[...]I agree that there's definitely still a market for a text based MMORPG though.
On an unrelated note, I really hope there's some archival work going on to preserve MUDs as they fade. People mention their favorites just kind of vanishing as time goes on and a little part of me hurts to think that some world, some collection of stories, has fallen into a hard drive somewhere or was lost to its failure. I'd hope that our digital history is a little more important than that.
Yeah, it's one of those things I do worry about - there's all kinds of amazing games which could just get lost to the sands of time - luckily GoG have stepped in for the commercial stuff, but in terms of MUDs and online games it's difficult to know where they'll stand. If you haven't seen it, this youtube video on Active Worlds (an MMO from the 90s) is a pretty spooky look at what happens when MMOs just die off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgATG6PUA0
Umph, nostalgia hitting me hard >_>
And combined with my curiosity after that link, had me interested in
finding out more in relation to the nice link.
That said, all that came to mind are the MUDs I played, but also loved--I recall beautiful text-based MMOs like Sryth, with a wonderful niche being filled in that these text-based games are inclusive to those with disabilities like in the areas of vision and such (and that you can get along with details and descriptions like the Retropunch said). Reminded me also of Achaea and...me feeling like I failed my mentor who was assigned to me because I was really shy in what to say to people and my really spotty connection (Yay Philippine internet). But that's what makes it beautiful--I felt really connected.
The question for MUDs would be: What would attract people to a new MUD, especially non-MUD players?
The community! :3
Especially those that hop in and help you at the start while you're flailing around and also multitasking in browsing the help manual while you flail around. I remember something nice out of Achaea wherein I lost myself and called out for help, until someone swooped in literally out of nowhere and nudged me to a safer and better area.
But it was the community that got me staying and finding my roots. OOC/IC chat and such, it helped me grow into a nice RolePlayer alongside my narrative skills--but to the newbies, it's what connects or makes you feel like you belong being essential, and in MUDs that is mostly the community.
Also PTW because I've loved text-based games since I was a child (and that my PC can't handle these graphics/internet intensive other games that many folks are into, I guess
). MUDs as an aside helped me a ton in parsing spam/text and speedreading, so that's one nice thing about this. Also memory recall >_> I can't say how much memory of words or terms helped a ton, but given that I was around elementary/high school or such when I began playing MUDs, it helped a lot in attaching connections of terms and 'this person said that a long while ago, now it's important. What do I do?'
On an unrelated note, I really hope there's some archival work going on to preserve MUDs as they fade. People mention their favorites just kind of vanishing as time goes on and a little part of me hurts to think that some world, some collection of stories, has fallen into a hard drive somewhere or was lost to its failure. I'd hope that our digital history is a little more important than that.
This so much.
These are all experiences, even if virtual. Hoping an archive pops up for these.
Edit: Found something that summarizes all this nostalgia and feelings I've got:
It was a lot of fun being exposed to proper RP at an age were everything is magical.
Especially given that MUDs give you journals to put your own text and notes in. SO much fun. :3 (At least, I find MUDs and other text-based games a ton of fun over all the graphical ones here--that or I really treasure being with people/the stories over all such other stuff)
2xedit: Oh my goodness. It's 2016 and I feel like it's just been less than 10 years (says you, younger 10 year old Tir at 2004) since I've played these ._. The start of a millenium doesn't feel that different, and yet it's been a long time.