[plamzi]

With any game that has accumulated a player base over decades, I imagine it is absolutely normal to see ebbs and flows as major releases of games (RPG or not) come out. That has nothing to do with broad patters in mudding--it's more of a testament to the staying power of a MUD, especially a MUD you've played for such a long time and developed a deep relationship with.

For many reasons, the sense of community is not commonly found in modern MMORPG's. Community, I believe, is the most important factor that will continue to guarantee MUDs' existence and appeal.