Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bu.edu!wang!wdr From: wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: Re: Art vs. Engineering Keywords: metaphors Message-ID: Date: 15 May 91 15:49:35 GMT References: <1991May9.124559.2924@ssd.kodak.com> <1991May6.165902.2116@ssd.kodak.com> <35177@athertn.Atherton.COM> <35201@athertn.Atherton.COM> <1991May14.213057.14827@comm.wang.com> Distribution: usa Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA Lines: 37 lws@comm.wang.com (Lyle Seaman) writes: >dlw@Atherton.COM (David Williams) writes: >>notice that we don't have user MANUALS and training classes for either >>films or video games? >Ahh, but there ARE user manuals for video games... Have been ever >since the games got tricky, instead of just faster. One of the >first was for PacMan, I think. They're usually not written by the vendor. VidGames also have printed and online documenation supplied by the vendor. Online: The sequences (random or canned) through which the machine cycles while waiting for the victim, er, customer to insert quarter(s) Printed: Some small amount of lettering on the facade (typically an iconic glossary of the items which give special points/abilities, and if the different phases have different goals, listing those) These combine to provide a minimal familiarization with the method of operation before you first grab hold of the manipulator (be it a joy-stick, trackball, or uzi-clad lightpen). Of course, the videogame operators (and thus the manufacturers) benefit from the ground-school training provided by print documen- tation & demo loop being just barely inadequate -- so that the customer must feed endless quarters to get on-the-job-training before making the assault on the top-scorers' list. Some intermittent positive reinforcement is necessary, of course -- just as with slot machines -- to keep the player's attention. (Standard Psych 101/110 here!) If we were marketing the game as a software product for non-entertainment use, this level of documentation would be found inadequate by our users. -- /s/ Bill Ricker wdr@wang.wang.com "The Freedom of the Press belongs to those who own one." *** Warning: This account is not authorized to express opinions. ***