Behind every multi-user (MU*) game is a system administrator, or SysAdmin, whose hard work and dedication keep the game up and running.
Today, we celebrate them with SysAdmin Day.
To mark the occasion, I invited Opie, Faraday, and Viriato to offer a few words on what it means to be a SysAdmin, as each of them has experience working behind the scenes to support MU*s and the MU* community.
Whether you’re a player, staffer, or even a SysAdmin yourself, I hope this post inspires and encourages you in some way.
Who are SysAdmins and what do they do?
For me, working for the MUD community is like running or biking: staying on top of it is a daily habit that brings me peace of mind, and the best reward is seeing players use the things I’ve made.
– Viriato, SysAdmin, Creator of IberiaMUD
In a multi-user game, a SysAdmin is a volunteer staff member who keeps the game online and running smoothly.
Every MU* game consists of one or more virtual servers that need to communicate with each other and the internet. Most also require a database and other pieces of software that must pass data back and forth in the right way for everything to work properly.
The system admin is there to make sure players never have to know, or worry, about any of that.
They’re typically responsible for everything from server maintenance and security to troubleshooting technical issues and bringing the game back up safely after a crash.
In many ways, the work of a SysAdmin is like that of an invisible guardian.
(I kinda like to think of them as the Heimdalls of the MU* world, maintaining the Bifrost and keeping the baddies out of Asgard.)
While players immerse themselves in the game – exploring new areas, creating stories, and building friendships, the SysAdmin works behind the scenes to make all of that possible.
They may also help implement new systems, squash bugs in the code, and assist other staffers with projects, all while remaining largely unnoticed.. as long as everything works right.
Why SysAdmins matter for MU*s
System administration can be a hard and often thankless job—when everything works, you don’t actually see anything happening.
My goal with AresMUSH is to make it so you don’t need any SysAdmin experience to run a game, but having a good SysAdmin can help make sure everything runs smoothly.
– Faraday, Software Developer, Creator of AresMUSH
The contributions of SysAdmins often go underappreciated because their work is most visible when something isn’t working.
If the game crashes, everything comes to a halt until the system administrator brings it back online.
Or on a game that must rebooted for maintenance, the SysAdmin might be most visible when they’re interrupting gameplay for a reboot.
However, the SysAdmin’s day-to-day efforts are what ensure a smooth gaming experience in the first place.
Imagine your favorite MU* game without the help of a dedicated SysAdmin (or maybe you don’t need to imagine it because you’ve experienced it before): frequent downtimes, lag, security issues, and unresolved bugs would turn any vibrant community into a frustrated one.
The enjoyable gaming experiences we often take for granted are only possible because of the necessary work that SysAdmins do behind the scenes.
What is SysAdmin Day?
SysAdmin Day, officially known as System Administrator Appreciation Day, is celebrated annually on the last Friday of July.
The day is set aside to appreciate the hard work and contributions of the system administrators and IT professionals who keep our technological infrastructure running smoothly.
In fact, companies, governments, libraries, municipal services, healthcare facilities, and many other entities all rely on system administrators to function.
SysAdmin Day is therefore celebrated by businesses, organizations, and tech communities worldwide, with gestures of appreciation like thank-you notes, gifts, and social media shoutouts, acknowledging the important role these professionals play in our increasingly digital world.
SysAdmins and MU* history
While not necessary for celebrating SysAdmin Day, I think it’s fun to note the role that SysAdmins played during the formative years of multi-user games.
Some of the earliest SysAdmins were responsible for maintaining the university computer systems that hosted the first Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs).
They made sure that the servers were up and running, managed user access, and sometimes even contributed to the development and maintenance of the MUD software itself.
Their early work laid the foundations for the modern network management practices we see today, long before the internet was really a thing. Kinda neat, right?
How players and staffers can show appreciation
Players often take for granted the seamless gaming experience they enjoy. A SysAdmin who cares will work to ensure servers are stable, updates are smoothly deployed, and any hiccups are quickly dealt with.
One of the best ways to thank a SysAdmin is to be patient and understanding when issues arise. We are doing our best to fix the problem. A thoughtful message of appreciation or a small token of gratitude can also make our day.
– Opie, SysAdmin, Owner of Vineyard.haus
As with most volunteer staffing roles, SysAdmins on MU*s don’t do the work because they expect to be rewarded with gifts and praise. Often, they just like helping out and being part of the hobby.
Even so, Sysadmin Day is a perfect opportunity for players (and fellow staffers) to express their gratitude.
As Opie (above) says, simple gestures can make a SysAdmin’s day. Here are a few ideas:
- Send a thank-you note or message: an authentic message can brighten a staffer’s day, reminding them that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. This is a simple but meaningful way to show appreciation.
- Public acknowledgment: posting a thank-you note on forums or in community spaces can help raise awareness about the importance of SysAdmins and can create a positive, encouraging atmosphere.
- Participate in or organize events: host virtual meet-ups or in-game events dedicated to celebrating SysAdmins. This could include special in-game items, themed quests, or fun challenges.
- Get them a gift: if they have a Patreon or Paypal account, you can donate as a way of saying thank you. Alternatively, you could pool your resources with other members of the community to get them something unique or special.
Whatever you decide to do – on this Sysadmin Day, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate the people who keep our virtual worlds running smoothly. Their expertise, dedication, and behind-the-scenes work make our gaming experiences possible and enjoyable.
To all the unsung heroes behind our favorite text-based games – Happy Sysadmin Day, and thank you for all that you do!
And a warm shoutout to Opie, Faraday, and Viriato for sharing their thoughts in this post!
Opie is a self-taught systems administrator who owns and maintains a free hosting service for MU* games (Vineyard.haus). You can learn more about him and what he’s done for the MU* community in this interview.
Faraday is a software developer by trade, author at heart, and the creator of AresMUSH, a next-gen platform for running MU games with minimal programming/system admin experience. You can learn more about her work and how it got started in this interview.
Viriato is the creator of IberiaMUD and the Iberia-hosted MUD MSSP Stats page, which lists games and game info for the public. In addition to building his own Java-based MUD engine and language translation system (for international players), he also works as a SysAdmin and developer IRL.
PS: If you enjoyed this post, you might like the one on MU* Staff Appreciation Day. It’s all about acknowledging the hard work that staffers do.
Andruid (she/her) is a writer, roleplayer, storyteller, and nerd who tries to live by Bill and Ted wisdom, i.e. "Be excellent to each other." She created Writing Games to share lessons learned and to introduce new players to the world of text-based games. Learn more.
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