About the MOO Server

The Moon Sims meeting server is always available for open discussions. We call it the MOO for reasons which will become obvious if you read this whole page.

The MOO environment is tuned more for on-line role-playing games than for conversation, so first-time users might encounter a few unexpected quirks. For more information on what you can do while in the MOO, read the user's guide:

What to do on the Moon Sims Meeting Server

Address of the Moon Sims MOO

If you already have a MOO client on your computer, connect to the Moon Sims Meeting Server using:

moo.moonsims.com port 7777

MOO on your computer: Client Programs

You can access the MOO either through your web browser or by running a special "MOO Client" program on your computer. Most users prefer the features they get with the client programs, so we will discuss those first; but use the web browser client (see below) if you want to display the web pages that go with locations in Moon Sims MOO.

Some of the more popular MOO clients are listed below. Just pick one that fits your machine, download it, install it, and set it up to point to moo.moonsims.com, port 7777, and enjoy!

Windows: MUSHclient WinMOOSE tkMOO-light zMUD

MacOS: Rapscallion Shareware. Best for conversation. Muddweller MacMOOSE Freeware. Best for programming the MOO. tkMOO-light Savitar Shareware. Recommend by Harper's Tale MOO.

Unix: tkMOO-light TinyFugue

MOO in your Web Browser: the Java MOO Client

You can also access the Moon Sims Meeting Server through in your web browser. This works pretty well if you want to access the MOO from a machine that doesn't have a MOO client installed, or if you want to display the web pages associated with locations in MoonSims MOO. Make sure you have Java enabled in your web browser settings.

The Java client does not provide all of the features available in the MOO clients, but it does provide enough to allow you to participate in most activity on the MOO server.

To access the Java MOO client, use one of the following links:

Java MOO client:  Framed    Popup

Some locations in Moon Sims MOO have web pages that are displayed in the top frame as you move about the MOO. To get those to show up, use one of the Java clients and then, when you enter the MOO, issue the command:

@displayurl on

Using the MoonSims Meeting Server

After connecting to the MOO server with a MOO client or the Java client, log into the server like this. (Don't type the <angle brackets>.)

connect <username> <password>

Guest Access

If you don't yet a username on the Moon Sims meeting server, you can log in as a guest. You won't be able to get to the members-only areas, but guests can still explore much of the virtual world and participate in conversations in the open areas.

For guest access, log in with this:

connect guest

Getting Help

First-time users will want to read the user guide for an overview of the command syntax.

Once you are logged in, you can get an overview of the commands available by typing:

help

Getting Out

When you are ready to disconnect and leave the MOO server, type:

@quit

Alternatively, your MOO client might have a "Disconnect" command available. It's less elegant to simply disconnect from the MOO, but it works.

After you have disconnected, quit your MOO client; or, if you are using the Java client, use the Back button in your browser to return to this page.

What's a "MOO"?

The MoonSims Meeting Server is a "virtual world" in the CyberTeams MOO Server. MOO stands for "MUD (Multi-User Domain, or Multi-User Dungeon) Object Oriented." The CyberTeams MOO Server is based on a type of MOO server known as "LambdaMOO" developed at Xerox PARC.

A MOO is a real-time server that allows multiple users to communicate and participate in a shared virtual reality environment. The MoonSims Meeting Server provides an environment for MoonSims members to meet and work on the MoonSims and MoonSims activities, as well as a forum for non-members to find out what MoonSims and the MoonSims are all about.

LambdaMOO provides us with some interesting features. It has its own programming language that enables us to do just about anything we can imagine, given the limitations of the MOO environment.