Genocide (online game)
Encyclopedia
Genocide is a MUD
, a text-based online game, focused exclusively on player-killing
. Founded in 1992, it was influential as the first such "pure PK" MUD, and has met with positive critical response.
conflict, that restart at frequent intervals. 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.
Genocides setting is the "Island of Genocide", which is subdivided into domains and, within domains, areas. The world is vaguely medieval fantasy
in theme, with a tremendous variety of character options available within that context.
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.
The social atmosphere on Genocide, not atypically of a highly competitive gaming environment, is noted as hostile and replete with crass language.
LPMud driver.
In 1994, Genocide abandoned the MudOS driver and ported to the main LPMud
branch, citing speed concerns.
Meridian 59
developer Brian Green
was an avid player of Genocide in college, and M59 PvP
philosophy echoes Genocides.
server software, also known as the Amylaar driver. Its mudlib
is homegrown.
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
, a text-based online game, focused exclusively on player-killing
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
. Founded in 1992, it was influential as the first such "pure PK" MUD, and has met with positive critical response.
Game characteristics
Genocides gameplay is based around "wars", sessions of PvPPlayer versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
conflict, that restart at frequent intervals. Character development
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
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.
Genocides setting is the "Island of Genocide", which is subdivided into domains and, within domains, areas. The world is vaguely medieval fantasy
Medieval fantasy
Medieval fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that encompasses medieval era high fantasy and sometimes simply represents fictitious versions of historic events. This subgenre is common among role-playing games, text-based roleplaying, and high-fantasy literature....
in theme, with a tremendous variety of character options available within that context.
Player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
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.
The social atmosphere on Genocide, not atypically of a highly competitive gaming environment, is noted as hostile and replete with crass language.
History
In 1992, Genocide served as a crucial development testbed for the MudOSMudOS
MudOS is a major family of LPMud server software, implementing its own variant of the LPC programming language. It first came into being on February 18, 1992. It pioneered important technical innovations in MUDs, including the network socket support that made InterMUD communications possible and...
LPMud driver.
In 1994, Genocide abandoned the MudOS driver and ported to the main LPMud
LPMud
LPMud, abbreviated LP, is a family of MUD server software. Its first instance, the original LPMud game driver, was developed in 1989 by Lars Pensjö...
branch, citing speed concerns.
Influence
Genocides ideas influenced a number of MUDs that emulated its pure PK orientation.Meridian 59
Meridian 59
Meridian 59, abbreviated M59, is an online computer role-playing game first published by the now defunct 3DO Company. First launched online in an early form on December 15, 1995 and released commercially on September 27, 1996 with a flat-rate monthly subscription, Meridian 59 is often credited as...
developer Brian Green
Brian Green (game developer)
Brian "Psychochild" Green is a game developer known for his work on the online 3D graphical RPG, Meridian 59. He worked on the game for 3DO, then co-founded Near Death Studios in 2001. He is a frequent gaming conference speaker and writes for a number of game design websites, including...
was an avid player of Genocide in college, and M59 PvP
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
philosophy echoes Genocides.
Technical infrastructure
Genocide uses a game driver derived from the LPMud 3.2.1LPMud
LPMud, abbreviated LP, is a family of MUD server software. Its first instance, the original LPMud game driver, was developed in 1989 by Lars Pensjö...
server software, also known as the Amylaar driver. Its mudlib
Mudlib
A mudlib, short for mud library, is a library of code forming part of the technical infrastructure of a MUD. Though different varieties of MUD may be considered to have mudlibs, the term is most often used with LPMuds. In an LPMud, the mudlib consists of interpreted code written in the LPC...
is homegrown.