Flame is a free and accessible telnet-based Bulletin Board System (BBS) and Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) hosted by the University of Canberra Computer Club. It offers a nostalgic online experience with classic BBS features like forums, file transfers, and games, alongside a MUD environment for text-based roleplaying and exploration. Flame aims to provide a friendly and welcoming community for both experienced users familiar with these older systems and newcomers curious to explore the history of online communities. Users can connect via telnet or through a web-based interface, making it easily accessible.
The University of Canberra Computer Club (UCCC) proudly hosts Flame, a versatile platform that harkens back to the golden age of online text-based communities. Flame concurrently serves as both a Bulletin Board System (BBS) and a Multi-User Dungeon (MUD), offering a diverse range of experiences for users seeking text-based interaction. Accessible through telnet, users can connect directly to flame.ucc.asn.au on port 23, bypassing the need for specialized software. For those preferring a more modern approach, a web client is also available, offering a convenient gateway to the same rich content.
As a BBS, Flame provides a classic forum for asynchronous communication. Users can engage in threaded discussions across a spectrum of topics within various message boards, share files through a dedicated file transfer system, and exchange personal messages with other members of the community. This functionality replicates the core experience of traditional BBS systems, fostering a sense of community and facilitating the exchange of information and ideas.
Simultaneously, Flame functions as a MUD, offering a dynamic and interactive virtual world. Users can create and customize characters, embark on text-based adventures, explore intricate virtual environments, and interact with other players in real-time. This MUD component expands upon the static nature of the BBS, introducing a layer of immersive role-playing and collaborative storytelling.
The post highlights the unique blend of these two distinct yet complementary services, emphasizing Flame's ability to cater to both those seeking asynchronous discussion and those desiring real-time interactive experiences. The enduring legacy of BBS and MUD culture is preserved and celebrated within Flame, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the past while simultaneously providing a vibrant platform for ongoing community engagement. The UCCC, as custodians of Flame, actively encourages new users to join and experience this unique digital realm.
Summary of Comments ( 9 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43534480
Hacker News users discuss Flame, a BBS and MUD software package. Several commenters reminisce about their experiences with BBSes and MUDs, expressing nostalgia for that era of online interaction. Some discuss the technical aspects of Flame, praising its features and flexibility, and comparing it to other contemporary systems. A few users mention trying to get it running on modern hardware, with varying degrees of success. There's a brief discussion about the challenges of preserving old BBS software and data. Overall, the comments reflect a fondness for the history of online communities and an appreciation for Flame's role in it.
The Hacker News post titled "Flame – BBS and MUD" has generated a moderate amount of discussion with several commenters sharing their experiences and insights related to BBSs and MUDs.
One commenter reminisces about their early online experiences with bulletin board systems and dial-up modems, recalling the thrill of exploring new online worlds and the limitations of slow connection speeds. They also express a sense of nostalgia for the simpler times of early online communities.
Another commenter dives deeper into the technical aspects, discussing the challenges of running a BBS with limited hardware resources and the ingenuity required to optimize performance. They mention specific hardware limitations and the clever workarounds employed to overcome them.
Several comments focus on the unique culture of BBSs and MUDs, contrasting them with modern social media platforms. They highlight the stronger sense of community and the deeper connections fostered in these smaller, more focused online spaces. Some express a longing for the text-based interactions and the emphasis on creativity and imagination that characterized these earlier online environments.
There's a discussion about the role of BBSs and MUDs in the development of online communities and the internet as a whole. Commenters acknowledge their importance as precursors to modern social platforms and online gaming. They also point to the influence of BBSs and MUDs on the development of internet technologies and culture.
A few comments mention the challenges of preserving the history and legacy of BBSs and MUDs, with some suggesting resources and initiatives dedicated to archiving and documenting these early online spaces. They emphasize the importance of preserving these digital artifacts for future generations.
One commenter points out the link provided in the original post actually leads to the Flame University Computer Club homepage rather than a specific page about Flame itself. They helpfully provide a direct link to the Flame documentation.
Finally, a commenter highlights the unusual combination of BBS and MUD functionality in Flame, suggesting that it represents a unique hybrid of these two distinct online platforms. They find this combination intriguing and express curiosity about the technical implementation and user experience.