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[Cheeetar]

RoBurky writes a journal about one of his fortresses, SquashedBrains.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/06/14/roburkys-dwarf-fortress-diary/

[Nilocy]

I read, was teh funnies, but nothing exceptionally special about what happend, just he managed to get some more interest with DF which is always good in my book.

[Creamcorn]

I like what this guy says.

DF (and ascii games in general) are a bit like The Matrix. At first you see nothing but a jumle of letters and symbols. Then after a while something wierd happens and it just snaps into place. All of a sudden the alphabetti spaghetti disappears to be replaced by forests, irrigation systems and great halls lined with statues.

But this guy does make a decent point, well atleast in the second paragraph.

I really love the concept of Dwarf Fortress and have even attempted to get into it several times but i just cant get past the ASCII. It’s not even really a ascetic problem; ASCII is just totally inappropriate for conveying large amounts of information and it’s rather arrogant even using it. While a lot of older gamers have no problem with it, it really is unfair to people who have only ever experienced games and a graphical medium.

It’s a bit like writing the world greatest fantasy novel, the kind of thing that would make Tolkien weep openly, however the author refuses to publish it in anything but Ogham. Oh its all very well for people used to reading Ogham or have the time to learn it but a bit unfair on every one else.

Than again, *sigh* when will we see a middle ground?

Irish: The ASCII conveys a great deal of information actually. For instance someone earlier said they had to use the Examine function to identify a green ‘g’. Wrong, a green ‘g’ is a goblin bowman. A flashing green ‘g’ is a champion goblin bowman.

Using that same amount of space on screen, there is absolutely no other way to convey that information in a concise, quick, and definite manner. Dozens of symbols, colors, and backlays convey much more information than a couple dozen tiny pixels could.

Not unless your standard gaming kit includes a gem-cutter’s monocle to make out what some artist’s smudges mean.

It’s nothing to do with geek snobbery, it’s just efficiency. Some people prefer graphic packs, personally I find that they create more confusion than anything.

[umiman]

Why is it arrogant to use ASCII? Isn't it more arrogant to dismiss it because it is ASCII? It's not like there aren't other options besides ASCII.

It's like calling Germans arrogant because they speak German and not English.

[Asheron]

It's like calling Germans arrogant because they speak German and not English.

The nerve!

And yes, you can tell me what you want, but once you get familiar with ASCII you will find it a lot easier to see what is happening then with graphic packs. On top of that, ASCII just has it's charm. Everyone can hate a particular style of graphics. For letters, not so much.

[Nilocy]

Yeah, i liked the standard ASCII symbols myself cause they're just so much more flexable. Thats what great about DF is that the symbols allow you to imagine everything thats happening, but when someone comes along and make it into graphics then that charm is lost. All it'll be is someone elses represenatation of the game for you. So graphics get a bit no from me.

[Cthulhu]

I really love the concept of Dwarf Fortress and have even attempted to get into it several times but i just cant get past the ASCII. It’s not even really a ascetic problem; ASCII is just totally inappropriate for conveying large amounts of information and it’s rather arrogant even using it. While a lot of older gamers have no problem with it, it really is unfair to people who have only ever experienced games and a graphical medium.

Only monks can read ASCII.

[Yanlin]

You see a big mess.

I see a forest, a dwarf cutting wood, a river, a dragon, some hoary marmots and a prickle berry bush.

[Tormy]

Good stuff. RPS is one of my favourite "gaming" sites. 
Also just some notes in regard to the comment of HexagonalBolts [He is a poster on RPS]

"Dwarf fortress is just amazing"
Agreed. 

"The graphical tilesets make it infinitely more approachable when you’re starting out learning, although I understand ASCII and complexity is part of the games charm if the game came with a particularly well made graphic tile set by default I think less people would be put off."
True, but don't forget that Toady will upgrade this part of the game in the future. [Presentation Arc]

"Can someone also please explain to me why this game has not yet had fountains of cash poured into it by every publisher out there and been developed into an even better, more accessible (but just as deep), possibly 3D/isometric, game sold for £10 – £15? I’m sure this must be possible through someone willing to let the brothers get on with it without interfering, without ruining the feel of the game…"
Well, we've talked about this already. I suppose Toady likes to work alone, and he is coding as fast as he can. It's totally understandable that he doesn't want to care about fulfilling deadlines and stuff like that. 

[Leafsnail]

It's true, games companies are often so devoid of original ideas (seriously, Nintendo, when you need to put a "New" prefix and a "2" suffix you know you're running out) that it's a surprise that no game company has tried to make a bigger version of DF.  DF is great for the sometimes ridiculous levels of depth and freedom.  Hard to control, but if you think about it, if you ruled over somewhere, it wouldn't be neat and tidy like in AoE, where you can just send any set of units anywhere at the click of a mouse and they'll always follow.  The feeling of disorder and chaos in my fortress makes it feel more real, somehow.