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Muckbeast

Most people think Wikipedia is a wonderful source of information, both serious and obscure. That used to be true. But the current trend is to purge obscure topics - an area of information that has generally been one of Wikipedia's strengths.

Articles related to the gaming industry and gaming history are particularly vulnerable to this. Little of the history of online games is preserved in any mainstream sources, so it is easy for deletionist Wikipedia editors to get rid of it. The net result is a lot of great history is being lost.

I wrote an article about a recent issue that has been a very hot topic in the gaming blogosphere for the last week or two. It details a specific incident related to a 13 year old MUD, Threshold RPG. But the implications for gaming history in general are enormous. Check it out:

Wikipedia's War on Gaming History and Threshold RPG

I think you will be surprised to learn about the darker side of what is going on right now at Wikipedia.

What do you think of the issue?

shadowsworn

That article is remarkably unspecific about exactly what sort of content is being deleted, so far anyway (I only read page 1).

*naturally a cynic*

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Oisterboy

You mean Wiki isn't the best source!?

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Jacksterson

No.

But I still use it. :/ I hope this doesn't **** with gaming history, lord knows we haven't got it down in the books yet.

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Pok

I think "Deletionist" is an awesome term!

Where do I sign up?

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MoonlightDarkness

... So MUDs were the first MMOs?

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Muckbeast

Yes indeed. It is a shame this is not more widely known, and that is why this issue is so important to me.

Almost all of the early MMOs were developed by former MUD creators. Everquest, UO, and Meridian 59 had development staffs that were almost entirely made up of former mud developers.

Ronin

Not true, but it holds equal respect for everyone.

The result ain't a good one though either.

@The use of Wikipedia:
Generally a piece of information is legit, if verified through 2 chains of sources, that means basically get the info from one and than search a new independent source to verify.
Leaving Wiki out of that is even better tbh (hearsay).

I always act that way, with anything I feel the need to research.

@Muds:
I don't give a crap.

Also not about some random flame about people who get emotional over to what is to be found of their writing on some website.

Paul Gilbert

I think people are taking Wikipedia too seriously.

Soren

How can you assume that history only exists in Wikipedia. All legit info from wikipedia comes from a source, thats why they have footnotes. If you delete an entry, there is still the source where the entry originated. You are saying if someone deletes the whole article of lets say "molecules", all data on molecules will no longer exist.

also, i wouldnt be surprised if MUD were the first mmos

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