[MUD-Dev] code base inquiry

[Ben Greear]

Richard Woolcock wrote:
> 
> Matthew Mihaly wrote:
> >
> > On Sat, 15 Jan 2000, Richard Woolcock wrote:
> > > At least with the restrictions it ensures that the majority of text-based
> > > muds are run by hobbiests, while those are just in it for some easy money
> > > are put off by the idea of having to create a mud from scratch.  Those few
> > > muds which *are* written from scratch for commercial use are then put in a
> > > better position to compete.
> >
> > Easy money. Heh. You've either not created a lot of commercial text muds,
> > or you are incredibly competent and efficient.
> 
> You're not listening to what I said.  What I said was that if there were no
> restrictions on codebases, those people who *wanted* to make some easy money
> could do so - as it stands right now, the restrictions ensure that people
> either run the mud for no profit, or else have to put in a lot of work.

I don't agree with that last bit.  There are free mud servers out there,
free from commercial restraints (GPL and all that.)  One that I'm familiar
with is Scry.  It may not be the best MUD server in the world, but it's
at least on par with most of the DIKU/MERC clones (IMHO).  As far as I
know though, no one is charging anyone to play on it (I could be wrong,
the license doesn't exactly say they have to tell me...)

In order for there to be easy money, you have to have a differentiated
product.  In a 'market' as saturated as MUDs, where admins/coders/builders
try hard just to get players for free, it requires a lot more than the
lack of a restrictive license to give someone something worth charging for.

[snip]

> There is a certain freedom in creating a mud, knowing that you can never
> profit financially from it - and therefore never feeling that your designs
> should be restricted by the opinions of others.  That is a freedom I'm not
> sure I would want to give up.
> 
> KaVir.

Agreed, as soon as you accept a single shilling, you are beholden unto
the unwashed masses!! :)

Enjoy,
Ben

--
Ben Greear (greearb at candelatech.com)  http://scry.wanfear.com/~greear 
Author of ScryMUD:  scry.wanfear.com 4444        (Released under GPL)
http://scry.wanfear.com



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