolkits to design custom areas for players, the real line that will likely blur is between tabletop and LARP.

[Mejiro_Night]

Actually, I've been doing some research into this sort of thing for my dissartation lately, and came across the idea of the 'TTRPG', or Totally Transitive Roleplaying Game. This combines table-top, MMO and LARP into one. While the paper was largely concerned with the theory of how this would work (lots of RFID tags tracking everything) it was an intresting read, although the technology needed to make it work properly is still a few years away.

[salamanca]

i don't see it as most of the LARP crowd seems to feed on the costuming aspect as much as the play itself. They want to get dressed up and gather.

However, as the tech improves and getscheap (cheap is the important part) Ican see LARPs integrating using some sort of PDA and a storyteller substaff to feed technical information to the players during the game. (handling all the mechanics for the players, issuing secret info based on skill checks, covering what they managed to steal without being caught, etc.

[daHob]

I think that on the hoary fringes of our community these things are already being worked on. Stuff like geo-caching, the cell based live/computer games and some of the more complicated Laser Tag based LARPS are nibbling way at the technology.

I think it's pretty ecxiting stuff and definately the echos of things to come in this hobby.

[salamanca]

The staff at Laughing Pan are working on aspects of it for delerium LARP play as well come to think of it. (or at least were, last I heard)

Once you iron it out for your particular group, I think it would be a blessing.

A for the online via PC route... I just don't know. the MMORPGs I've seen really don't do that much ROLE in their roleplay aspects.

[Samhaine]

the MMORPGs I've seen really don't do that much ROLE in their roleplay aspects.
In any given MMO, there will be groups that roleplay; they usually just try to stay away from the rest of the players that tend to interrupt RP. As noted, though, due to the lack of story controls for the end user and limited emotes, much of the heavy RP seems to be standing around in groups talking and using limited emotes.

I think that the real shift will come when more games come out with toolsets like Neverwinter Nights. The NWN module creation tools were good, but still intimidating to anyone without a working knowledge of computer programming. Eventually, though, someone is likely to come up with a versatile and straightforward module creator for a RPG with extensive character options and emotes. At that point, there should be much less of a boundary to using it to approximate much more elaborate roleplaying, with the added benefit of computer graphics and rules maintenance.

[bink]

well an interesting and kinda scary idea came to mind. you could make a global game that is mostly internet based, but have a electronic device to find other players in the area. And probubly have a option to set ic/ooc swich. the easist idea that comes to mind is playing a highlander game, with boffer weapons. Live your normal life and then someone comes into range and you can pull out your sword and go at it. Brings up intresting and scary ideas, espicially how easly you could take it too far.

[Ryan Paddy]

I've had the same thoughts as the original poster.

As someone has mentioned, the first thing that's needed is immersive technology. Decent virtual reality.

The second thing that's required for a VR larp is slightly different, and relates to emoting. What's needed is a technology that takes the performance of the player (body movements, facial expressions, voice) and translates it into the performance of the VR character. So you inhabit your character - you move, they move.

Once you achieve those two things, you've taken the essence of larp and put it in a form where the structure and scalability of MMORPGs can be applied.

On the question of dressing up: it would still possible to dress up in a VR with performance translation, in fact moreso. Rather than just putting on a costume, you can put on a whole body. And it doesn't have to be anything like your own or limited to what prosthetics can achieve. I think that will have a massive appeal.

[David Artman]

Yes. ;)

[Jiituomas]

you could make a global game that is mostly internet based, but have a electronic device to find other players in the area. And probubly have a option to set ic/ooc swich.

There is actually an international study project (a part of Integrated Project on Pervasive Gaming) that is experimenting with such systems. You can read more about it both at the IPerG site (http://iperg.sics.se/) and in a report here (http://users.tkk.fi/~mmontola/prosopopeiakp06.pdf).

[sleeping_demon]

Anyone else just had a really weird idea for a ".hack//LARP" ??