BatMUD [Official Site], a text-based multiplayer game that's been around in some form since 1990 is still alive and works well on Linux.
For the younger people reading: MUD usually stands for “Multi-User Dungeon”, an online and usually text-based game that has elements of roguelikes, RPGs and many others. They’re old, really old.
The real problem with the game, is that it needs a large amount of patience and concentration with the high learning curve. Since a lot of it involves heavy reading, it’s not for the easily bored. If you're the type to enjoy a good long book, as well as a good gaming session, BatMUD might be a really good fit, since a lot of it is down to your own imagination.
Here's an example of the type of experience you can expect:
As you can see, there's very little in the way of graphics. The majority of your interactions are done by typing commands and then reading, typing another command and reading some more.
For me personally, I much prefer something visual over a book, so it's not a personal choice for spending my free time. However, I'm sure some of you will be pleased to know BatMUD is very much alive and working well on Linux. A nice bit of gaming history.
The developer actually reached out to me a little while back about it, as they are planning to eventually get the game on Steam and need a little boost. They don't seem to have an exact date for when the release will be on Steam, so sometime "soon".
The game can be played using their own client, but you can also connect using things like Mudlet, TinyFugue and I'm sure there's others. Using Mudlet might be a good idea, since it seems their official Java-based client expires every so often forcing you to re-download.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Keyrock 22 Nov 2017
rustybroomhandle 22 Nov 2017
14 22 Nov 2017
I've never heard of BatMUD, but after reading that little snippet in the screenshot, I'm pretty interested! I am going to try it out. :)
starfarer 22 Nov 2017
MUDs are the precursor to MMOs. They are MMOs without graphics.
Is that really so? I've been playing [Illarion](http://illarion.org/) on and off for the last 15 years or so and it always had a graphical user interface, even the very first versions from the late 90s.
And it's a really great game since it's about real role-playing. No 1337-speak, no senseless killing or grinding - just picking a character and playing the role of the character as best as you can. Unfortunately fewer and fewer people are playing it. :(
Samsai 22 Nov 2017
MUDs go further back than the 90s, so yeah. BatMUD itself was released in 1990 and it wasn't the first among MUDs.MUDs are the precursor to MMOs. They are MMOs without graphics.
Is that really so? I've been playing Illarion on and off for the last 15 years or so and it always had a graphical user interface, even the very first versions from the late 90s.
And it's a really great game since it's about real role-playing. No 1337-speak, no senseless killing or grinding - just picking a character and playing the role of the character as best as you can. Unfortunately fewer and fewer people are playing it. :(
Al3s 22 Nov 2017
MUDs are the precursor to MMOs. They are MMOs without graphics.
Is that really so? I've been playing [Illarion](http://illarion.org/) on and off for the last 15 years or so and it always had a graphical user interface, even the very first versions from the late 90s.
Absolutely. Back in the day all muds where played over telnet on the terminal.
razing32 23 Nov 2017
I failed each time. Just couldn't keep going.
I don't mind the text but the real time+text nature. I like to read at a slow pace and am easily distracted.
So to die to the casual goblin/gnoll/rat what-have-you is really annoying as I was trying to read WTF Was going on.
I would enjoy a Turn based MUD but that would probably not work as a massive multiplayer experience.
cprn 23 Nov 2017
razing32 23 Nov 2017
Am I really that lazy? Will I really wait for it to get on Steam before I even check it out?? This saddens me. I used to... go outside. And play with sticks. :(
Sticks don't have rolling upgrades :P
starfarer 24 Nov 2017
MUDs go further back than the 90s, so yeah. BatMUD itself was released in 1990 and it wasn't the first among MUDs.
Absolutely. Back in the day all muds where played over telnet on the terminal.
I do not dispute that MUDs were text-based games. I merely questioned the hypothesis that a game can only be referred to as a MUD if it does not contain a graphical user interface, which I have given a counter-example to in the form of Illarion where the developers have been on it since the late 90s and have referred to it as a MUD ever since.
Al3s 26 Nov 2017
MUDs go further back than the 90s, so yeah. BatMUD itself was released in 1990 and it wasn't the first among MUDs.
Absolutely. Back in the day all muds where played over telnet on the terminal.
I do not dispute that MUDs were text-based games. I merely questioned the hypothesis that a game can only be referred to as a MUD if it does not contain a graphical user interface, which I have given a counter-example to in the form of Illarion where the developers have been on it since the late 90s and have referred to it as a MUD ever since.
I've just saw a gameplay of Illarion. If that is a MUD, then I guess World of Warcraft is a MUD, too.
starfarer 26 Nov 2017
MUDs go further back than the 90s, so yeah. BatMUD itself was released in 1990 and it wasn't the first among MUDs.
Absolutely. Back in the day all muds where played over telnet on the terminal.
I do not dispute that MUDs were text-based games. I merely questioned the hypothesis that a game can only be referred to as a MUD if it does not contain a graphical user interface, which I have given a counter-example to in the form of Illarion where the developers have been on it since the late 90s and have referred to it as a MUD ever since.
I've just saw a gameplay of Illarion. If that is a MUD, then I guess World of Warcraft is a MUD, too.
On what premise did you reach this conclusion?
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