- Name
- Play-by-Email
- Aliases
Play-by-Email
A correspondence-based multiplayer option in several turn-based computer games throughout the 1990's and 2000's, which makes use of electronic mail systems.
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Overview
Play-by-email ("PBeM") is a correspondence-based multiplayer option in certain turn-based computer games throughout the 1990's and 2000's that make direct use of electronic mail systems. Unlike most modern types of correspondence-based multiplayer, PBeM does not rely on a centralized web service (which can render the multiplayer unusable in the event the service goes offline or becomes discontinued). While players can manually coordinate in many hotseat-based games by sending and receiving game saves as email attachments, games with dedicated PBeM modes go a step further by coordinating and moderating it from within the games themselves. In addition, certain games have special PBeM functionality, such as Advanced Civilization (Game) having each player submit their turn to the host player in a way so that everybody's turn is resolved simultaneously. The name can also refer to using email in traditional pen-and-paper/board "play-by-mail" ("PBM") games.