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The funniest thing about the plethora of misinformation about Viagra MUDs are their claims of incredible RP and PvP and such. The whole pay-for-perks (pay-to-succeed as someone pointed out) system is that it defies good RP because nothing you do in-game can consistently prevent OOC influence, through the application of credits not earned through the RP, from altering one's experience. The bum you're RPing helping out today could be a millionaire tomorrow through no action in-game, simply through their OOC purchase of credits. And PvP is hardly fair if one works hard and someone else just comes along and buys their way to a superior position.
It's really an inferior set-up for quality because it defies the efforts of hard work, consistent RP, and dedication in favor of catering to those more intent on "winning" at any cost (literally). Hence my use of the term Viagra MUDs, because no matter how impotent a player may be, they can still feel like they're more than they are through the expenditure of a little cash.
Really can't understand why people play such games. Unless one's willing to spend a lot of money to keep up with the big-spenders, it's got to be even more embarassing than being a non-spender on a Viagra MUD. After all, if you're going to spend money to get ahead in-game, failing becomes all the worse. That's like hiring a prostitute and not being able to get laid.
But really, folks, why aren't Viagra MUDs held to a standard of honesty (hell, for that matter, why aren't all MUDs held to a standard of honesty) in advertising? Many of the MUDs listed on TMS blatantly lie about their features, though admittedly few do so to the degree of dishonesty that the Viagra MUDs claiming to be "free" do (the usual fibs involve "original features" like warrior classes or "original races" like cat-people). MUDs wishing to appear on the voting list should be honest about themselves. If they can't, they ought to make good on their promises. The nature of so many of the MUDs out there projects a bad image on the whole of the community, why not require some ethics and integrity if MUDs want the exposure on TMS? If MUDs like the IRE games are seriously afraid that the truth will hurt, they ought to spend some time making their games quality MUDs instead of spending the same amount (or more) of time trying to spin their deceit on the forums. Then there's no need to spin, to lie, or to deceive.
After all, aspiring to the honesty of examples like Medthievia is hardly a good model for integrity.
Take care,
Jason
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