DIKU defined, the old formula for an MMO.

Posted on January 12, 2009 by SynCaine

Raph Koster has an amazing write-up of what defines a DIKU mud, and how some of the bigger MMOs (EQ, WoW) are direct descendents. My first limited experience with an MMO was Neverwinter Nights on AOL, and my first true MMO was Ultima Online. I also skipped EQ1, going from UO to Asheron’s Call, but I finally caught up to the traditional DIKU MMO with WoW, and I have to say reading Raph’s piece was a bit eye-opening. I mean I knew roughly what DIKU was about before, but his write-up makes it painfully clear how little has changed with that formula. It’s also perhaps why I’m constantly drawn to non-DIKU MMOs like EVE, and the PvP aspects of WAR (and perhaps DarkFall)

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About SynCaine

Former hardcore raider turned casual gamer.
This entry was posted in Asheron's Call, Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, PvP, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to DIKU defined, the old formula for an MMO.

  1. Werit's avatar Werit says:
    January 12, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Another AOl NWNer :) Not sure how I used to play with 5 hours a month.

  2. Tesh's avatar Tesh says:
    January 12, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Ooh, nice. Thanks for the link!

  3. Dracon's avatar Dracon says:
    January 19, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    Another site that does not define its acronyms, even when it is “DIKU defined.”

    DIKU is the acronym for the computer science department of the University of Copenhagen. Of course, how silly of me!

    Now I know why I always have to go back for my corpse in Diablo, Diablo II and WoW.

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