[arg_discuss] [pm] Commercial vs. Grassroots, Player or PM?

[Michelle Senderhauf]

"Andrea Phillips" <andrea at mindcandydesign.com> said:

> But for those of us who have been in both pairs of shoes, I  think we 
> largely identify with one group or the other. In my case, I  identify a 
> lot more strongly with the PM side of the curtain, and I'm  forming a 
> theory that grassroots PMs tend to identify more strongly  with players.

I'm a relatively new to the PM side of the curtain, but if I had to choose 
one side or the other to particpate in, I'd pick the PM side.  I definitely 
see more appeal in the creation of the games over the playing of games. 
Even when I do play games now, I find myself looking at the game from a PM 
point of view.  Why did they choose that?  I wonder why they didn't do this?

"Andrea Phillips" <andrea at mindcandydesign.com> said:

> That's not to say that commercial designers aren't also trying to  make 
> great art, compelling stories, or fabulous and interesting group 
> experiences, because that's clearly also the case.

Personally, my reasoning is for the art.  I can't see any other reason why I 
would devote so much time and effort to something without getting paid.  ;)

"Andrea Phillips" <andrea at mindcandydesign.com> said:

> But grassroots teams also, I think, make games to earn prestige in  the 
> eyes of the ARG community, and that's the bit that makes for the 
> interesting divide. I speculate that a grassroots team identifies  more 
> strongly with players, even when they have a game on, because of  this 
> currency of reputation to be earned.

I definitely don't think it is true for all.  I tend to shy away from 
prestige and attention from friends and the community.  I think I would 
actually be a little more comfortable staying permanently behind the 
curtain, but in reality that doesn't do much for the resume.  ;)


Michelle Senderhauf
http://www.varin.org