The Good Ole MUD DaysThe Good Ole MUD Days

Daniel WardDaniel Ward

Pharm.D. CandidatePharm.D. Candidate

Wingate University School of Wingate University School of Pharmacy Pharmacy

November 1November 1stst , 2006 , 2006

191191

UNC in 1993UNC in 1993

• CAROLINECAROLINE• LibrariesLibraries• ComputersComputers• Receiving an Email AddressReceiving an Email Address• Internet?Internet?• TelnetTelnet

– The “cool” people The “cool” people

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UNC in 1993UNC in 1993

• CAROLINECAROLINE• LibrariesLibraries• Receiving an Email AddressReceiving an Email Address• Internet?Internet?• TelnetTelnet

– The “cool” peopleThe “cool” people

Telnet in 1993 at UNCTelnet in 1993 at UNC

• EmailEmail• ISCA– Iowa Student Computer Association ISCA– Iowa Student Computer Association

telnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edutelnet://whip.isca.uiowa.edu• Many MOOs and MUDs….(too many to Many MOOs and MUDs….(too many to

name)name)• My favorite mud---starMUD My favorite mud---starMUD • ““Crack Cocaine”Crack Cocaine”

About starMUDAbout starMUD

• Based in Stockholm, Sweden Based in Stockholm, Sweden • UNIX basedUNIX based• First server could only hold 40 connections First server could only hold 40 connections

at one time.at one time.• Created by local physician in Stockholm Created by local physician in Stockholm

looking for a stress relieflooking for a stress relief

About starMUD cont.About starMUD cont.

• 4 levels on starMUD (and many others)4 levels on starMUD (and many others)– GOD—he was the creator..owned the server in GOD—he was the creator..owned the server in

our caseour case– LORD—they were in charge of a certain area of LORD—they were in charge of a certain area of

the MUDthe MUD– WIZARD—(ME!)—they were the main coders (C+WIZARD—(ME!)—they were the main coders (C+

+) for an area..were usually handpicked by a +) for an area..were usually handpicked by a certain LORDcertain LORD

– MORTAL—people allowed to play in each area to MORTAL—people allowed to play in each area to gain power and skills to one day become a Wizard gain power and skills to one day become a Wizard (usually took 18-24 months of regular play)(usually took 18-24 months of regular play)

About starMUD cont.About starMUD cont.

• Could be many races (alien, human, Muppet, Could be many races (alien, human, Muppet, Vulcan, Smurf, etc)Vulcan, Smurf, etc)

• Start by killing bumblebees, rabbits, etc. to gain Start by killing bumblebees, rabbits, etc. to gain experience before tackling bigger monsters…experience before tackling bigger monsters…– The more experience points, the quicker you can become The more experience points, the quicker you can become

a Wizarda Wizard

• Couldn’t attack each other UNLESS Couldn’t attack each other UNLESS BOTHBOTH players players were “outlaws”. If one “outlaw” killed another, were “outlaws”. If one “outlaw” killed another, you can steal all their credits and weapons, but you can steal all their credits and weapons, but they kept their skillsthey kept their skills

• Opportunity to know lots of people from all over Opportunity to know lots of people from all over the worldthe world

Graphical MUDsGraphical MUDs

• Not just UNIX based anymore…Not just UNIX based anymore…• Advantage—not as much typing!Advantage—not as much typing!• Disadvantage—imagination factor Disadvantage—imagination factor

(book/movie debate)(book/movie debate)• For example For example

http://www.geocities.com/blessed_lands_wehttp://www.geocities.com/blessed_lands_web/b/

Newer Addicting SitesNewer Addicting Sites

• AIM/Yahoo IM/MSN MessengerAIM/Yahoo IM/MSN Messenger• MyspaceMyspace• FacebookFacebook• PokerPoker• SimsSims• EverquestEverquest

– ““Evercrack”Evercrack”– 3-D version of DikuMUD3-D version of DikuMUD– Selling of weapons on eBaySelling of weapons on eBay

Newer Addicting SitesNewer Addicting Sites

• World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft– 6 million subscribers6 million subscribers

• Up to 40% are addictedUp to 40% are addicted• June 2005—child died of neglect from WoW addicted parentsJune 2005—child died of neglect from WoW addicted parents

– Selling characters on eBaySelling characters on eBay

• Second LifeSecond Life– 3-D world—very Sims-like3-D world—very Sims-like– 1 million subscribers1 million subscribers

• Pay for the “good stuff”Pay for the “good stuff”• Convert real dollars to “Linden dollars”Convert real dollars to “Linden dollars”• $400,000 in real money spent every 24 hours$400,000 in real money spent every 24 hours• Squatters springing upSquatters springing up

My AddictionMy Addiction

• Why is it addicting? Why is it addicting? – You can escape reality You can escape reality – Can be any type person you want to beCan be any type person you want to be– Completely anonymousCompletely anonymous– Fun to get more and more powerfulFun to get more and more powerful– Fun to kill stuff for prizes (credits, skills)Fun to kill stuff for prizes (credits, skills)– Ultimate goal---WIZARD!Ultimate goal---WIZARD!

My Addiction cont.My Addiction cont.

• Started in Fall 1993Started in Fall 1993• Honor Court/Escape realityHonor Court/Escape reality• Just 30 minutes a day, but..Just 30 minutes a day, but..• Class…Class…• Papers…Papers…• Labs….Labs….• My “Marriage”My “Marriage”• Credit cardsCredit cards• Spring 1994 GPA….any guesses?Spring 1994 GPA….any guesses?

MUD friends at UNCMUD friends at UNC

• 3 of us at UNC3 of us at UNC• Dennis—taught me to code C++ in Teague, Dennis—taught me to code C++ in Teague,

ended up getting his masters in CS at ended up getting his masters in CS at University of Texas…just up his alley!University of Texas…just up his alley!

• Ame—PRIME EXAMPLE of starMUD’s Ame—PRIME EXAMPLE of starMUD’s addicting power……addicting power……– Class, Social Life, GPAClass, Social Life, GPA

What made me quit?What made me quit?

• Grades/ParentsGrades/Parents– Drugs?Drugs?

• Student Psychological ServicesStudent Psychological Services– Internet AddictionInternet Addiction

Let’s visit starMUDLet’s visit starMUD

• telnet://home.starmud.com:4000/telnet://home.starmud.com:4000/• telnet://aus.stanford.edu:2010telnet://aus.stanford.edu:2010• http://www.achaea.comhttp://www.achaea.com