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

[Michael Hartman]

Mike Sellers wrote:
> Forget MUD and its derivatives, btw.  MUD retains its connotative ties to
> text games, and besides, no one in the commercial world wants to name a
> genre after *mud*.  Even an unpronounceable acronym is better than that.  

I think you are right, but this is a shame. MUD works so much better 
than everything else that has come after it.

> Yep, I agree.  But it's been more than ten years, so don't hold your breath.

*face turning purple*

Don't what?

> Others that have been tried include "PSWs" (persistent state worlds), online
> games (too general) and virtual worlds (taken over by "non-game" social
> worlds).  MMOG is the de facto term of use -- at least until someone comes
> up with something a whole lot better.  

I hope that someone will. I think what is likely to happen is there will 
be a lot of bad attempts (like PSW) until someone comes up with 
something perfect that catches fire. Then we'll all wonder why we 
weren't the one who coined the new term.




-- 
Michael Hartman, J.D. (http://www.frogdice.com)
President & CEO, Frogdice, Inc.
University of Georgia School of Law, 1995-1998
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, 1990-1994