Game Design (Page 2)
Practical advice for game creators, developers, and admins. Includes everything from considerations of game mechanics to player retention.
Latest posts
The Network: only the finest quality programming
Clockwork, mastermind behind The Network MU, shares lessons learned from years of creating and running online roleplaying games.
Striking a balance: simulation vs. storytelling in text-based roleplaying games
Guest author Brandon Cross offers advice for MUD developers on how to use storytelling vs. simulation to create a more immersive game.
How game design drives investment, stakes, and conflict in roleplay-intensive (RPI) MUDs
Within the text-based gaming community, RPIs have a reputation for being toxic cesspools, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Silent Heaven: a supernatural horror MU*
Silent Heaven is a supernatural horror MU* known for its emphasis on story and its relatively non-toxic RP community.
Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming
It's Data Privacy Week! Learn why you should care and what you can do to protect yourself and your communities online.
MU* Staff Appreciation Day: 9 ways to say thanks
December 1st is MU* Staff Appreciation Day! Don't forget to say thank you to the hard-working staffers who make your favorite pastime possible.
Celebrating International MUD Day: 8 ideas
Learn what International MUD Day is and what it's all about. Plus, get ideas for celebrating the holiday with your friends.
EmpireMUD: a player-driven city-builder
Khufu shares his experiences building a screen reader-friendly map for his long-running map-based game: EmpireMUD.
Opie: giving back to the MUD community
Opie, long-time pillar of the MUD community, talks about his free hosting service, how running a MUD can help you get a job, and more.
Celebrating Player Appreciation Week
Held annually starting the 3rd Monday of September, Player Appreciation Week honors the players of text-based games and their communities.
Mystavaria MUD: a world of dreams and magic
Creators Alora and Aion share their experiences developing Mystavaria, a new fantasy MUD that features dream magic.
How to create a style guide for your MU*
Learn how to create a Builder's Style Guide for your multi-user dungeon (MUD), including what should go in it and where it should live.
The Free Zone: inclusive RP culture by design
Ash and Famine introduce their new MUD, The Free Zone, and discuss some of the changes they made to create a more inclusive, welcoming RPI.
How to measure player activity in text games
Learn tips for asking the right questions and steering clear of common pitfalls when measuring player activity.
How to improve player retention in multi-user (MU*) text games: 15 tips
Learn how to calculate and track player retention in your multi-user (MU*) game, plus 15+ tips for getting players to return.