Genocide (MUD)

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] Genocide's ideas influenced a number of MUDs that emulated its pure player-versus-player orientation.^[1]

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

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

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, but 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]

Technical infrastructure

In 1992, Genocide served as a crucial development testbed for the MudOS LPMud driver,^[10] though in 1994, Genocide abandoned the MudOS driver and was ported to the main LPMud branch, citing speed concerns.^[11]

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.