This is good news. MUDs may be primitive and outdated, but they still offer roleplaying depth no MMORPG can hope to achieve, and with a good DM, they can be just as engaging as graphical RPGs. That's mainly due to simple technical base, which allows fast and easy implementation of new content. Since technical aspect of MUD is so rudimentary, this type of game appeals only to a small number of people, who are generally mature and interested in roleplaying, as opposed to powergamers who flood even most ambitious MMORPGs.
I myself have never been a passionate MUD player, but throughout my teenage years I was surrounded by them. I have a friend who will be happy when he finds out about Blackout. He almost flunked a year because of MUDs - which wouldn't be so comical if the guy wasn't a science genius who always placed very high in national physics and math competitions. Now, those were the years when internet was extremely expensive in Croatia (hell, it's still pretty expensive, but due to increased life standard, most people can afford it), so MUD addicts like him couldn't afford to spend six hours a day online. That's why he played at SRCE ('Srce' is a Croatian word meaning 'Heart', only in this case it's an abbrevation which stands for University Computer Centre, and it's the first academic ICT institution in Croatia) where high school and college students could come freely, at any time of day or night, and use their LAN. Not only did my friend go there every day after school, as well as on Saturdays, but he also - get this! - used to flee from his house every night, ride to SRCE on his bike, spend the whole night playing MUD, go directly from SRCE to his school in the morning and sleep through the classes all drowsy and exhausted! Talk about addiction!
On second thought, I better NOT tell him about Blackout.
</center></blockquote>
