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.