Interview with Richard Bartle

Version 3.02, KC Edition

This is the log of our interview with Richard Bartle, the author of MUD2. Unfortunately, we had a few problems, as you will see (especially myself, involving a persistent inactivity warning :) - Wdi)... We've tried to colour the log and edit certain sections to give a sort of quasi-in-game style, um, flavour to it and the log has been edited in places to make sense, though I've deliberately left some things in the logged order. The first section is narrated from the point of view of Richard the arch-wizard.

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----* summon gdn
Gdn the swanky necromancer moved.
Gdn the swanky necromancer has just arrived.
----* vis
Your spell worked!
You have suddenly and magically regained your visibleness!
Gdn the swanky necromancer has picked up the leopard skin.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "oi".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "wdi too".
----*"you can stop picking up Kyric's stuff, or we do this in Limbo."
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "Aww....".
Gdn the swanky necromancer has dropped the leopard skin.
Gdn the swanky necromancer sulks.
----*inv'1
Your spell worked!
You have suddenly and magically become invisible!
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "just getting questions ready".
----*"OK."
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "wdi has some questions too. Let him in please. he's in hall".
----* "well he can come here if he likes"
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "ahem."
Gdn the swanky necromancer blinks.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "he cant get in".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "or something".
----* "does he want to come? I can bring him here".
Gdn the swanky necromancer nods.
----* summon wdi
Wdi the persistent superhero moved.
Wdi the persistent superhero has just arrived.
Wdi the persistent superhero blinks.
Gdn the swanky necromancer frowns.
Wdi the persistent superhero smiles.
----* enlighten wdi
Wdi the persistent superhero is now enlightened as to your presence.
Wdi looks around quickly
Wdi the persistent superhero gasps.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Good evening :)".
----* "hello"
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "dont pick up Kyrics stuff, or we go to limbo".
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Oh..".
Wdi has dropped the axe.
Wdi has dropped the slightly worn jacket.
Wdi has dropped the small leather jacket.
Wdi has dropped the evening jacket.
Wdi has dropped the velvet shawl.
Wdi has dropped the dinner jacket.
Wdi the persistent superhero smiles.
----* sigh
OK, (Richard the arch-wizard) sighs.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Sorry..".
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Couln't resist..".
Gdn the swanky necromancer looks at you.
Gdn the swanky necromancer ":)".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "ready?".
----* "yes, go ahead".
Wdi the persistent superhero smiles.
Wdi the persistent superhero shuffles.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "are you sitting comfortoubly?......".
----* reset
This is reset 4292, using slot 0.
An auto-reset will be initiated in approximately 24 minutes.
----* "get on with it, reset in 24 minutes!
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "then I'll begin".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "sorry".
Wdi the persistent superhero coughs, twice
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "question one........".

The actual interview follows. We've changed the log from now onwards so that it is narrated from an omniscient point of view.

Gdn the swanky necromancer says "how old were you when you got your first computer?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "my own personal computer, hmm, 25 I think".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "really?".
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "What speed would that have been?".
Wdi is just interested.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "it was an Apricot FX20 with 640K RAM.
Wdi the persistent superhero whistles.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "4.77 I expect, they didn't advertise speeds in those days
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "oh.".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I still have it in my attic
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "Was that your fisrt computer though?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "it was my first computer. I always used timesharing systems before then
Wdi the persistent superhero nods.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "can you give a quick overview on who actually wrote what from the databases pieced together to make MUD2?".
Gecko the hero bids everyone goodbye.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "sure. Simon Dally wrote the formal gardens, monastery and Il Castellare
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "Roy Trubshaw wrote the cottage and immediate environs
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I wrote everything else
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "golly".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and modified what Roy and Simon wrote
Wdi the persistent superhero has just passed on.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "what happened to him?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "who?
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "wdi".
(Richard the arch-wizard) makes magical gestures.
Wdi the persistent superhero moved.
Wdi the persistent superhero has just arrived.
Wdi the persistent superhero has just left.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "must want to be elsewhere
Wdi the persistent superhero has just arrived.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Accident!".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "so you did quite a lot of work then?".
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "Did you do any research to write the descriptions?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I did lots and lots of work, and still do
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "as for research, no, I don't do any formal research
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "although I may sometimes see something and think it would be nice
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "so I remember it for next time I need something like that
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "where did you get your Ideas for rooms and creatures and stuff?(if they were your Ideas)".
Wdi the persistent superhero has just passed on.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "they were my ideas, and I get them from my imagination
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "creatures are from folk lore, though".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "your own imagination?! No books or stuff?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "no books, no. the only stuff from books is Simon's
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "did you read a lot of fantasy books as a child?"
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "no, I didn't. I read SF and Fantasy in my teens, and still do
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I prefer to write it though, when I have the chance
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "like I said, creatures come from mythology
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and folklore
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "so players know what to expect
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "As Tolkien also drew from those sources there'll be some overlap,
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "however you will notice that my dwarfs are dwarfs, not dwarves...
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and I won't touch orcs - they were a Tolkien original
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "we heard that you were considering writing a novel based on MUD (the Land). Is this still true?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "no, it's not true. I've never considered writing a novel set here
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "although I've read novels 'inspired' by it
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "wdi made that oneup".

I did not, you know! Check the interview at http://www.mud2.com/ABC9706/feature.html (towards the bottom)

Gdn the swanky necromancer says "which novels are these?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "unpublished ones by players
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "wow! that must have made you feel proud/pleased knowing people were inspired to write, because of your game!".
Gdn the swanky necromancer makes some magical gestures.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "hes outside again".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "well, yes, it's rather nice
(Richard the arch-wizard) summons Wdi
Wdi the persistent superhero moved.
Wdi the persistent superhero has just arrived.
Wdi the persistent superhero blinks.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Thanks..".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "you want me to cripple you wdi?
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "so you don't go wandering off?
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "FOD him".
Wdi the persistent superhero says "I'm not!".
Gdn the swanky necromancer grins.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "I get disconnected after 1 minute of inactivity..".
Wdi the persistent superhero coughs, twice.
(Richard the arch-wizard) groans.
Wdi the persistent superhero grins.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "how come wireplay isn't on you list of MUD2's on your website?".
Vulnax the superheroine bids everyone bye.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "because I don't have anything to put up about it
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "HOWEVER
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "once there's an interview, I will be able to do so
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "An interview?".
Wdi the persistent superhero wonders.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "which means that after you've written this up, I'll do it".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "what changes were made when setting up the wireplay server?(if any)".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I had to implement an interface to the Wireplay client
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and I had to make MUD2 talk to the Wireplay applications interface
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "both were rather tedious to do, but they seem to work
Wdi the persistent superhero says "I heard that the WP API is quite simple.. Is that true?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) nods.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "yes, it's quite simple
Wdi the persistent superhero nods.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "it's pretty much the same as most APIs for this kind of system
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Thought so..".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "although we did need to make some alterations for MUD2
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "as it does stuff other games don't, in particular unsolicited messages
Wdi the persistent superhero smiles.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "Wdi wants a monospaced font in graphical mode. What do you think?"
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I think he should tell Wireplay so when they do the next client it's an option
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "Wireplya makes the client?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "Wireplay makes the client, well, they subcontract it
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I had to make MUD2 talk to the client they wrote
Wdi the persistent superhero says "We were just wondering because of the recent discussion over the new client (on the BB)".
Wdi the persistent superhero says "over a new client..".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "well obviously they want some ideas of what to put in it
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and what NOT to put in it
This is reset 4292, using slot 0.
An auto-reset will be initiated in approximately 4 minutes.
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Ok.. I'll tell 'em.."
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "was it wireplay who made it so macros couldnt be made by players? why?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "yes, they were. they wanted something quick and working
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "macros were left out because they would have taken time to implement
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "not because of some anti-macro plot
Wdi the persistent superhero asks "But weren't macros deliberately removed so players couln't just run around on auto?".
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "so people couldnt come on and nick the Treasure?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "macros weren't removed, they were never in
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "however, the game does play better if no-one can use them
Wdi the persistent superhero says "ah..".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "not that it would stop someone from writing their own software to
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "access MUD2 instead of the official version, of course
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Lestat was considering that.".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "we'd have to put some encryption in, but it would always be hackable
Wdi the persistent superhero nods.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "because of its nature, Wireplay always has a abundance of novices on tap. do you think this is a good thing?".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "I think it's a marvellous thing
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "this is the best version of MUD2 for a long time because of it
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "it completely alters the characteristics of the game
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Some other MUDs on the Internet have a big problem of lack of novices..".
Wdi the persistent superhero nods.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "yes, they do. Pay MUDs especially - it's hard to get newbies to
Auto-reset initiated, you have 120 seconds to finish up. No further warnings will be issued!
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "try your MUD when there are free ones out there
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "though since bashes have become more frequent, there have been less and less novices because of the points given away in them".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "we'll have to continue after the reset
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Still, Gordon, most players are still inexperienced..".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "and no-one says mortals can't organise their own bashes
Wdi the persistent superhero smiles.
Gdn the swanky necromancer grins.
(Richard the arch-wizard) shrugs.
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "you want to continue next reset?
Wdi the persistent superhero looks at Gdn the swanky necromancer.
Gdn the swanky necromancer nods.
Gdn the swanky necromancer says "please".
(Richard the arch-wizard) says "OK, I'll set this place up again"
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Thanks..".
Wdi the persistent superhero says "Oh yes...".
Gdn the swanky necromancer laughs.
Something magical is happening.

Click here to jump to the log of reset 4293

Gdn was meant to be doing this bit, but decided not to and gave the whole thing to me to do a week before uploading, so I went through each line individually to colour them :) - Wdi.