Talk:Mob (computer gaming)
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Is that link relevant? It's merely an example of the usage of the term. Wouter Lievens 19:15, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Mobiles
In a 1996 article on MUDs expanding on a 1990 article, the term "mobiles" for "mobs" is used several times. Is THIS perhaps the origin of the term? - BalthCat 04:58, 10 June 2006 (UTC)
Dr. Richard Bartle, who co-wrote the original MUD, actually writes in his book Designing Virtual Worlds that he called them mobiles because they meandered randomly, like a hanging Mobile (Footnote 30 on page 102). 80.246.32.32 07:49, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
Richard Bartle did not co-write the original MUD. http://www.ludd.luth.se/mud/aber/mud-history.html. By 1996 the term Mob/Mobiles had been around for quite a few years.
[edit] I think this page needs updating.
There are now a large number of computer games in which the term "mobs" is literal - it refers to large groups of monsters. Magnate
- I would view that as the designers simply using the word "mob" literally, not a new use of the word, and so it doesn't need to be included. "A mob of monsters" = "A mob", etc. - BalthCat 16:48, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
? But the article starts with "a mob is a type of NPC", which is just not correct for a number of modern games. So at the very least it could start with "apart from where the word is used in its literal sense, a mob is ..." - or something. I agree we don't need a big exposition of what a literal mob is! - Magnate
- Shall we add "When not referring to actual war machines, a Tank is ..." to tank? "When not referring to the fairy-like creatures..." to Sprite? Both things occur in computer gaming, in both forms. We might have to change an awful lot of articles where homonyms (er, I forget what "identically spelled" words are called... my bad) occur in the same situations. It seems unnecessary to me. A disambiguation link at the top might be best. - BalthCat 00:58, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
I see your point. I guess it's not that important. I just felt that someone might come to this article thinking it was about dealing with large groups of enemies, only to find that it refers to something decades older. Never mind. Magnate 10:53, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Definition
I always thought a 'mob' was a kind of monster that hangs out in large groups.
- I'm pretty sure that's just "a mob". - BalthCat 19:41, 2 September 2006 (UTC)
It seems a common mistake, possibly due to the use of the term 'the mob' in reference to Roman citizens. As most MUD and MMORPGs are fantasy based it seems an easy conclusion to jump to.
I was against the use of mob short for mobile. Im on record saying it sounds funny to me. However someone clued me into the etymology http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=mob&searchmode=none
Mob: 1688, "disorderly part of the population, rabble," slang shortening of mobile, mobility "common people, populace, rabble" (1676), from L. mobile vulgus "fickle common people" (1600), from mobile, neut. of mobilis "fickle, movable, mobile," from movere "to move" (see move). In Australia and N.Z., used without disparagement for "a crowd." Meaning "gang of criminals working together" is from 1839, originally of thieves or pick-pockets; Amer.Eng. sense of "organized crime in general" is from 1927. The verb meaning "to attack in a mob" is attested from 1709. Mobster is first attested 1917. Mob scene "crowded place" first recorded 1922. Mobocracy "mob rule" is attested from 1754.
So while it is short for mobile, it wasnt coined in 1970s MUD era. It originated in Latin. If anything the etymology on the page is inaccurate and needs changing.
