Multi-User Dimensions, Gaming and Virtual Communities

MUD
Some new ground for me here, so I'm going to be picking up some new data here. In this post I'm gonna start of with Multi User Dimensions (aka MUD). I don't know what other topics this term is used in, but in relation to computer gaming it supposedly combines elements of hack and slash2d shooting, role playing game style computer games and also (and mainly) a chat room (a seperate place where you can just interact with others) or the possibility to be able to chat to
other players while you are playing (both at the same time). On some sites/server/bulletin boards you get the possibility of both of them.

I've been out of the MUD lop for quite a while now, so I don't know what's going on with everything and what new stuff has been implemented. But I can tell you this much, traditional MUDs use to be located within some fantasy setting be populated by dwarves, goblins, wizards, hobbits, knights (mythical 'creatures')...so on. Something like a cross between Lord of the Rings and World of Warcraft. There would be a variety of races for the players to choose from, each with it's own field of speciality. For example there were warriors (speciality in strenth and combat), priests (speciality in healing), mages (speciality in sorcery) and so on and on and on...(in order to reach and aquire certain skills and powers a certain skill level must be reached through combat and various other tasks). Your epic object of the game now would be to slay monsters (be it living or dead), explore fantasy worlds on foot or through teleportation (some methods I still wonder about...). You would also complete adventures in story mode, and in some create your own story in role play mode.

(old and new versions of D&D)

I hate to admit this, but I'm pretty sure that many MUDs were fashioned around the dice rolling rules of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D as it's better known). I don't know why but I have uch hate for this game from the deepest corners of my heart. This thing had a whole franchise going on, board games, costumes, cartoon and even a movie, Dungeons and Dragons (2002) (ingeniously named).

(new version of D&D)

I have this image in my head of D&D players where they dress up like their avatars (merlin, goblin...) and play in their basement for days on end till someone comes out victorious. And during this their mummy brings down milk and cookies for her little wizard and his friends - I wonder if that's real somewhere.

The one online multi-user dimension thats the most well known to me is (was) http://www.jippii.com/, I remember I used to go on this nearly everyday some five years back. Now that I check it after 'years' I see that they have made some changes like adding logon screen (when I used to play on it it used to allow any person to just go in and playwith any username). Once you are inside the game room (as it used to be called) you would be able to send messages to other users openly or privately and also block others from messaging you; not forgetting the main aspect which is to be able to challenge other players (you could choose to not have anyone challenge you, but still be able to challenge them).

(www.jippii.com home page)

Now since this wasn't an RPG (role playing game) you wouldn't be able to represent yourself with an avatar, so your name would pretty much be what you would use to help you go along in the world. You wouldn't get the choice of playing a NPC (non-player character) in here as the only way you can play is if you play another player. There were also different rooms you could go in to, so you would have to read the discription of each room before entering to know what domain you about to place youself in to. The games on this board are pretty much sports related - oh yeh, important thing. if you type in any swear words in the chatrooms they get turned in to funny astrix/star characters -, the one I rememer that used to be the most populated was the poolroom, which later on went to have three more rooms to help accomodate a large number of player. There was also the drawing room to play out artistic games, the mini golf game room, cannon ball room and so on. All of these game tookplace on a large rectangular area in the middle on your screen, therefore you will have no characters or images to represent you at anytime, other than your name.

I remember often that there would be beef among some of the more hardcore players about who's the best player, who's elite, who's a noob and so on, so what they used to do is hold a tournament for the best player on a private server and have a playoff. That means people on both sides of the world would be awake at the same time (4am in the morning to prove one is better than than the other - fukin' crazy) and playing till all but one gets knocked out. That's too
hardcore for me, I wouldn't care realli who thot who was better. All I gave a shit bout at that time was if there was someone good enough in there to give me a good game - years down the things haven't changed much, except I don't play much.

I remember reading somewhere that there was a well known RPG known as Avatar (1979) which was made on the PLATO system and was the most played game at that time. And just to have a feel for how RPG games looked at that time, heres a screen shot. It's obvious that it is dos based wouldn't be very appealing to any one player at this age.

(first PLATO dos based rpg)

I'm personally not a fan these type of games, I don't have time on my hands to talk to strangers about how I'm going to kill them or something. But I will say this though, when I do get in the mood and some of my mates have some time on their hands, we play World of Warcraft together on our own server. Hands down, it is the best MUD gaming experience one will find out there. The best thing I like about this game (disregarding the obvious attention the graphics hae been given) is the fact that the goal is not to just go hack-and-slash your enemies and even if you do this the objective cannot be reached by going solo. The only way to win here is if you collaborate with your fellow players to create multiple diversions and attacks. And once you have your full force going down on your enemy everything kinda goes hectic.

(first ever MUD logon and todays logon)

The AI (artificial intelligence) in this game is pretty far from stupid. Everything the computer does has been well strategised by it's developers, the game doesn't miss a beat. It still has marks of the traditional MUD, for example you've still gotta reach certain levels to be able to create certain characters, it still has the different races of characters (you still get the half-lings, the orcs, night elvs, humans etc.). You can also chat to each other, consider this really important on a platform like this coz communication between team members is realli important in creating and advancing your strategies here - if you don't your team will be playing solo (blind) and be overthrown before the peak of every round. Regardless of the multiplayer part of this game, playing the story mde or your own solo missions on this game is almost just as fun. The thing about this game is that the choices you make right in the begining will help in deciding your outcome. As soon as the level is created, you've to decide if you are an attacking or a defensive player. You can be both, but production will be slower. And as always, in this game if you don't take the fight to the enemy, the enemy will bring the fight to you. And when their clouds gather above your head, they make sure that it doesn't just rain but pours downright.

(second life and gaia online - you virtually live online)

Virtual Community
I don't really belong to any virtual community or even a gaming community, well actually that's a lie. I do belong to a virtual community, kinda (I became a member of DeviantArt recently). A virtual community is exactly just that, no more and no less. They basically are a group of people who primarily communicate with each other - through the internet rather than face to face. It has pretty much become an extra (a second) form of communication between people, even those who know each other in life, e.g. Microsoft chat, MSN chat and a million other forums and chat rooms out there that people use as a gathering point.

(microsoft chat)

I did join ONE online community (DeviantArt) recently, and this is only because it was only focused on what I liked to do while I'm even in my sleep. It's an art based community where people discuss nothing but art majorly, my account can be found under - http://washedfire.deviantart.com/ - (shameless publicity). The reason that I joined here is firstly so that I can throw my digital work up there and get feedback on how to improve on them, secondly (and mainly) is so that I can observe other artists work and ask questions on their methods and learn how to improve in this field.

(fron page of deviantart and shot of my work)

I this type of thing, you will be able to represent yourself with and avatar, have your own profile page, gallery and favourites and even use it for commisions on other art pieces. I would recommended this site to any art enthusiast as there is something for everyone. People make friends here and exchange contact details to get to know each other a little better, but the best bit is when two artists who know each other well collaborate to create their own piece. You
are able to see what each artist has offered on the table comment on their art work. There is another bit to this though, there is also the forums facility where topics of a variety matters cn be taken up (from politics to personal problems), though I have hardly engaged in these, it is nice to know that some of these artists are still human and not aliens that sleep, eat and crap artwork.

NOTE: Download Soldat.exe. Great multiplayer game. Hours of fun, well recommended

Links
Really good piece on virtual communities
http://www.inst.at/trans/15Nr/01_2/mascio15.htm

Good D&D link
http://www.cale.com/paper.htm

Massive Massive MMRPG
http://secondlife.com/http://www.gaiaonline.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/