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'''MUD''' is an [[acronym]] for ''m''ulti-''u''ser ''d''ungeon (or ''d''imension), a [[role-playing game|role-playing]] [[computer]] [[game]] that runs on a [[bulletin board system]] or [[Internet]] server. Many people may connect simultaneously. Once connected, players control a character. They see textual descriptions of rooms, objects, other characters, and computer-controlled creatures or NPCs (''n''on-''p''layer ''c''haracters) in a virtual world. Players may interact with each other and the surroundings by typing commands that resemble plain [[English language|English]].▼
'''MUD''' is an [[acronym]] for ''m''ulti-''u''ser ''d''ungeon (or ''d''imension), a [[role-playing game|role-playing]] [[computer]] [[game]] that runs on a [[bulletin board system]] or [[Internet]] server.
Many people may connect simultaneously. Once connected, players control a character.
▲
Most MUDs implement a [[fantasy]] world populated by [[elf|elves]], [[goblin]]s, and other [[mythology|mythical]] beings. Players pretend to be [[knight]]s, [[sorcerer]]s, and the like. The goal of the game is to slay [[monster]]s and complete quests. Some MUDs have a [[science fiction]] setting.
Most MUDs are run as [[hobby]] and are free to players.
Still others, especially thoses which are based on [[MOO]]s, are used in [[distance education]] or to allow for virtual conferences.
MUDs have also attracted the interest of academic scholars from many fields, including [[communications studies of MUDs|communications]], [[Sociological studies of MUDs | sociology]], [http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue1/lambda.html law], and [[Synthetic economies | economics]].
The popularity of MUDs escalated in the [[USA]] during the [[1980s]], when (relatively speaking) cheap, at-home [[personal computer]]s with 300 to 2400 baud [[modem]]s enabled role players to log into multi-line BBSes. [[Roguelike]] games were also becoming popular at that time.
In [[Europe]] at around the same time, MUD development was centered around academic networks, particularly at the [[University of Essex]] where it was played by many people, both internal and external to the University.
The MUD scene is still very much alive on the Internet, accessed via [[telnet]]. Specialized telnet clients exist that give a more pleasant user experience.
== MUD variants ==
Once computer power increased and Internet connectivity became ubiquitous, the graphical [[MMORPG]]s ('''m'''assively '''m'''ultiplayer '''o'''nline '''r'''ole-'''p'''laying '''g'''ames) developed. Unlike earlier MUDs, most MMORPGs are commercial ventures.
Examples of MMORPGs include: *[[Anarchy Online]] ([[2001]])
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*[[Ultima Online]] ([[1997]])
The original MUDs drew their inspiration from paper-and-pencil based games such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] (hence their name), and the computer game [[Original Adventure]]. The first MUD was created and written by [[Roy Trubshaw]] and [[Richard Bartle]] at [[Essex University]] in the [[UK]] [http://www.ludd.luth.se/mud/aber/mud-history.html]: a version of this first MUD is still running at [http://www.mud2.com/ www.mud2.com].
The first popular MUD was [[AberMUD]] written by [[Alan Cox]], also known as Anarchy, named after the [[University of Aberystwyth]], [[Wales]]. Over time variants have diversified into other models while retaining the textual format. For example, some variants are called [[MUCK|MUCKS]], MUSHs, LPMUDs, and MOOs. A '''MUSH''' is often said to mean ''mu''lti-player ''s''hared ''h''allucination. MUSHes descend from the program [[TinyMUD]]. MUSHes date back to the early [[1990s]]. They are more directly concerned with role-playing (acting) than MUDs, dispensing with the experience systmes.
Instead, players focus on creating their character's life as accurately as possible. Members of the MUSH family include PernMUSH, PennMUSH, TinyMUSH, TinyMUSE and TinyMUX. Other variants emphasize building by providing players with a powerful [[programming language]] (as in [[MOO]]s) to make their own objects and rooms, or function as elaborate chat systems with no fantasy trappings.
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==Talkers and Spods==
A lesser known variant is the [[talker]], typically based on [[ew-too]], [[summink]], [[sensi-summink]], [[playground]], and plenty of other code bases. The talker is essentially a MUD, with most of the complex bits of code stripped away, leaving just the communication level commands -- hence the name ''talker''. People who use these tend to be called [[spod|spods]].
The [[spod]] tends to be something of a long term fanatic. Where many mudders may move on after a year or two, people who use talkers typically have been doing so for a decade or more. Talkers are signifigantly easier to run than an average MUD, since they don't incorporate very much [[artificial intelligence]], and they are usually much more user friendly, since there is not often much fighting as a focus. In other words, whole families of husbands, wives, children, and siblings have been known to [[spod]] in certain circles. They also use very little network traffic, and use simple protocols, making them ideal for setting up quietly at work. The [[spod]] has earned a place in the [[Jargon File]].
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In the game of [[Contract bridge]] '''MUD''' is a defensive signalling convention that stands for Middle-Up-Down.
A defender who plays his cards in this order is better able to communicate to his partner the number of cards he holds in the suit. The partner is thus able ----
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