List of MUD clients explained

A MUD client is a game client, a computer application used to connect to a MUD, a type of multiplayer online game. Generally, a MUD client is a very basic telnet client that lacks VT100 terminal emulation and the capability to perform telnet negotiations. On the other hand, MUD clients are enhanced with various features designed to make the MUD telnet interface more accessible to users, and enhance the gameplay of MUDs,[1] with features such as syntax highlighting, keyboard macros, and connection assistance.[2] [3]

Standard features seen in most MUD clients include ANSI color support, aliases, triggers and scripting. The client can often be extended almost indefinitely with its built-in scripting language. Most MUDs restrict the usage of scripts because they give an unfair advantage, as well as the fear that the game will end up being played by fully automated clients instead of human beings.[4]

Prominent clients include TinyTalk, TinyFugue, TinTin++, and zMUD.

History

The first MUD client with a notable number of features was Tinytalk by Anton Rang in January 1990, for Unix-like systems.[5] In May 1990 TinyWar 1.1.4 was released by Leo Plotkin which was based on TinyTalk 1.0 and added support for event-driven programming.[6] In September 1990, TinyFugue, which was based on TinyWar 1.2.3 and TT 1.1, was released by Greg Hudson and featured more advanced trigger support.[7] Development of TinyFugue was taken over by Ken Keys in 1991. TinyFugue has continued to evolve and remains a popular client today for Unix-like systems.

TinyFugue, or tf, was primarily written for Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the earliest MUD clients in existence.[8] It is primarily geared toward TinyMUD variants.[9] TinyFugue is extensible through its own macro language, which also ties to its extensive trigger system.[10] The trigger system allows implementation of automatically run commands.[11]

Another early client was TINTIN by Peter Unold in April 1992.[12] In October 1992 Peter Unold made his final release, TINTIN III, which was a much more mature and feature rich program.[13] Development of TINTIN was continued by Bill Reiss who announced the release of TinTin++ 1.0 in July 1993.[14] The client gained popularity quickly because of its easy to use scripting language and the popularity of DikuMUD for which it was designed. Being open source with originally no license restrictions, many current clients like GGMud, MudMaster, and Pueblo are based on TinTin++.

Following on from TINTIN's success, Mike Potter was keen to produce a Windows port of the client resulting in the release of zMUD 1.0 in December 1995.[15] zMUD was initially licensed as freeware, but Mike Potter realized that he could make a living from sales of the client and started selling zMUD 4.0 as shareware in September 1996.[16] zMUD is particularly noted for its automapping capabilities.[17] [18]

MUSHclient

MUSHclient
Developer:Nick Gammon
Latest Release Version:4.96
Platform:Microsoft Windows
Genre:MUD client

MUSHclient is a MUD client and peer-to-peer chat system originally written and maintained by Nick Gammon. The client is released as freeware.[19] [20] [21] The source to the client is also available on GitHub.[22]

Features

MUSHclient is highly flexible, and provides aliases, hotkeys, triggers (text-matching), command-execution timing, variables, multi-session support, ANSI-colour customisation and speed-walking. In July 2008, support for "miniwindows" was added, which allows MUD programmers to customize graphical elements to the screen, such as a map.

MUSHclient is compatible with screen readers such as JAWS, which read text out loud and allow blind users to play MUDs.[23] [24]

MUSHclient offers extensive scripting support via the Windows Script Host-supported languages, such as VBScript and JavaScript, as well as the platform-independent Lua-scripting. It also supports MCCP and MXP.[25]

MUSHclient is also a peer-to-peer chat system using TCP/IP, featuring group calls and file transfers. This chat system is vulnerable to penetration attacks.[26]

Portability

Although primarily written for Microsoft Windows, MUSHclient has been successfully run both under the Linux operating system by using Wine,[27] and the Mac OS X operating system via Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop for Mac.[28]

MUME

Italic Title:no
MUME
Developer:Philippe "Eru" Rochat, Claude "CryHavoc" Indermitte, Pier "Manwë" Donini, David "Nada" Gay, Gustav "Dáin" Hållberg, project community
Engine:DikuMUD
Platforms:Platform independent
Released:1992
Genre:Middle-earth MUD
Modes:Multiplayer

MUME, Multi-Users in Middle-earth, is one of the early offspring of DikuMUD, created in 1991 by Philippe "Eru" Rochat, who was soon joined by Claude "CryHavoc" Indermitte, Pier "Manwë" Donini, and David "Nada" Gay. The game was built as an homage to J. R. R. Tolkien's world as described in The Lord of the Rings. MUME has since released several new versions, incorporating new changes and areas that recreate Tolkien's world in text format.

MUME enjoys a measure of popularity in the MUD world. MUME is included in The Historical DikuMUD List hosted on the official DikuMUD web site, marking it as one of the longest-running DikuMUDs. In a September 2000 interview Raph Koster, the lead designer of Ultima Online and the chief creative officer of EverQuest II, lists MUME as one of the games that influenced him as a game designer by "doing such interesting things with player conflict".

In April 1998, MUME was named MUD of the Month at The Mud Connector.[29]

Technical details

MUME is based on DikuMUD. The core of MUME is written in C, while the mudlib (global critical code, such as game commands, justice system support and shop functionality) and game world (code for specific rooms, mobiles, and objects) are written in Mudlle.

MUME makes the standalone version of its building and scripting language, Mudlle, publicly available. Mudlle was created by David "Nada" Gay and developed by him and Gustav "Dáin" Hållberg.

MUME uses PowTTY, a client based upon Powwow (for unix) and PuTTY.

Operating systems

The operating systems the clients can run on.

Protocol support

Information about what protocols the clients support.

Notes

In computing, MXP stands for MUD eXtension Protocol. It is used in MUDs to enhance the normal text output with a markup language loosely based on HTML and XML.[33] In order for MXP to be used it must be implemented on the server as well as on the MUD client. MXP is in the public domain.

Other uses

MXP is also used by the CERDEC as communication protocol.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Levine . John R. . John R. Levine . More Internet for Dummies . IDG Books . 1997 . 0-7645-0135-6 . 199 . A better way to connect to a MUD is by using a MUD client program: a program specifically designed for MUDding. A MUD program is really a telnet program that has had various MUD-related commands added..
  2. , "Features include regular expression hilites and gags, auto-login, macros, line editing, screen mode, triggers, cyberportals, logging, file and command uploading, shells, and multiple connects."
  3. , "The TinyFugue system has long been a popular client interface for players of MOO, MUCK, and many TinyMUD-derivative systems. With a robust feature list supporting multiple sessions, macros, triggers and automation, command history and other functions, TinyFugue offers users maximum control over their environment. Although more recent programs such as Tintin++ have gained large followings, many MUD players continue to use TinyFugue because of its power and flexibility in the hands of an experience client programmer."
  4. Web site: A brief history of botting . Raph Koster . 2008 . Everyone's advice to a newbie was "get a client", followed by the lengthy caveat that a given mud had specific rules about what was permissible. In other words, the third-party tools were seen as something that added invaluable interface enhancements, but that also afforded a bit too much power..
  5. Web site: TinyTalk 1.0 is now available for anonymous FTP . Anton Rang . 1990 . TinyTalk is an interface to the TinyMUD system. It replaces telnet, and adds many new features..
  6. Web site: TinyWar does exist! Here it is... . Jason Downs . 1990 . The program you are using now. Tinywar is a modified tinytalk, the later program originally written by Anton Rang. It's a telnet clone, with MUD-specific features..
  7. Web site: TinyFugue 1.1.4 released to anonymous FTP . Greg Hudson . 1990 . TinyFugue is, I believe, the most advanced TinyClient to date, incorporating most of the features of TinyWar 1.2.3, the features of GrimJim's TT 1.1.jwl-2 beta, many of my own enhancements (such as extensive re-entrance, trigger priority, and trigger probability), and input/output windows..
  8. Book: Mulligan . Jessica . Patrovsky . Bridgette . 2003 . Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide . New Riders . 453 . 1990 [...] The MUD client tinyFugue is available now in version 1.4 Beta. . 1-59273-000-0.
  9. Book: Shah . Rawn . Romine . James . 1995 . Playing MUDs on the Internet . John Wiley & Sons, Inc. . 257 . 0-471-11633-5 . TinyFugue [...] Commonly known as tf. Designed primarily for TinyMud-style Muds, although will run on LPMUDs and Dikus. Features include regular expression hilites and gags, auto-login, macros, line editing, screen mode, triggers, cyberportals, logging, file and command uploading, shells, and multiple connects..
  10. Book: Busey, Andrew . Secrets of the MUD Wizards . . 1995 . 0-672-30723-5 . 200 . The TinyFugue system has long been a popular client interface for players of MOO, MUCK, and many TinyMUD-derivative systems. With a robust feature list supporting multiple sessions, macros, triggers and automation, command history and other functions, TinyFugue offers users maximum control over their environment. Although more recent programs such as Tintin++ have gained large followings, many MUD players continue to use TinyFugue because of its power and flexibility in the hands of an experience client programmer..
  11. Book: Cheong, Fah-Chun . 1996 . Internet Agents: Spiders, Wanderers, Brokers, and Bots . New Riders . 1-56205-463-5 . 256 . There are also front-end client programs, such as TinyTalk, TinyFugue, and Tintin, that provide an easier interface to the MUDs for their human players. They can handle some of the more routine work - for example, automatically greeting anyone who enters the room. . registration .
  12. Web site: TINTIN - a dikumud client . Peter Unold . 1992 . (T)he K(I)cki(N) (T)ick D(I)kumud Clie(N)t (hell I simply wanted it to be called TINTIN....).
  13. Web site: TINTIN III released . Peter Unold . 1992 . TINTIN III is a mud client special designed to help dikumudders. It runs under various UNIX implementations..
  14. Web site: where to get tintin++ . Bill Reiss . 1993 . Since Berkeley removed its diku base, I have put a copy of tintin++ 1.0 beta on flipper.pvv.unit.no in the pub/mud/diku directory. From here on, I will most likely be putting the updates to tintin++ there..
  15. Web site: New Winsock MUD Client: zMUD . Mike Potter . 1995 . zMUD is a powerful client, with many features of TinTin++, as well as graphical interface features such as customizeable buttons..
  16. Web site: About Zugg Software . Mike Potter . 2006 . Sep 1996 zMUD v4.0 is released as Shareware -- Zugg Software officially formed.
  17. Book: Dodge . Martin . Kitchin . Rob . Mapping Cyberspace . Routledge . 2000-09-02 . 153 . 0-415-19884-4 . One interesting approach that attempts to achieve this is, is one which automatically records movement through MUD space, using this information to dynamically map the spaces visited. Such an approach has been adopted by the zMUD client, from Zugg Software, which includes the automapping tool shown in figure 8.5. zMUD can be configured to decode the room descriptions, and to record the standard cardinal walking directions, teleports and one-way links..
  18. Book: Bartle, Richard . Richard Bartle . Designing Virtual Worlds . New Riders . 2003 . 0-13-101816-7 . 481 . Some clients (zMUD is the best-known) constructed for use with generic textual worlds can automap arbitrary room connections, exploring a virtual world exhaustively to produce an accurate map. . Designing Virtual Worlds.
  19. Web site: AudioGames, your resource for audiogames, games for the blind, games for the visually impaired!.
  20. Web site: MUSHClient . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150219015553/http://www.materiamagica.com:80/play/game-clients/mushclient . 19 February 2015 . Materia Magica.
  21. Web site: MUSHclient « The Twilight Sun . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100704103534/http://jonathan.com/category/mushclient . 4 July 2010 . jonathan.com.
  22. Web site: MUSHclient source . GitHub.
  23. Web site: Mushclient resources.
  24. Web site: RandyLaptop: MUSHclient: - accessible, powerful MUDding. https://web.archive.org/web/20080223142029/http://randylaptop.com/article/MUSHclient . 2008-02-23 .
  25. Web site: Getting started with Mushclient - Online Games.
  26. http://www.gifre.org/admin/papers/gjedt/System-vol-3-1-gjedt.pdf gifre.org
  27. Web site: WineHQ - MUSHclient. appdb.winehq.org.
  28. Web site: MUSHclient in OS X (Mactel Only. Sorry PPC People.) . Bobbiac . 2007-05-18.
  29. Web site: Hall . Lynne . TMC Reviews: MUME - Multi Users In Middle Earth . . 1999-05-30.
  30. Waitzman. D.. Telnet window size option. tools.ietf.org. October 1988 . 8 August 2017. en.
  31. Postel. J.. Telnet end of record option. tools.ietf.org. December 1983 . 8 August 2017. en.
  32. J.. Postel. J.. Reynolds. Telnet Echo Option. tools.ietf.org. May 1983 . 8 August 2017. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170707143742/https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc857. 7 July 2017.
  33. Web site: MXP (Mud eXtension Protocol) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306080024/http://godwars2.org/mwi/clients/mxp . 6 March 2016 . God Wars II.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of MUD clients".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.