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Coding and Roleplaying - Is There a Connection?

Posted by Cliff on from the dice-and-keyboards dept.

TossCobble asks: "With table-top roleplaying giant Wizards of the Coast (makers of Dungeons & Dragons, for those not in the know) broadcasting an open call for adventure designers and developers (including an entertaining developer test to gauge your own game-design talent and knowledge), I found myself once again considering the odd appeal of gaming for us programming types. It's interesting that something so free-form-ishly creative, socially dynamic, and utterly fantastical be fun for folks so grounded in logical programming. Of course, my theory is that gaming and programming actually have more in common than we might think. Tabletop roleplaying involves coming up with creative solutions to problems set in a clearly-defined ruleset, involve constant data-tracking and minor mathematical equations, and involve working together with small groups of people toward like-minded goals. Conversely, love of roleplaying can illustrate how important creativity is to good programming. What do you think?"

4 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. Wizards of the Coast? by uberdave · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wizards of the Coast? I thought Dungeons and Dragons was from TSR.

    --
    "I'm not impatient. I just hate waiting." - My Dad
  2. I am a professional programmer by autopr0n · · Score: 0, Troll

    And I think those kinds of games (non-computer RPGs) are a ridicules waste of time.

    So there's that.

    Beyond flash games on the web, the only video game I've played in the last year has been Grand Tourismo 4

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  3. Think Outside of the Human Experience.... by albieomoss · · Score: 0, Troll

    People who are born to program have a predominately 'male' brain. It is easier for a programmer to imagine an abstract system with defined rules rather than a chaotic intuitive system like human emotions. RPG's are heavily rooted in numbers which are about the most abstract concept that human beings deal with every day. The only reason we use base 10 is because we have 10 fingers. Pi, Phi, e, and all the other mathematical constants are simply relations between these abstract concepts. Let's not forget that every element of nature is rooted in fractal systematic recursion. Objects are made up of smaller elements whose rules can be more easily defined than the whole. That's why when you program you take a bottom up approach; perfect the quark and then use the quarks to build atoms. Legos, Erector, Kinex, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, all these building toys utilize rule based systems to form larger more complex objects. That's why all us programmers grew up on Legos. We like rule-based systems even if they are abstract. That's why programmers play RPG's, love Legos, and don't have girlfriends.

    --
    DankLogic - There is a system to everything.
  4. Re:Umm, poor people skills? by Hitto · · Score: 0, Troll

    I was thinking the same until I realized I like having sex with my wife.
    You know... A WOMAN?
    Don't give me bullshit about how ugly or how timid you are, or how "wimmin, they's all biotches after mah munny and I only get to be friends with them"!
    Don't be resigned! Get out there and GET ONE! (or buy one if you happen to live in Thaïland, but that's another story)