Inside Cryosphere: the satirical sci-fi space MUD
October 25, 2025
Long-time developer Morwen shares the origins of Cryosphere, the design decisions that shaped the game, and what's coming next.
ReadCategory: Interviews & Guests
Interviews and guest content with fellow storytellers, roleplayers, and creators of text based games and game engines.
Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
September 30, 2025
Learn how Simone, AKA Niymiae, rebuilt the Italian game Lumen et Umbra from its Diku roots into a one-of-a-kind hack-n-slash MUD with ARPG influences.
MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs
August 18, 2025
Asmodeus, creator of MudVault and admin of Dark Wizardry, is building tools to make MUDs easier to find, fairer to rank, and more fun to play - all while keeping the focus on user experience.
GoMud: a lightweight engine for building text-based worlds
July 21, 2025
Volte6, creator of GoMud, talks about the new engine, what it's like to make a project open-source, and lessons learned along the way.
Federation 2 Community Edition: from hauling cargo to shaping the galaxy
June 29, 2025
Federation 2: Community Edition is a player-run revival of a space trading MUD. Jonathan (“Cosmo”) shares how it came back from the brink - and why it's still special 30+ years later.
Bridging virtual worlds: past and future of the InterMUD chat network
June 12, 2025
Long before Discord, MUD devs were building their own cross-game chat networks. From experimental setups to modern web protocols, this post dives into the sometimes dramatic history of InterMUD - and why some games are still keeping it alive today.
LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost
June 8, 2025
Discover how RahjIII built LociTerm - an accessible, browser-based MUD client - to keep The Last Outpost and other games playable on any device.
A picture worth a thousand rooms: the Worldmap project by Hades_Kane and Grieffels
May 22, 2025
Discover how Hades_Kane and Grieffels built a worldmap system that lets you quickly make areas from PNG files. Includes screen reader support, in-game editing, and more.
3 Years of Writing Games: a look back
March 16, 2025
To celebrate Writing Games' third anniversary, I present compelling insights and key takeaways from all the year 1 interviews in a single post!
Blu and Roadspike: on designing game websites and systems
July 24, 2024
Blu and Roadspike, two longtime members of the MUSH community, talk about their past games and lessons learned.
Shattered MU: beyond monsters and magic
July 2, 2024
Tat, creator of Shattered MU (a post-apoc game), talks about the importance of community and shares her guidelines for game design.
AresMUSH: the next-gen server platform
May 19, 2024
Faraday talks about why she created AresMUSH, as well as some of the core tenets that went into its development.
Excelsior: new stories in a unique Marvel universe
May 4, 2024
Manu (Power) and Lae (Mind) share their experiences running Excelsior: a roster-only MUSH set in a unique Marvel universe.
Evennia: a modern way to create MU*s
April 13, 2024
Learn about Evennia, the Python MU* creation system, from Griatch, the developer who's been working on the project for more than a decade.
The Network: only the finest quality programming
March 25, 2024
Clockwork, mastermind behind The Network MU, shares lessons learned from years of creating and running online roleplaying games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Interviews & Guests?
Interviews & Guests is where I talk with developers, writers, and players who are shaping the future of text-based games. It also includes guest posts from creators who share their own stories, lessons, and perspectives.
How do you choose your interviewees?
I focus on people doing interesting work in the MUD, MU*, and interactive fiction communities – whether that’s developing new engines, preserving old games, or building inclusive player spaces.
Can I suggest someone for an interview?
Please do. If there’s a creator, admin, or project you think deserves the spotlight, send me a message with their details and why you’d like to see them featured.
Do you accept guest posts?
I do, as long as the content or topic is relevant to text-based gaming. If you have an idea, feel free to reach out with a short pitch.
Can I share or quote these interviews?
Please do! Just make sure you credit the interviewee appropriately. If possible, include a link back to their interview so readers can learn more about their project.