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From: jgsmith@BCM.TMC.EDU (James G. Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: VR Protocols.
Message-ID: <7510@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 13 Sep 90 18:10:49 GMT
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I don't know how many of you are aware of MUD's (Multi-user-dungeons), but
they've been around a little while, and they are the first use of multi-user
VR's that I've seen (besides games).  I just recently "discovered" them, so
I'm not an expert (read: don't ask me technical questions), but MUD's actually
do several of the things which have been talked about recently in this newsgroup
.
The interface (for the present) is text.  So when you enter a room you get a
text description of the room and a mention of objects in the room.  When you
"look" at an object, you get a longer description of that object (one written
by the person who created that object.)  It's all very fascinating, especially
when comparing Vinge's book (True Names ...) with what's actually happening. My
main question is did Vinge know about MUD's or did those who designed MUD's
know about Vinge?

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