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<1> A MUD is a program that resides on a computer that users log into from around the world. Every MUD is essentially a computer program written in C or another programming language. The player sees or uses a much easier scripting language for each particular type of MUD.

<2> There are two main types of MUDs: adventure/combat-oriented and social MUDs. LP/Diku MUDs are typically game-playing, combat MUDs; TinyMUDs are oriented toward social interaction (though interaction between a player and other players/bots or an environment on both types of MUDs is intrinsically social).

<3> A number of different TinyMUD programs exist, including: TinyMUSH, which stands for Multi-User Shared Hallucination; TinyMOO, which stands for MUD-Object-Oriented; TinyMUSE, which stands for Multi-User Simulation Environment; and TinyMUCK, which stands only for MUCK. The MUD created in the Computer Writing and Research Labs is a TinyMUSH and the MUD created in the ACT Lab is a TinyMOO. On TinyMUDs in general, rooms, objects and players are created similarly as objects with particular qualities.

For more information on MUDs, the following offer some helpful resources:

MUD Resource Collection, U. Penn.

ACT Lab Gopher Library, U.Texas

Compiled Resources, ACT Lab

CWRL Table of Contents


Page: "Types"
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