Newsbriefs
Jumping in the IF MUD: An Update
The first issue of XYZZYnews included a look at two multi-user dungeons (or MUDs, as they are commonly called) based on the fantasy world of Zork. At the time, both MUDs were at least partially operational. But things can change rapidly on Internet, and the situation is now quite different, making an update necessary. This time around, we take a brief look at two other MUDs presented in the style and format most familiar to the interactive fiction community.First, an update on the MUDs reviewed in XYZZYnews #1. ZorkMUD (lestat.shv.hb.se 7890) is currently undergoing a major parser overhaul, but it is still up and running, and visitors are welcome to telnet in and check it out. Since the parser is still under construction, I was unable to get the game to respond much during my visits, but hopefully it should be up and running smoothly by the time you read this.
Sadly, ChicagoMUD (also mentioned in XYZZYnews #1) has been shut down recently, and writer and operator Nino Ruffini has no current plans to reopen it. Opening in the Zorkian city of Borphee, ChicagoMUD was full of well-known and obscure references to Infocom's classic fantasy series. This was due primarily to the efforts of Ruffini, whom many of you may recognize as the author of the Encyclopedia Frobozzica included with Return to Zork.
For a different online IF fantasy experience, you might try MUD_II (iplay.interplay.com). Although it's not based on Zork, or any of Infocom's works, MUD_II is a decent example of multi-user interactive fiction, with story-building being its main goal. Access for unregistered users is limited to 30 minutes per day, for 15 days, after which players' accounts are either upgraded or eliminated. Registered players have unlimited access.
Finally, you may find it worth your while to check out DUMII (dum.ts.umu.se 2001). Like MUD_II, the basic goal is the solving of various quests, with character-building a minor part of gameplay. Complex character ratings are not present in DUMII. The only statistic that is advanced during play is your character's experience level. According to the operator of DUMII, "Combat is part of some of the quests but in most cases some thinking can make the fights easy." This aspect of the game strongly reminded me of Infocom's Beyond Zork, although DUMII is set in a different fantasy world.
May/June Top 10 Picks for IF on the World Wide Web
The Virtual Multimedia Interactive Mystery Theater
http://www.coolsite.com/intro.html
Ancient Anguish
http://www.bedrock.com/Ancient_Anguish/aa.html
Adventure Authoring Systems FAQ
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/ usenet/games/adventure-systems/ faq.html
Zarf's List of Interactive Games on the Web
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/andrew/org/kgb/www/zarf/games.html
Your Wacky World Wide Web Adventure
http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~hubick/adventure/adventure.cgi
Baf's Guide to the Interactive Fiction Archive
http://www.tiac.net/users/baf/if-guide.html
Web of Twisty Pages by Stephen Van Egmond
http://www.undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca/~svanegmo/if-index.html
Halloween - A Text Adventure on the Web
http://www.dash.com/netro/fun/hol/hlw.html
John's Interactive Fiction Page
http://speedracer.nmsu.edu/~jholder/intfiction.html
Infocom Fact Sheet Compiled by Paul David Doherty
http://www-cgi.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wsr/Web/IF/infocom-info.html
Go to the next page in this issue 
Flip back to the previous page
Go to the XYZZYnews home page This site is maintained by Eileen Mullin
Legal information