Massively Multiplayer Democracy: The Civilization 3 Intersite

Democracy Game

Adrian Hon

(Massively) Multiplayer

• Only 8 players supported

• But hundreds want to take part

• Multiple Civilization rival fansites

• The solution: each site is a team

The Teams• Apolyton: 39,000 users

• CivFanatics: 34,500 users

• CGN: 800 users

• CDG

• CGA

• German Webring Team: 2900 users

• Grenouille

• Firaxis

Direct Democracy?“We poll subjects of game play whenever possible. If a clear majority of the [CFC] populace wants something, it is done. However, in a game as detailed as Civilization 3, it's almost impossible to go over every single detail and play the game in a timely manner.”

- Jakob Thomeczek, CFC Team Leader

Dictactorship?

“You could say we are in the process of establishing a system of elected, power-sharing Monarchs; an alternating, periodically elected Triumvirate, if you will.”

- Simon Granville, Apolyton Consul

Representative Democracy

• Members elect government ministers

• Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Interior Minister, etc., have executive authority

• Grenouille player polls are referendums; Apolyton have no legal consequence

The Great Game“Our goal shall be to ensure CDG does not attack us before we want them to, leaving us free to accomplish our growth/economic goals first. Ideally, we shall lull them into believing our only plan is to peacefully build and "flourish" in the God forgotten piece of crappy land we‘re given for starters. We shall do our best to prevent our international reputation suffering too much once we attack and we shall do our best to ensure we will be fighting just one enemy with no allies. This shall be achieved through being reliable and easy to deal with trading partners for all the teams that are not targets of The First War.”

- Apolyton Long Term Strategy Plan (AltSp)

The ISDG

• Game lasted for over a year

• Several hundred players

• Ultimately, game was mired in legal arguments

• Not a universal desire - but a reflection of online democracy

• But ISDGs go on

Other Resources

• Google: “a clash in civilization”

• Google: “apolyton university”

• http://mssv.net

• adrian@mssv.net