Tynan Sylvester, "The Simulation Dream", 2013

Cite as: Tynan Sylvester, "The Simulation Dream", 2013
Original: https://tynansylvester.com/2013/06/the-simulation-dream/
sha256: 75b537fc1be7ed5e79745f15444cb95c0e11088916815017fd57a8595f23cbac
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261025191505/https://tynansylvester.com/2013/06/the-simulation-dream/
Accessed: 2026-10-26
Licence: © Tynan Sylvester; Wayback capture
Credit: RimWorld designer Tynan Sylvester's own essay on simulation design, naming Dwarf Fortress among the games driven by what he calls the Simulation Dream and using its dwarf appearances as his example of "hair complexity".
Notes: The design framework in Sylvester's words; his direct statement on what RimWorld took is in gamedeveloper-rimworld-dwarf-fortress-2016.

Cited on

In a 2013 essay Sylvester named Dwarf Fortress among the games driven by what he calls the Simulation Dream, and gave its dwarves' appearances, which do nothing but help players form mental images, as an example of detail that feeds the player's picture of the world.	`opening paragraphexamples under hair complexity`	Dev blog