[MUD-Dev2] Bad Terminology: MMO, MMORPG vs. MUD

[Sean Howard]

"Michael Hartman" <mlist at thresholdrpg.com> wrote:
> I really wish there was a way to get back to the very simple term: MUD.
>
> Multi User Dimension.
>
> This explains the general concept behind the genre so much better than
> the crappy MMO/MMORPG acronyms.
>
> *sigh*

I thought it stood for "Multi User Dungeon" ... Or was that "Domain"? :)

Personally, I'm in favor of making a distinction between text-based MUDs
and graphics-based MMORPGs. It's like Interactive Fiction versus adventure
games. Though functionally similar (or even identical), the interface
differences make a significant difference in how they are played,
perceived, and even created.

Also, I'm okay with MMORPGs - I would've liked a better term (perhaps
something you can pronounce as an acronym), but it is standard now and it
doesn't seem worth the effort to change it. I know some people get
flustered with the RPG part, but for my money, if it has persistent
characters in a (semi-)persistent world, it's RPG plenty. Take away the
persistence and you are simply left with an online game - scale doesn't
seem to be worth mentioning since a thousand players or thirty players,
it's going to seem the same to the player since he will NEVER interact
meaningfully with more than a couple at a time.

-- 
Sean Howard