Talk:M.U.L.E.

Image

Can someone good with image markup work on the formatting of the image? The previous markup didn't have the caption working, so I redid it to another format. However, now the poor M.U.L.E. looks all boxed in. Is there a way to give the poor animal a little whitespace around him? — Frecklefoot | Talk 21:13, Jul 7, 2004 (UTC)

Bugs

The Atari Home Computer version has an end-game typo on the highest score level (final colony score of 120,000+). "OVERALL, THE COLONY DELIGHTED THE FEDERATION WITH YOUR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. YOUR RETIREMENT WILL BE LUXURIOU!" This is a step above "ELEGANT ESTATES". --Jmccorm 04:33, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

Again, Atari Home Computer version (unknown if present in other versions). During a land auction, if the front-runner exactly runs out of money, as long as he continues to hold the joystick up, any other competitors will be unable to move upwards to outbid them, and the front-winner will win the auction. --Jmccorm 15:11, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Since this game is out of print and was made for obsolete systems, I doubt adding a bugs section will be of much, if any, benefit. IMHO, it would just add clutter to the article. — Frecklefoot | Talk 16:28, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

Except for emulation fans I guess?Garrie 10:22, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't ever recall seeing that typo in the C-64 version. It's probably specific to the Atari version as different ports typically have different typos entirely. Jon 18:08, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Music

Does anyone have a link to the music in this game, and remixes if available? Shawnc 21:13, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

What does this request have to do with the authoring of this article? —Psychonaut 21:30, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

I was just curious, but if we're going to get technical with the policies, I can call into question the statement that the theme music is "addictive" or "widely covered" until a citation from a reputable, neutral source has been provided. I've heard the song now though. It does sound interesting. I'd make my own remix of it and make it available here, but I suppose derivative work would be a copyright violation. Shawnc 21:48, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

I've cut "addictive" for having the wrong tone for a wiki article. I do agree it is an excelent theme song though. Jon 18:06, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Dispute Over Which Versions of M.U.L.E. support 4 players

There is a dispute over which versions of MULE support 4 players [1] [2] [3]. I don't think that this really has any relevance to the description of M.U.L.E. itself, and so I feel it should be removed from the infobox. I am pretty sure all versions of MULE support 4 players. After all, the game is well known amongst old school 8-bit users as being [one of] the first 4 player multi-player computer game ever written. Maybe they don't all support 4 joysticks, but I'm pretty sure they all support 4 players. Blackbeard2k7 13:57, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

I agree. I remember that the C-64 also supported 4 players: 2 with joystick and 2 with keyboard. I think the infobox should just say "up to 4 players" or perhaps "up to 4 players on some platforms" if there's a platform that didn't support 4. Jwolfe 16:31, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

At least for my benefit, can someone explain how it's possible for this game to support 4 players on the NES? It's a system which has only two controller ports and no keyboard. As far as the text in the article, I agree that something more vague can be used. - Slordak 14:12, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Some consoles supported more players with splitters and the like. I don't know if splitters were available for the NES or not. — Frecklefσσt | Talk 17:18, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

If nobody objects, I am going to remove it from the infobox. Blackbeard2k7 19:11, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

FYI I found this Nintendo MULE link which does prove that the NES version supported 4 players. Blackbeard2k7 23:38, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

External Links Discussion

I have added an external link to a unique article about the ability to play MULE online. To my knowledge, it does not violate WP:EL. Blackbeard2k7 23:07, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

You have tried to indirectly advocate your Personal Web site by placing this link again. This link to the article points to BLACKBEARD2K7's personal Website & Forum. Wikipedia is NOT a place to link your personal Website/Forum. You have been warned by ELIMINATORJR before. Please avoid such unnecessary clutter on Wikipedia. Thank you. Hungrywolf 09:36, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The link I added did not previously exist here, nor does it point to anyones personal web site or forum, nor is it a revert of EliminatorJr's edit. It points to an article, in a gaming magazine, about the ability to play MULE online. Do your research before you start making false accusations. Blackbeard2k7 15:44, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Third opinion

A third opinion was requested on this issue, so here it is! The article linked appears to be a gaming blog. If we were to consider the link as a source to cite, instead of just an external link, it would not be a reliable source, specifically violating the self-published sources guideline. Considered strictly as an external link, the site still violates the external link policy, specifically because blogs are listed in the section of links normally to avoid, unless the author is a "recognized authority." I consider myself to be a "gamer" and am familiar with many blog authors, etc., in the genre, but I have no idea who the author of www.gamingsteve.com is, and it's not apparent from that page (the main page of www.gamingsteve.com is a "you've been hacked notice" at the time I retrieved it). It's thus impossible to consider him a "recognized authority" if you can't recognize him.

If you have reliable third-party sources that establish the author's reputation in the gaming field, please supply them; otherwise, the link doesn't belong in the article. --Darkwind (talk) 20:20, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The main page of his web site was only recently hacked. I can tell you that before I linked to his article, there was no problem with his main page. I suspect foul play here. You are correct, Steven Glicker is a blogger. However, he is definitely a recognized one. He was personally invited to a "Bloggers Breakfast" at the 2006 Game Developers Conference in San Jose, hosted by Xbox. In this article from Xbox.com, he is referred to as "one of the most influential bloggers" [4]. His web site is most notable for his podcasts. The article which I linked to is directly related to M.U.L.E. and is not an advertisement or promotion. It is informational only. But I believe it is unique and relevant, as it describes the ability to play the original game of M.U.L.E. over the internet, which it was not originally designed to do. Those seeking information on the game should know that the capability exists. Does this change your opinion? Blackbeard2k7 22:10, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

To some extent, it does; insofar as xbox.com can be considered a reliable source (and I'm sure some of us in the Wikipedia community would love to debate Microsoft's reliability...), they do call him "[one] of gaming's most influential bloggers" as you stated. I suppose on further examination, having the link in the EL section wouldn't be horribly unencyclopedic. There's no obvious copyvio problems (you're not linking directly to a site hosting the game which I assume is still under copyright, etc.), it's not a spam site, etc.; my primary concern was with unprofessionalism, which has been resolved. --Darkwind (talk) 22:59, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

I dont think when you wrote the above, you were aware that the Website in Question (Atari MULE Online) which is now being indirectly linked here, contains a software which is illegal & infringes copyright of the original software authors & publishers ATRAI. This Website offers for download pirated / modified version of the original MULE in Windows version. This Website has nothing but this illegal software for download. MULE for Windows was never released. Also, as this is a unreputed and free Website, this software may be malicious to the user.Hungrywolf 04:14, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

External Spamming Link Violating Copyright

BLACKBEARD2K7 is linking to his personal Website. When that was deleted by the Admins, he is now indirectly linking to it via another unreliable & personal Blogsite.

(1) BLACKBEARD2K7 is offering, on that Website, for download a pirated / modified / hacked version of the game M.U.L.E. without the permission of the original authors or publishers ATARI. This is a serious violation of copyright material in blatant disregard to the original copyright owner.

(2) It is in violation of WP:EL as it is SPAM and he is trying to propagate his own web-site Forum here.

(3) Wikipedia is NOT a collection of links.

(4) Also, using common sense, there should be no links here to downloading executable software from a very unreliable source. Such software may contain trojans and keyloggers which steal your personal information (including Credit Card Nos & passwords)

I have deleted the offending (indirect) link.

Hungrywolf 05:51, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

That's a pretty long rant of false accusations. Can you even dispute over an "indirect" link? Where is your proof of my web site ownership? The linked article is completely relevant to the topic and does not offer any software downloads. It is informational only, and a more than one person has already agreed that the link is valid. Blackbeard2k7 12:41, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

The site that you are now (indirectly) linking to, that you had directly linked to earlier, offers downloads of copyright and illegal software and putting a link here on Wikipedia to that site is illegal , offensive and immaterial to M.U.L.E. Please avoid this. Hungrywolf 12:53, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I never linked any sites with illegal software downloads. The link I added provides no downloads whatsoever. It provides unique information about the ability to play MULE online, which is completely relevant to the game. Please provide proof (in the form of diffs) of your false accusations. Blackbeard2k7 13:00, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Your indirect link to your Atari MULE Online is illegal as your site offers Copyrighted illegal software for download. Which may be malicious software too. Hungrywolf 13:16, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

If the site is unofficial, meaning its not directly affiliated with the game's official creators or distributors, it should not be added to Wikipedia - thats a common WP:EL principle. Additionally, if the website contains copy righted material, particularly software, I'd consider refraining from adding it. However, if the website is stating something important, I guess its claims could be mentioned somewhere in the body of the article, with a reference to the website. --ShadowJester07 ► Talk 13:25, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

The site is the personal website of Blackbeard2K7. Nothing official about it. And the site's existence is that it only offers this illegal copyrighted software for download. There is NOTHING else on this site except this illegal software. Hungrywolf 13:38, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Legal/Illegal software issue aside...How is it that you know this is the personal website of Blackbeard2K7? --Onorem♠Dil 13:41, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

It doesn't matter either way -- Blackbeard2k7 (t c) did not link to his own site or to a site that has copyvio material. He linked to a gaming blog that discussed playing this game online. Please point out to me where in WP:EL it says that we have to follow all of the secondary links on an external site we link to, checking them for compliance with the EL policy as well? I have neither the time nor the inclination to click every link on a site proposed as an EL to see whether it secondarily links to copyvio or other EL-violating material.

That being said, if you have some sort of proof of the accusations you're making (that the secondarily linked site belongs to this user, or that it contains malicious software, etc.), by all means present such proof. In such a one-off case, it may be valuable to take that into consideration. --Darkwind (talk) 18:05, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Note that regardless of the veracity of the above, User:Blackbeard2k7 has been blocked for 3RR violation here. Hungrywolf has received a final warning, as well as being warned for admin/forum shopping - Alison ☺ 14:33, 29 August 2007 (UTC)