Have any of you tried anarcho-capitalist theories in massively multiplayer "sandbox" type games? One particular one that I (now) associate with these theories is called A Tale in the Desert. It's been a long time since I've actually played it (I lost interest after a while) but it did have things like player made/game enforced laws governing such things as defining and regulating property rights, such as homesteading. There was no such thing as physical combat or even any government outside the laws regulating interactions between players. The game itself prevented players from performing illegal actions, as proposed and voted on by the players themselves, such as taking goods out of someone else's chest without permission. Players created their own forms of money and others chose whether or not to accept such money. Anyway, it's been a while since I've tried it, but every now and then when I read something here, it reminds me of that game.
nelson:The game itself prevented players from performing illegal actions, as proposed and voted on by the players themselves, such as taking goods out of someone else's chest without permission.
This makes the game scenario somewhat unrealistic. People do commit illegal actions and a successful society has to find some way of dealing with those people.
If you want a good hypercapitalist game look up Eve Online. No such thing as "illegal" action. Even in high security space patrolled by police, you can still suicide kill others, and run away with your pod when your ship is taken down.
Of course, zero security space is owned by huge corporations and alliances numbering thousands of people, and they make their own rules. Corporations in that game, even within an alliance, can range from anarco-capitalist organisation, to pure-marxism, where individuals own nothing, and decide nothing.
You're free to start your own business, whether you're manufacturing something, extracting minerals at asteroid belts, transporting freight containers, acting as a convoy guard, being a mercenary for hire, or simply a pirate corporation. Been playing this game on and off since 2004, and, unlike most of these other MMOs, this one even has great graphics to boot.
If any game has a complex free-market economy, it's Eve Online. Currently, i'm providing research services at laboratories in orbit around several moons in high security space, and am about to start a freighter manufacturing business with a couple of "business associates".
February 17 - 1600 - Giordano Bruno is burnt alive by the catholic church. Aquinas : "much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death."
Orwell:This makes the game scenario somewhat unrealistic. People do commit illegal actions and a successful society has to find some way of dealing with those people.
Aye, the major weakness of Rothbardism too. Maybe I'll try Eve online. It's a lot more realistic w.r.t. aggression and what would actually happen without (much) government.
If you want a single-player game, I'd suggest The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for either Windows or Xbox 360. The game world has a government, but its agents don't hassle you (even to demand taxes) unless you steal, trespass, commit an assault, murder somebody, or harm your horse. If a human character attacks you first, you're allowed to cut him down. If you get caught committing a crime, you can choose to pay a fine, do time, or resist arrest (which is itself a crime).