hello friends! new(ish)!
MUD
A MU* game (commonly called a MUD, though can also be called a MUCK/MUSH) is a text-based roleplaying game created in the 1970's over telnet.
How to describe it
The best method to describe a MU* is by calling it a predecessor to the MMORPG. Much like zork, the MU* is a text-based game played over the internet through the telnet protocol, entering commands for movement. However, it also allows Role Playing between users on the same server. There are many MU* types. Of these include Social MU*s, Action MU*s, etc. The Furry Fandom made many popular MU*s dating back to the late 1980's, still in use today. MU*s are a perfect place for CyberSex.
History
MUD (now called MUD1), was the first MUD game that existed. Developed in 1975, it allowed people to call the BBS-type server and play the action RP game together with many people. While the original game no longer exists, many clones now exist. One of the most famous is called Adventure.
Starting your own MU*
I just gotta say... Good luck. The MU* craze died down around 2003, and most of the information (and software) is from when OS/2 was prone to replace Windows. A popular MU* client that is still (somewhat) developed is Belfry's FuzzballMUCK software[1], running on many MU* systems. Of these include FurryMUCK, TapestriesMUCK, Socipolitical Ramifications MUCK, and many other things.
The difference between MU* Types
To understand the difference between various MU* types, you need to look at the large history of hosting software. The primary difference between a MUD, MUCK, and a MUSH game is that they are simply hosted on different families of hosting software. However, one other difference between a MUD and a MUCK is that in a MUD all buildings are stationary, and new buildings can only be added by GOD (the system admin) or a Wizard (the system volunteer). In a MUCK, users are allowed to make their own buildings.
Notes
[1]Previously, the software project was hosted on SourceForge, but was moved to GitHub in 2015. This shows that it is still being developed by someone, and not just sitting out in cyberSpace