8bitMUSH

8bitMUSH

MU* Website: http://8bit.memoryleak.org

MU* Telnet Address: telnet://8bit.fansi.org:4201

8BitMUSH is a social MUSH with FANSI Art, open building, and a stock market and capitalism system. In 2007, it was featured in a two-part series of Javelin's Tinytalk podcasts[1][2]. In 2008, 8BitMUSH became the first MUSH to add support for 256 colors.

History[]

8bitMUSH was created on April 24, 2001, after a group of players broke away from DynamixMUSH due to a staff dispute, an event that is known as the "Great Twink Exodus." The name 8Bit refers both to the Nintendo sub-culture present in some areas of the game, as well as the capitalism theme present on the MUSH, with the idea that the entire MUSH is a game much like an 8-Bit NES game. 8Bit is a social game and does not enforce theme or role playing.

8BitMUSH in its earlier years gained a rather bad name for itself, due to the Twink Olympics, its war with EvolutionMUX and other MUSHes, and various controversial events. In addition, the game itself was founded with relaxed policies on spamming and other practices often disallowed on other MUSHes. Despite its reputation, there are many features on 8Bit unavailable on other games, and it remains one of the most active Social MUSHes [3]. In 2007, 8BitMUSH was featured in a two-part series of Javelin's Tinytalk podcasts[4][5].

Features[]

FANSIsun — The surface of the sun, in 16-color FANSI

FANSI, 256 Colors[]

8Bit supports FANSI Art, an extended version of ANSI Art that uses a combination of 151 IBM extended ASCII characters, and client settings, to allow ANSI graphics similar to those found on BBSes, as seen on the image to the right. The 8bitMUSH client, available on the website, supports FANSI out of the box, while MUSHClient, Z-mud, CMud, WinTin.NET and Putty also support it with some minor configuration changes. In 2008, 8Bit introduced FANSI 2.0 [6], making it the first MUSH to add support for 256 colors.

Property[]

All players on 8Bit are given a piece of property which can be built upon however they like. Commercial property can be bought to sell items on, using a prebuilt multi-vendor bought in the game. There is also a puzzle mall where players can build puzzles and solve interactive-fiction puzzles.

Darts & Drugs[]

Several "back alley" products are sold on 8Bit, which utilize wizard powers to effect the game in ways a standard product could not. For instance, darts, while expensive, can be used to gag a player for a period of 15 minutes, cumulatively. The more darts used, the longer the player remains gagged. There are also a variety of MUSH drugs which can be acquired on 8Bit, including magic mushrooms from the Mario Bros. area, a Mind Probe Syringe, and Low Brau Beer. Using these can result in hallucinations, slurred speech, and other strange temporary effects. Other related products of this nature include Love Potions and Loyalty Syringes.

Other[]

Other features include a 'chatroom' on the website, although it is illegal to use this chatroom while darted. Food, which can contribute to weight seen using the unique global command +fitness, or cause hallucinations if you don't eat enough. Spambot, a primitive AI that would talk to players, and a trivia channel, on which a bot asks trivia questions. Awards are available for winning various games and puzzles around 8bitMUSH.

Culture[]

8bit, over time, has developed a unique subculture. Examples of this can be seen in the Punish-O-Tron 9000 which punishes players for swearing on the public channel by taking coins, which also punishes for other words including 'pelican' and 'riblets'. The atmosphere is often sarcastic and one of jest. 8BitMUSHers often make jokes aim at each other, or regarding the game's controversial past, or referencing players who have angrily "left forever" (a phrase that is considered humorous because many of the people who say they are leaving 8Bit forever return a few days later). Humorous FANSI artwork is shown occasionally over the public channel.

Economy and Stock Market[]

8bit has a very active virtual economy; the main unit of currency, the Coin (after the Coins from the Mario Bros. games) has a surprising amount of value. Players earn Coins via collecting paychecks, exploring rooms (Coins are dropped in rooms regularly and then given to the next person to step in there), winning prizes, solving puzzles, or trading with other players. Many players have established various virtual "businesses" including virtual clothing stores and restaurants, as well as stores selling programmed objects of varying complexity.

External Links[]

This MUD appeared to be ACTIVE at last check.