Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · 9h

All the professors I know will retire before I get the chance to retire INTO academia!

Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · 13h

We recently showed off STARS REACH at a local IGDA meetup, and I also got to do an hour long talk about the history of online worlds, from PLATO to looter-shooters and beyond!

Michael Pusateri @cruftbox.com · 14h

A tour de force presentation on The Evolution of Online Worlds by Raph Koster ( @raphkoster.bsky.social ) at IGDA

The intertwined history of gaming and social interaction.

Slightly older than Raph, this is my lived history from the 70s onwards.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=USeg...

Raph Koster at the IGDA - The Evolution of Online Worlds

YouTube video by Stars Reach

www.youtube.com

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · 14h

I got that bit of info from Ben Cousins, and have mentioned it several times. Others have referenced it too, see www.researchgate.net/figure/Jumpi... which probably will link to his original source.

Fig. 3. Jumping times in 3rd person action games – adapted from Cousins...

Download scientific diagram | Jumping times in 3rd person action games – adapted from Cousins [2005]. from publication: Toward an understanding of flow in video games | In the domain of computer game...

www.researchgate.net

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · 23d

They also talk about Theory of Fun. :)

Get Played + Anime'd @getplayedpod.bsky.social · 23d

This week on Get Played Heather, Nick and Matt look back at 40 years of Super Mario Bros! They talk about some of their favorite entries in the series, what makes Mario endure, their first Mario experiences and more! Listen wherever you get tour podcasts headgum.com/get-played

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Aug 23

A giant build done by players in Stars Reach. It’s showing us what we need to optimize!

youtu.be/rhvm3enxWkU

This player made freighter in Stars Reach is INSANE!

YouTube video by Controlled Chaos Gaming

youtu.be

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jul 22

Worth reading if you are curious about Stars Reach!

hooby.blog/posts/what-y...

What You Need To Know About Stars Reach

Stars Reach is the lifelong dream of game design legend Raph Koster. In some ways, it’s the game he has wanted to make for over 30 years now. The culmination of all his ideas and ambitions for virtual...

hooby.blog

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jul 13

I’m still here. :) New game in progress even!

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jul 13

Looking forward to it!

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jul 2

youtube.com/shorts/HqBm0...

Invasion + Fire 😈 Stars Reach 😈 |25e142| #StarsReach #KAEZLO #twitch

YouTube video by Kaezlo

youtube.com

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 20

Stars Reach doesn’t look like you remember

I've been remiss in posting updates on Stars Reach here. I mean, the Kickstarter finished back in March (late pledges still accepted)! Today, though, I want to brag about our awesome AI and proc gen driven worlds. Over the last few releases, we have been…

Stars Reach doesn’t look like you remember

I've been remiss in posting updates on Stars Reach here. I mean, the Kickstarter finished back in March (late pledges still accepted)! Today, though, I want to brag about our awesome AI and proc gen driven worlds. Over the last few releases, we have been rolling out yet another series of improvements to the look of the worlds. And we're getting to the point where I think the alien worlds are starting to look like the covers of sci-fi novels (especially with some player help building weird structures):

www.raphkoster.com

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 18

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 18

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 18

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 18

If you haven't seen Stars Reach in a while, you might be surprised. :)

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · Jun 6

From our daily standup today:

Major issues to help track and resolve before playtest:
Season Curve causing flora to burst into flames

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Stars Reach @playstarsreach.bsky.social · May 8

Want to help build magical new worlds? 🌍✨ Playable Worlds is hiring! Remote roles in Engineering & Design, with full-time and contract options. Great perks, stock options, and a passionate team behind it all.

Apply now or send an open app: www.playableworlds.com/careers/

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Galactic Union of Natural Conservation @gunc-starsreach.bsky.social · May 9

GUNC Mycityum after 14 hours. Got lots of materials last 3 hours to make Saturday easier so builders can start building their houses at the top!! Can’t wait to see what y’all build, maybe we will see a dev build up there!
@playstarsreach.bsky.social #PlayStarsReach #StarsReach #MMORPG

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Reposted by Raph Koster

MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · May 8

Former EverQuest Next boss Dave Georgeson is one of the key devs working on Raph Koster's Stars Reach MMORPG - hear him talk about progress in the pre-alpha:

Stars Reach game director Dave Georgeson talks material density, XP rates, and skill trees

massivelyop.com

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Raph Koster @raphkoster.bsky.social · May 6

"That's the craziest thing I have ever seen in any video game!"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTma...

Stars Reach Impact!! Gameplay First Look

YouTube video by Bingohomeslice

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Galactic Union of Natural Conservation @gunc-starsreach.bsky.social · Apr 15

Ever wonder why for Hortus Renovare we create garden art and riddles for others to find, well now you can find out from the children’s fable - The Melody of Beauty
@playstarsreach.bsky.social
#PlayStarsReach #StarsReach #MMORPG

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Galactic Union of Natural Conservation @gunc-starsreach.bsky.social · Apr 14

Here is a story highlighting some of the lore and the spirit of Hortus Renovare
🌸🌺🌼🍓🍫
The Origin of Chocolate Covered Strawberries - A Hortus Renovare Story
🌸🌺🌼🍓🍫
@playstarsreach.bsky.social
#PlayStarsReach #StarsReach #MMORPG

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Galactic Union of Natural Conservation @gunc-starsreach.bsky.social · Apr 14

Hortus Renovare, It is about celebrating the enduring hope of a better tomorrow regardless of the struggles we have faced. And in this spirit, we would like to start the festival by taking a look back at the great SR moments!
@playstarsreach.bsky.social
#PlayStarsReach #StarsReach #MMORPG

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Reposted by Raph Koster

Thomas BIDAUX 🔜 Gstar @icotom.icopartners.com · Apr 14

Looking at the most successful video games KS campaigns during Q1 2025. A thread.

Kicking it off with Stars Reach - @raphkoster.bsky.social new sandbox MMO.
It raised $770k from 5.5k backers.

Like often with MMOs, the average pledge is quite high ($140).

www.kickstarter.com/projects/sta...