Guide to Papers of Richard A. Bartle, ca. 1979-1997
M1410
Finding aid prepared by Charlotte Thai
Dept. of Special Collections & University Archives
Stanford University Libraries.
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, California, 94305
Repository Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu
May 2014
Title: Richard A. Bartle papers
Identifier/Call Number: M1410
Contributing Institution:
Dept. of Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
1 manuscript box, 1 flat box
Date (inclusive): 1979-1997
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36-48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Abstract: There are two main parts to this collection: 1) MUD1 archival materials and 2) MUD1 source code. The MUD1 archival materials
include files for “Dungen,” MUDDLE reference manual, maps, design notes, etc. Notes written by Richard A. Bartle are inserted
in the first (unnumbered) folder in the manuscript box. These notes provide information about the contents contained in folders
that he numbered 1-32, and arranged in chronological order. Folders 1-32 are dispersed between a manuscript box and flat storage
box due to variations in document size. The MUD1 source code is available online through the Stanford University Libraries
at this location:
http://purl.stanford.edu/wh632tj5702
Creator:
Bartle, Richard A.
Acquisition Information
This collection was given by Richard Bartle to Stanford University, Special Collections in 2003 and 2014.
Publication Rights
Open for research. Physical boxes can be paged for use through Searchworks. Born-digital files can be downloaded from:
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Richard A. Bartle papers (M1410). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biography
Dr. Richard A. Bartle was born in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England on January 10, 1960. He entered Essex University in 1978,
where he acquired a BSc degree in Computer Science (1st Class) and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. In 1984 he lectured at
Essex on the latter subject, becoming the youngest member of the University’s academic staff.
While an undergraduate at Essex, he met Roy Trubshaw, who was a year above him in school. Roy was interested in designing
a multiplayer text adventure game. The game he created was called MUD (Multi-User Dungeon), and Roy devoted his undergraduate
academic career to writing it. Roy did not have time to complete the game before he finished his studies, so he gave it to
Richard when the programming was about 75% done. Richard added his own enhancements and completed the rest of the game. Programming
the first MUD took from 1978-1981.
In order to market MUD, Richard and Roy formed a game company with Simon Dally called MUSE. Simon was a book publisher who
commissioned Richard's book,
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Games. Meanwhile, Richard continued to experiment with the MUD program, and developed a brand-new system, leading to an updated
version of MUD that was called MUD2. MUD2 benefited from having a dedicated programming language, called MUDDLE, which was
designed specifically for writing MUD-like games, but was flexible enough to be used for other types of programming. Richard
left Essex University in 1987 to work full-time on MUD2. Unfortunately, Simon suffered from manic depression and committed
suicide in 1989. MUSE never fully recovered from the impact of this tragedy.
Richard left full-time work at MUSE in 2000, and after a short stint at a start-up company called Gameplay, he became a consultant.
During this time he also published
Designing Virtual Worlds, the first book about the design of MUDs.
Designing Virtual Worlds is widely used as standard text for anyone interested in programming multiplayer online games. Richard returned to Essex
University in 2002, to assist with teaching curriculum designed for a newly introduced computer games degree. In 2004 he became
a Visiting Professor. He continues to teach, conduct research, and provide consultation related to computer programming and
virtual world games.
Scope and Contents
The collection is comprised of two series.
Series 1: This series contains MUD1 archival material. Notes written by Richard A. Bartle are inserted in the first (unnumbered)
folder in the manuscript box. These notes provide information about the contents contained in folders that he numbered 1-32,
and arranged in chronological order. Folders 1-32 are dispersed between a manuscript box and flat storage box due to variations
in document size. The manuscript box contains original handwritten design notes, maps, and photocopies of files. The flat
box contains lineprinter papers, which consists of a MACRO-10 assembler list output for the final version of MUD version 2,
maps, an extent log of a MUD session, along with other oversize documents.
Series 2: The 2014 accession contained a zip file which contained the compressed library of source code files for the online
virtual world, MUD1. This digital files are available online through the Stanford University Libraries at this location:
Access to Collection
Open for research. Physical boxes can be paged for use through Searchworks. Born-digital files can be downloaded from:
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Trubshaw, Roy
Computer games--Design.
Computer games--History.
Computer games--Programming.
Science--History.
Series 1: MUD1 (Multi-User Dungeon) Archival Materials
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
1 manuscript box, 1 flat box
Scope and Contents
This series contains MUD1 archival material. Notes written by Richard A. Bartle are inserted in the first (unnumbered) folder
in the manuscript box. These notes provide information about the contents contained in folders that he numbered 1-32, and
arranged in chronological order. Folders 1-32 are dispersed between a manuscript box and flat storage box due to variations
in document size. The manuscript box contains original handwritten design notes, maps, and photocopies of files. The flat
box contains lineprinter papers, which consists of a MACRO-10 assembler list output for the final version of MUD version 2,
maps, an extent log of a MUD session, along with other oversize documents.This consists of the digital file for the MUD1 source
code, which is available online through the Stanford University Libraries at this location: http://purl.stanford.edu/wh632tj5702
Box 1
MUD1 Collection Notes
Scope and Contents
These are notes written by Richard A. Bartle that are inserted in the first (unnumbered) folder in the manuscript box. They
provide information about the contents contained in folders that he numbered 1-32, and arranged in chronological order. Folders
1-32 are dispersed between a manuscript box and flat storage box due to variations in document size.
Box 1, Folder 2
Photocopied Sheets "Database Format for Dungen"
Box 1, Folder 3
Photocopied Sheets "Dungen"
Box 1, Folder 4
Photocopied Sheets "Directory"
Box 1, Folder 7
Photocopied Sheets "MUDDLE reference manual"
Box 1, Folder 8
Map area north of the road
Box 1, Folder 9
Original map to the goblin lair
Box 1, Folder 11
Map used in design for dwarf realm
Box 1, Folder 14
Sheet of ideas for inclusion in MUD
Box 1, Folder 17
Photocopied Sheets, "A Muse"
Box 1, Folder 19
Original sketch map of "Valley"
Box 1, Folder 22
Design notes for the MUDDLE programming language
Box 1, Folder 23
MUD-2 Preliminary documentation
Box 1, Folder 24
Implementation notes for the MUDDLE parser
Box 1, Folder 25
Maps for the inn and beneath the inn
Box 1, Folder 26
Maps that accompany the North Mountain area
Box 1, Folder 30
Map to sew Valley onto MUD1
Box 1, Folder 31
White dot matrix sheet "mmosolm.pas"
Box 1, Folder 32
Research materials for maps accompanying pagoda area
Flat-box 1, Folder 1
Green lineprinter paper, Sequence #4221
Flat-box 1, Folder 5
Green lineprinter paper, Sequence #3010
Flat-box 1, Folder 6
Photocopied lineprinter paper
Flat-box 1, Folder 16
Green lineprinter paper, Sequence #1046
Flat-box 1, Folder 18
Green lineprinter paper, Sequence #1201
Flat-box 1, Folder 20
First full map of MUD version 3
Flat-box 1, Folder 28
White lineprinter paper, Sequence #1100 and #1101
Flat-box 1, Folder 29
Descriptions of MUD module extension "Valley"
Series 2: MUD1 Source Code
Physical Description:
35.0 computer file(s)
777 KB
Scope and Contents
Series 2: The 2014 accession contained a zip file which contained the compressed library of source code files for the online
virtual world, MUD1. This digital files are available online through the Stanford University Libraries at this location:
