Wandering Code Shadows: A Historical Framework In the dim glow of monochrome monitors, the first Muddlers roamed digital dungeons, forging alliances through text in worlds without graphics. Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs) began in the late 1970s as intellectual experiments, where adventurers typed commands to explore labyrinthine corridors and vanquish imaginary beasts. These early communities, though primitive by today’s standards, offered sanctuary to those craving companionship beyond physical borders. Over shared quest logs and “You see a troll” prompts, players discovered that typing “hello” could lead to unexpected friendships. As single-player adventures matured in the 1980s and 1990s—from Zork’s cryptic treasure hunts

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