Looking at this little tool (is it really a game?) and what others have been saying about it, I am a little surprised at how much press it has gotten. I see comment boards filled with gushing praise over how "revolutionary" it is, or how this is the "future" of video games, or "why hasn't anybody thought of this before?".
Are people really serious?
I can't really think of a system that is any less "revolutionary". In fact the Virtual Tabletop collaborative storytelling system was created by Gary Gygax before video games were even invented, so the "OMG!! THIS IS GAMING OF THE FUTURE AND IT PWNS EVERYTHING!!!" praise I see about it seems a little bit insane, or at least naive to me.
Online "gaming tables" have been done to death in the last 15-20 years. Practically every program on
this list already does what "Sleep Is Death" does. Does this new tool pioneer some new concepts? Sure. From what I understand it populates an online database of assets similar to what Spore did, but that doesn't make the tool uber revolutionary or anything.
It actually angers me a bit that only *now* does this type of game system get taken seriously by major gaming press. Where were these guys in the last 20 years when we were already doing this stuff online? Is it because the system doesn't focus on D&D or Fantasy? Or is it just because Jason Rohrer has some kind of VIP superstar status with the gaming community and since *he's* doing it, then we *must* take notice?
Anyway, it does sound like a cool piece of software and I wish it well, but I just cringe every time I see someone tout this as the best thing since sliced bread. If anything, it appears to have taken a few steps back in the virtual tabletop department. It looks like it was coded in MS Quick Basic, and only allows 2 players at a time. I am happy that the idea of collaborative storytelling is getting some attention from the mainstream...it's about time.