On the Internet, even MUD can be fun

Many of you may have played games at video arcades or on computers where you go through caves and dungeons or take on the role of a dragon. ...

Many of you may have played games at video arcades or on computers where you go through caves and dungeons or take on the role of a dragon. But MUD, or Multiple User Dimension or Multiple User Dungeon, combine several elements of each of these experiences to heighten the effect.

In MUD you type commands to manipulate objects, make a general announcement or talk to a pal. You read descriptions of your local, wander at will and even explore your environs. You can read papers, change clothes and perform actions like jump a table or have breakfast.

If you have played the newer games on a computer these actions would seem familiar to you. But that8217;s where the similarity ends. In such games everything behaves predictably and you are playing alone, whereas in MUD the behaviour of friends and villains are unpredictable. It is quite similar to the unpredictability of real life. You have dozens of autonomous beings with you, real humans taking a role in your experience and interacting with you according to their personalities, abilities and whims.

A MUD is a place on the Internet where many users from anywhere in the world can interact. Most MUDs are fantasy games, but there are many educational forms too.

In fact our only introduction to this fascinating aspect of the Net was a MUD called School net MOO8217;, based in Canada. It provides students from preschool to class 12 with fun and educational projects, ideas and network resources. If any of you have an Internet connection all you have to do is point your Gopher client, a tool of the Internet, at schoolnet and enter a whole new world. You can also Telnet another Internet tool to a MUD. When we connected to this MUD as a guest it responded, 8220;You seem to be new here? Would you like the tutor to help you?quot; And we were given a guided tour of the basics of Mudding.

In a typical MUD, each user takes control of a computerised being, also called avatar, persons and character. You type commands and the affected users or objects respond. Your person can walk around, chat with other characters, explore dangerous territory, solve riddles and puzzles and even create your very own space.

Many MUDs are live role playing games in which you assume a new identity and enter an alternate reality through your keyboard. Each MUD has its own personality, which largely comes from the creator who developed its rules, laws of nature and information databases.

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The advantages of MUDs for conversation and communication have not been lost on the business and research worlds. Several firms have 8220;virtual conference rooms8221; 8212; really MUDs 8212; where participants scattered across the globe can talk, in the same way they would do if they were all in the same room. The meeting planner can develop agendas and audio visual displays are also possible.