MUD stands for “multi-user dungeon.” MUDs are typically characterized as text-based proto-MMORPGs.
mud
Global Chat: Does the MMO genre need a good rebranding?
As we all seem to love the topic of MMO definitions, it's with little surprise to see blogs discuss it as well. Contains Moderate...
Massively Overthinking: Frames of reference in MMORPGs
Last week on the MMORPG subreddit, there was a heated discussion about terminology in MMORPGs (terminology we'll probably talk about in a separate thread...
The Game Archaeologist: A look back at proto-MMOs through the 1980s
Today I want to try something a little different as we look at MMORPG history. Rather than focus in on a single title or...
SGF 2024: Path of Exile 2 is fun and satisfying, but it’s still no cakewalk
MJ is MOP's resident Path of Exile person, and I'm sure she'll get the core-fans some red meat once she gets her hands on...
Enshrouded adds musical instruments and a new sub-biome in today’s Melodies of the Mire patch
The games industry is contractually obligated to provide us with at least one smash-hit survivalbox game every year - sorry, I don't make the...
Perfect Ten: MMOs that earned a notorious reputation
Nobody wants a bad reputation. I mean, you can't make everyone everywhere approve of you, but you also don't have to go out of...
CCP Games’ blockchain EVE Online spinoff Project Awakening plots next test phase for May
I can't blame you if you can't temper your skepticism for CCP's Project Awakening, both because CCP Games is notorious for failed EVE Online-universe...
The Game Archaeologist’s ultimate MMO archives v7.0
Once again we put a wrap on another year of MMORPG news, opinions, and -- most pertinent to this column -- history. In a...
Vague Patch Notes: Default MMORPG genre features change over time, and that’s OK
I want you to picture a nonexistent MMO in your head right now. Not one that hasn't released yet; one that hasn't even been...
Massively Overthinking: What’s the most chaotic behavior you’ve seen from MMO players?
A week or two ago, I found myself discussing Ultima Online by way of trying to convince our work chat that players often do...
Iron Realms puts two of its MUDs into maintenance mode including Starmourn
Those who have dabbled or gone hardcore into the world of multi-user dungeons (MUDs) and text-based MMOs will no doubt recognize the name of...
The Game Archaeologist: EverQuest Mac, the O.G. classic server
In 2003, Sony Online Entertainment tried an experiment to reach out to the (then) small-but-growing community of Mac users. The company released EverQuest Macintosh...
LOTRO Legendarium: Amazon plays at making a Lord of the Rings MMO… again
Weren't we just here?
I mean, that's what everyone's thinking, am I right? It was just three years ago that I penned a column about...
The Daily Grind: So what *should* we call the metaverse?
Back in April, we covered a whitepaper from MMO designer Raph Koster, who just so happens to be building a metaverse MMO - or...
Vague Patch Notes: MMO players don’t talk about aging
I turned 40 this year. It's not something that I announced with any particular fanfare, due in no small part to the fact that...
Perfect Ten: 25 text-based MMOs and MUDs that are worth playing in 2023
Wanderlust hits even the most content MMO adventurer from time to time, and while there are worlds a-plenty to visit, sometimes it is easy...
MMO legend Richard Bartle reviews the highs and lows of New World
When one of the founding legends of MMORPGs spends 360 hours in your game, chances are that he has Opinions about how you did...
Star Vault says newly announced sci-fi MMO Mortal Exodus won’t pull resources from Mortal Online 2
We're not sure whether to raise our eyebrows or be impressed by the ambition shown by the fact that a small company with two...
MUD Aetolia used ChatGPT to generate NPC dialogue and grant a fake quest
Some game developers continue to laud AI generation tools like ChatGPT as the future of many frontiers, including NPC behavior in MMORPGs and gaming...
Whatever happened to vampire MMO Shadow’s Kiss?
You are totally excused from having to remember that a somewhat obscure vampire MMO named Shadow's Kiss was the first (early access) release of...