Multi-user dungeons (MUDs) were developed in the late 1970s as a way for people to explore Dungeons & Dragons themed adventures together and interact socially. The first MUDs were developed in universities, with the University of Illinois and the University of Essex being notable examples. MUDs became more advanced over time, allowing players to create new areas to explore. With the advent of the internet, graphical MUDs became popular. Today, many MUDs require a fee to access and there are even ones designed specifically for kids.
A multi-user dungeon or MUD is a gaming and social concept developed in the late 1970s, when connectivity to a common server was possible for multiple people at once. The initial goal of the multi-user dungeon was to create places where people could explore Dungeons & Dragons themed adventures together and interact socially in designated chat rooms or areas. Groups of players each connected by personal computer usually via telephone line, played together in a text-based language, exploring various dungeons or areas, leveling up characters, or using simple commands to perform actions within the program.
The first types of multi-user dungeons were developed in universities. Notably, the University of Illinois and the University of Essex could both connect people at their universities (and beyond) for social interaction. The very first game on these early systems was called Oubliette, and was created at the University of Illinois for their system. It was so hard that people had to work together to solve clues and survive.
The name MUD or multi-user dungeon came a year later with another game created for the University of Essex system. Its inventors, Roy Trubshaw and Richard Bartle, are credited with inventing the multi-user dungeon, even though Oubliette actually existed a year earlier. Several other games followed, which became more complex. Some emphasize social over gaming.
A multi-user dungeon offset has been called MOO or mud object oriented. Many of these were created to be more academic in nature and classrooms could meet on MOOs. It should be noted that many were also social in nature and lacked the game environment, although scrabble and other puns could be played on them if these were available.
Over the next ten years, multi-user dungeons became more advanced, allowing players not only to interact with the basic “objects” found in them, but also to participate in creating new areas to explore. However, with the advent of the Internet, many text-based styles have been discarded, although some still exist. Instead, people have switched to graphical MUDs. This was mainly started by computer game companies, which allowed you to connect remotely with other players to play games. There are now a variety of graphical MUDs online, considered the next generation of the multi-user dungeon.
Entering multi-user dungeons or MOOs may be addictive. MUD also stood for university multiple destroyer, as there were many students who spent much more time playing on MUDs than studying. The same goes for today’s multi-user graphical dungeon, in its many forms.
However, there is a crucial difference in many of today’s MUDs. First, many of them are only accessible if you pay for them, with an annual or monthly service fee. Second, there are now graphical MUDs designed and marketed specifically for kids like Disney’s Toontown, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Club Penguin. Although it can be accessed for free, to perform certain actions, access advanced parts of the game, or obtain certain rewards, you need to pay for membership.
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