Genocide (online game)

Genocide

Developer(s) Project community
Engine LPMud
Platform(s) Platform independent
Release date(s) 1992
Genre(s) Pure PK MUD
Mode(s) Multiplayer
Distribution Online

Genocide is a MUD, a text-based online game, focused exclusively on player-killing.[1][2] Founded in 1992,[3][4] it was influential as the first such "pure PK" MUD,[3] and has met with positive critical response.[2][5][6]

Game characteristics

A screenshot from Genocide showing the War Complex

Genocide's gameplay is based around "wars", sessions of PvP conflict, that restart at frequent intervals.[2] Character development as it is normally known on MUDs is completely absent, with the only advantages that experienced players have consisting of knowledge of the game structure.[2]

Genocide's setting is the "Island of Genocide", which is subdivided into domains and, within domains, areas.[7] The world is vaguely medieval fantasy in theme, with a tremendous variety of character options available within that context.[8]

Player character death on Genocide inflicts no lasting harm. However, kill and death statistics are tracked, and the kill-to-death ratio is the main way in which relative social status of players is measured.[9]

The social atmosphere on Genocide, not atypically of a highly competitive gaming environment, is noted as hostile and replete with crass language.[5]

History

In 1992, Genocide served as a crucial development testbed for the MudOS LPMud driver.[10]

In 1994, Genocide abandoned the MudOS driver and ported to the main LPMud branch, citing speed concerns.[11]

Influence

Genocide's ideas influenced a number of MUDs that emulated its pure PK orientation.[1]

Technical infrastructure

Genocide uses a game driver derived from the LPMud 3.2.1 server software, also known as the Amylaar driver.[1][5] Its mudlib is homegrown.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Shah, Rawn; Romine, James (1995). Playing MUDs on the Internet. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-471-11633-5. Some Muds are completely dependant on player-killing, and have wars that start every half hour or so. These Muds are becoming more common, basing a lot of their ideas on the extremely popular LPmud known as Genocide.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Towers, J. Tarin; Badertscher, Ken; Cunningham, Wayne; Buskirk, Laura (1996). Yahoo! Wild Web Rides. IDG Books Worldwide Inc. p. 149. ISBN 0-7645-7003-X. Genocide is a breakneck-paced, brutal MUD that has none of the mobs or quests you might be used to. It's a bloody world of kill-or-be-killed where you battle your fellow players in a savage race to the finish. There are several different kinds of fast and furious wars that restart all the time, so you don't have to worry about jumping into the game too late. [...] If you're trying out Genocide for the first time, you'll be glad that everyone starts out on equal ground. [...] The only advantage the veterans have is experience and the knowledge of where to find the good stuff fast. [...] If you have a weak heart or are the kind of mudder who takes pkills against you very personally, you might want to steer clear of this bad boy. On the other hand, if you get sick of trashing beastly fidos and spending dull hours racking up experience points, try out Genocide's nonstop action.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Reese, George (1996-03-11). "LPMud Timeline". Retrieved 2010-04-14. January 1992 ¶ _Genocide_ starts as the first MUD dedicated totally to inter-player conflict, which is a fancy way of saying that its theme is creatively player-killing.
  4. ↑ "The Island of Genocide". Genocide. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Maloni, Kelly; Baker, Derek; Wice, Nathaniel (1994). Net Games. Random House / Michael Wolff & Company, Inc. p. 94. ISBN 0-679-75592-6. If combat is what you're looking for and you're not put off by crass language, violence, and a hefty amount of information to take in, Genocide offers some of the best player-killing entertainment around. [...] Server: LPMUD
  6. ↑ Carton, Sean (1995). Internet Virtual Worlds Quick Tour. Ventana Press. pp. 152–153. ISBN 1-56604-222-4. It's fast, it's furious, and there's no other MUD like it.
  7. ↑ "Maps of Genocide". Genocide. 2005-06-20. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Genocide information on races, classes, and spells". Genocide. 2005-06-20. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  9. ↑ Busey, Andrew (1995). Secrets of the MUD Wizards. SAMS Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 0-672-30723-5. And dying on Genocide doesn't hurt you—unless, of course, you are a die-hard Genocide junkie, which there are many, and your kill-to-death ratio is very important to you.
  10. ↑ Reese, George (1996-03-11). "LPMud Timeline". Retrieved 2010-04-14. June 1992 ¶ After having taken over as admin of Genocide in April, Blackthorn decides to move Genocide over to the new MudOS driver. At this time, the driver was filled with new features, but equally filled with bugs. Genocide spent most of the summer as a testbed for MudOS development, with MudOS developers Truilka, Jacques, and Wayfarer working along on the driver over on Portals.
  11. ↑ Reese, George (1996-03-11). "LPMud Timeline". Retrieved 2010-04-14. Early 1994 ¶ Genocides converts over to LPMud in order to get the unusual speed demands made of it by its theme and its old machine. As a result, Blackthorn stops with the trickle of bug-fixes which had been the whole of MudOS development at the time. Eventually, Genocide manages to get a much faster SGI Challenge with 640 MB RAM.

External links