[Via Gonzalo]

Cnet News have a new piece on griefing. It reports that "Now an increasing number of companies are fighting back, using a combination of technology, sociology and psychology to limit griefer damage."

Now, I think it makes sense to consider many aspects of grief play directly detrimental to the game atmosphere. But I don't agree with the apparent assumption that behaviour that does not live up to the "social contract" must be eliminated at all cost. Nor do I find it a sensible solution to entirely do away with possibilities for dramatic player-player interaction - "because then people can't hurt each other". The interesting game design challenge is to keep the drama and excitement intact while diminishing the effects of grief play. A few players should not be able to wreck the game space if they choose the dark side, but I'm not sure they should not be able to upset it.

posted by Jonas Heide Smith  # 15.12.04