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just make a web page that contain nothing but a Java applet that connects back to your server. See http://www.mudmagic.com/java-client/ for example.

This breaks for customers who use any of several non-PC platforms such as Wii and iPod Touch/iPhone. Neither has a JVM. Compare the number of angry customers who use an obscure setup for which your JavaScript code breaks to the number of angry customers you'll get when Java applets don't work at all on several common setups.

We need and application framework.

If you really need all that, you can have it right now: just make a web page that contain nothing but a Java applet that connects back to your server. See http://www.mudmagic.com/java-client/ for example.

That few people bother doing this implies to me that it isn't, in fact, widely needed.

And if you can do without pretty graphics, pass on Second Life and just find a MUSH/MUX at Mudmagic or similar site.

Building, scripting, and chat. Playable over SSH and the vast majority don't cost a dime.

While your counterstrike game is down, try playing a mud instead. They are online text games, and provide a more entertaining level of interaction for those with an imagination.

When I developed our free mud client, I had wanted to retain full ownership of the software, but allow the source code to be downloaded. I have used Linux for 7 years and was familiar with GPL software, but never looked much into it. After discussing it with other developer, GPL is the license I ended up going with. It gives the end user the ability to modify the source code to their liking and requires them to make public any upgrades.

The only dislike I had with the GPL was that anyone using my software could do so for a fee. In the end though, I figured if they develop it and create features that charge fee's, I would get a copy of the source and create the same features and not charge a fee =)

I've been playing muds since '97. While this doesn't make me a newbie at them, I'm by no means qualified to call myself an "oldbie". Playing both muds and FFXI I can say that there doesn't seem to be much difference to me in terms of getting into the games. Most muds have very easy to learn commands that are more common sense than anything else, but it's not unusual for players have have problems typing "wear" to wear an item. However, I do think that it might be difficult for someone who's started off playing a graphical game with point and click interfaces and pretty sounds to switch to something purely text. Many muds now allow players with compatible clients to click and perform various actions as well as soundpacks available for download.

As for what the popular ones are, it seems like every week another mud pops up. Some 14 year old plays a game, thinks "This is easy!" and decides to start his own. Server space is easy to get, mud code is generally free, and most hosts will install and configure your your codebase of choice. Most of these games are played by the owner and 3 or 4 of his/her friends who takes turns slaughtering each other and spamming mud discussion lists with "we're the best DBZ mud around!" Players may visit the game, play for an hour or so, and leave. Players who stay run the chance of either being victims of immortal characters testing out super-equipment on them or just getting tired of playing a game that's going nowhere. Eventually they leave, and there's one more dead mud on a list.

The popular games are the ones who shell out the big money for ads in gaming magazines. Are they the best? I've never played on them since I've run my own for 5 years now, but several of my regular players have played at the bigger places and still return to my much smaller and less popular game.

Check out either Mudconnector or MudMagic. Both have lists of muds and faqs on how to get started with a game, as well as forums discussing all sorts of game stuff.

Have you looked at online text games? A small site which I have developed over the years focuses on these types of games. I met my wife on one of these games in fact. =) http://www.mudmagic.com

Online Text Games allows for couples to play a game with basic telnet usage, or they can use a mud client. There are no graphics involved, therefore you needn't have a high speed video card or sound card to play. You don't need to download any special software, or create website only accounts, or even pay for the connection. The only thing you need is an interenet connection. All major OS' come with telnet as a standard feature.

You can telnet into a game and create you an online character. You can even choose your own theme to play. Everything from Harry Potter focused to DBZ, to standard D&D. Online text games have advanced in leaps and bounds over the years, and to this day continue to be a meeting ground for me and my wife when I am deployed.

Check them out. You may just become addicted to them. =) You can try any MUD in our database out by pulling down the PLAY A GAME NOW at the top right of the site and using our java connection client.

Have you looked at online text games? A small site which I have developed over the years focuses on these types of games. I met my wife on one of these games in fact. =) http://www.mudmagic.com

Online Text Games allows for couples to play a game with basic telnet usage, or they can use a mud client. There are no graphics involved, therefore you needn't have a high speed video card or sound card to play. You don't need to download any special software, or create website only accounts, or even pay for the connection. The only thing you need is an interenet connection. All major OS' come with telnet as a standard feature.

You can telnet into a game and create you an online character. You can even choose your own theme to play. Everything from Harry Potter focused to DBZ, to standard D&D. Online text games have advanced in leaps and bounds over the years, and to this day continue to be a meeting ground for me and my wife when I am deployed.

Check them out. You may just become addicted to them. =) You can try any MUD in our database out by pulling down the PLAY A GAME NOW at the top right of the site and using our java connection client.

I recently wrote a paper Located Here in regards to this subject. Recording artists would embrace MP3 technology ( in my paper I give a few names whom did just that); yet it is not the artist whom makes the decisions and is against MP3's. It is the recording labels, whom have the music artists over a kettle. Kyndig