WikiFur - User contributions [en]

Talk:Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:23:56Z

Tafyrn: Updated to reflect completion of edits.

{{featured}}

11/01/05: I can't seem to connect to [http://www.furcadia.com Furcadia]; Their site appears to be down. Does anyone know what's wrong? I certainly hope they've not been vandalised.

:Site seems to be up here . . . --{{UT|GreenReaper}} 05:21, 2 Nov 2005 (UTC)

14:22 11/02/05/: Okay! It's up now!

== Pending Improvements ==

The following improvements should be added to this article:

* DONE - Mention of the new Dragon Scales in-game currency, and restructure the section that talks about for-pay items.
* Discussion of the upcoming Adult Verification changes (See [http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?furcadia_session_id=11469-zksg-mvj&showtopic=22941 Forum Posts])

== Jan/Feb 2008 Cleanup ==
I've made a set of major edits to clean up most of this article, and to bring it up to date with the Fox update. These edits are now complete. -{{UT|Tafyrn}} 06:22, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:20:42Z

Tafyrn: Removed cleanup tag as all of the major edits are now complete

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a "lower development priority" when compared to other features and capabilities. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, and a selective notification feature called Totem. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, which define the look and feel of the client user interface, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Pay to Play===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:17:58Z

Tafyrn: English edits

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a "lower development priority" when compared to other features and capabilities. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, and a selective notification feature called Totem. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, which define the look and feel of the client user interface, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Pay to Play===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:16:03Z

Tafyrn: Added definition for "skins" wrt. Furcadia

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a "lower development priority" when compared to other features and capabilities. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, which define the look and feel of the client user interface, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Pay to Play===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:13:38Z

Tafyrn: English edits

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a "lower development priority" when compared to other features and capabilities. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Pay to Play===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:12:04Z

Tafyrn: Took quotations out of "Pay to Play" heading

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Pay to Play===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:10:05Z

Tafyrn: Moved references to the bottom of the page

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

==="Pay to Play"===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]

==References==
<references />



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:09:10Z

Tafyrn: Added Fox update to release history

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

==="Pay to Play"===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24 ===
"Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/bearsomg.html Lions, Tigers and Bears, OMG Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

=== Version 25 ===
"Fox Update", Released 2008-01-31<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/update/fox.html Fox Update Features]</ref>
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: New Species: Unicorn, Foxen Ferian, Furling, Chinchilla, Flox
*Added: Client-side animations usign KitterSpeak
*Added: New patch file format (.fox)
*Added: New "Golden Age" skin
*Added: DS button improvements, including remappable buttons and portraits and butlers are now buttons.
*Added: Item4.fox and Floor2.fox to allow user-created patches and aminations
*Added: New "F" tab with extra room and some new buttons like "who", "forums" and "map".
*Added: Test Mode for weavers to test out dreams made with SS and GP features.
*Added: The Wylde Updated!
*Added: Live and shared dream editing

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T06:02:15Z

Tafyrn: Updated "Pay to Play" criticism, separated out release history

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

==="Pay to Play"===
Furcadia has long had a policy of being "Forever Free", a community principle that players will never have to pay in order to use Furcadia. However, some have argued that the addition of many "pay" options, such as wings, additional species and custom portraits, have created two tiers in Furcadia, with those who do not pay having an inferior experience.

Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that there is an inherent tension between providing a service that requires expensive equipment, bandwidth and staff to operate, and having a game that is completely free, and that these pay options enable Furcadia to continue to exist. Over time, many of the pay-only features have been made available for free, such as the ability to use PhoenixSpeak.

== Release History ==
=== Version 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!", Released 2007-10-26 ===
*Added: Additional DragonSpeak
*Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box
*Added: New Species: Ursines, Bats, Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins, Werewolves
*Added: New Wings: Bats
*Added: DragonSpeak Button improvements, including Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99
*Added: Performance improvements and reduced memory use
*Added: Ability to run Furcadia off a flash drive
*Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)
*Added: Window resizing refinements
*Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner
*Added: Wine compatibility

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:49:17Z

Tafyrn: Added reference to art theft section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A common complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=2888 Forum complaints about Art Theft]</ref> While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:45:31Z

Tafyrn: Fixed up criticism - art theft section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===
A frequent complaint from players who create patches is the unauthorized use of their creations by other players. While Furcadia allows patches and dreams to be uploaded in an "encrypted" format, this does not prevent players from taking a screen capture, and Dragon's Eye Productions disclaims any responsibility for unauthorized use of player-uploaded content in the Furcadia User Agreement.

For contests and special events which are sponsored by Dragon's Eye Productions, players submitting dreams are required to include text that details credits to ensure that all non-default patches are used with permission.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:37:10Z

Tafyrn: Removed broken nothingkat link from criticism links section.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:31:52Z

Tafyrn: Added general heading to Unofficial Sites section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
==== General ====
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:31:02Z

Tafyrn: Removed redundant "Official Links" section, and added link to the Beekins page to the Volunteer community section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== Unofficial Sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:29:26Z

Tafyrn: Fixed up uncyclopedia reference link text

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:28:22Z

Tafyrn: Removed extra space before reference.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:27:20Z

Tafyrn: Updated criticism - art alteration section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Player Created Content===
Section five of the Furcadia User Agreement states that when any original work or derivative work is uploaded to Furcadia, the player grants Dragon's Eye Productions the right to redistribute their work electronically or via other formats and media. <ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/useragreement/ Furcadia User Agreement]</ref> Dragon's Eye Productions stated in their [http://www.furcadia.com/logs/townmeeting-2006-12.html 2006 Town Hall Meeting] that this is intended to allow them to distribute promotional copies of Furcadia on CD-ROM, complete with examples of player dreams. Despite this, some players have worried that this permits the creation of others to be used by Dragon's Eye Productions without credit or payment.{{fact}}

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-07T05:03:37Z

Tafyrn: Fixed up complaints - suggestions section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, Unicorn, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, Leonen, and Foxen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia also offers Furling (child furres), Chinchilla,and Flox (a foxen with a flower on its head). All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the DigoMarket and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits. There is also '''skinner''' which allows you to edit the Furcadia skin files, and the '''Animation Editor''', part of the Dream Editor which allows you to edit animations on objects.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
Dragon's Eye Productions solicits feedback from Furcadia players regarding possible changes, enhancements and additions to the Furcadia client, server and dreams in an official forum.<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showforum=17 Official Furcadia Suggestions Forum]</ref> While many suggestions made by the community have been implemented, some players have complained that their suggestions have been ignored.{{fact}}

One area of contention is the ordering in which additional avatar species have been added to the game. Dragon's Eye Productions maintains a list of requested species<ref>[http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?showtopic=13902 List of Requested Species]</ref>, however some players have requested that species be introduced in a different order. For example, the Bear avatar, as requested by a [http://www.furnation.com/saffron/furcadia/BEAR.html petition for bears in Furcadia] was added in 2007, many years after it was originally requested.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 13 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T07:01:08Z

Tafyrn: Updated section on guilds/map locations in complaints

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived.{{fact}} Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream Locations ===
Disputes between players have arisen when one dream owner loads their dream in a location where another, usually more well-known dream, has been loaded in the past. When a dream is for a chartered guild, a spot on a map is reserved for them. In this case, if another dream is loaded in their officially designated spot, the Guardians will remove the other dream to allow the guild to upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]].{{fact}} People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

In a future update, Dragon's Eye Productions has indicated that they plan to allow players to purchase a "group package". One of the variations of the planned group package will include a dedicated location on the map where the player can upload their dream.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages Community Talk]</ref>

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:30:15Z

Tafyrn: Removed unneeded suffix on URL for forums.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:29:18Z

Tafyrn: Remove obsolete Kitterwing update information.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==
Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Volunteer community ==
Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:23:25Z

Tafyrn: Minor tweaks to the clients section

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but in the past has been considered a lower development priority. [[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is Leopard (10.5) compatible and available as a Universal binary.

GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:20:51Z

Tafyrn: Updates to the client section.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== The Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. It is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

=== Non-Windows Platforms ===
An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. and with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]]. New Macintosh systems that use [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

[[Ghost Tiger]] has developed and maintains [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc], a native client for the Macintosh users that provides most of the capabilities of the Windows version. It also includes several enhanced capabilities, including a buddy list, integration with Growl for notifications and whisper chat windows, much like those provided by iChats plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:07:51Z

Tafyrn: Updates to the DragonScale section, with a reference.

{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==

Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "DragonScales".<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/community/dragonscales.html Furcadia DragonScales Overview]</ref> DragonScales are only usable for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one American cent.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Talk:Furcadia

2008-02-01T06:01:13Z

Tafyrn: Progress update on edits.

{{featured}}

11/01/05: I can't seem to connect to [http://www.furcadia.com Furcadia]; Their site appears to be down. Does anyone know what's wrong? I certainly hope they've not been vandalised.

:Site seems to be up here . . . --{{UT|GreenReaper}} 05:21, 2 Nov 2005 (UTC)

14:22 11/02/05/: Okay! It's up now!

== Pending Improvements ==

The following improvements should be added to this article:

* Mention of the new Dragon Scales in-game currency, and restructure the section that talks about for-pay items.
* Discussion of the upcoming Adult Verification changes (See [http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?furcadia_session_id=11469-zksg-mvj&showtopic=22941 Forum Posts])
--{{UT|Tafyrn}} 08:13, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

== Major Edits Needed ==

I'm going to do a comprehensive review and series of updates over the next week to try to improve the quality of this article. If anyone has any problems with my edits, please respond below and we can work together to improve accuracy, brevity and readability. --{{UT|Tafyrn}} 09:49, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I'm about half way done now. Several sections need to be updated to include new changes introduced with the Fox update, which I will work on after finishing up the general edits. -{{UT|Tafyrn}} 06:00, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Furcadia

2008-02-01T03:56:11Z

Tafyrn: Beginning of cleanup of the Criticism section

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Some players have criticized Furcadia for not providing an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Some players who are used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre. Other players find that the social interactions, role playing and the creative aspects of Furcadia provide an engaging and positive environment when compared to games that focus on war, killing, acquisition of wealth and property and level grinding that typifies many MMORPGs.

=== Customer Support ===
There have been instances where players who purchase items at the Digo Store that include goods that need to be physically shipped who have complained on the Furcadia Forums that their items never arrived. Furcadia encourages those who did not receive their items to contact them, and most instances have been resolved without problems.

=== Bans ===
The Furcadia Guardians enforce community standards for behaviour in the main maps, and depending on the severity by which a given player is violating the rules or disrupting the game, they may be banned temporarily or permanently from the game. Many players who have been banned claim that the bans are a result of them being personally targeted. However, since the Guardians will not discuss the reasons behind a ban for confidentiality reasons, the official cause of many bans can not be determined by the public or by the player who was banned.

Some players have complained about the "Banish" commands which are available to dream owners.{{fact}} They claim that these commands allow the dream owners to deny players access to dreams for arbitrary reasons, and are used to discriminate against certain players. Given that the Furcadia rules state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T03:24:49Z

Tafyrn: Added wiki link to Talz's page

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by [[Talzhemir]] and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T03:22:30Z

Tafyrn: Minor formatting fix

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium]]''' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-02-01T03:18:21Z

Tafyrn: Added new Fox update to history list

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)
* '''2008''': 01/31 - Fox Update (V. 25)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

SeaTaf

2008-02-01T03:02:20Z

Tafyrn:

You see a tawny wolf and a white cat, in a tight embrace, rarely seen apart.

SeaTaf is the composite entity comprised of [[Seamora]] and [[Tafyrn]], and should not be confused with the Southern European Atomic Task Force. It inhabits the western reaches of Cascadia, sometimes venturing into the wilds of Ontario.

== External links ==
* [http://www.seataf.com/ SeaTaf Web Site]
* [http://seataf.blogspot.com/ SeaTaf Blog]
* [http://www.librarything.com/profile/seataf SeaTaf Library]
* [http://seataf.jaxpad.com/ SeaTaf JaxPad Gallery]
* [http://www.zazzle.com/seataf SeaTaf Creations]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/seataf_recipes/ SeaTaf Recipes LiveJournal]

[[Category:2004 births]]
[[Category:Mates]]

SeaTaf

2008-02-01T02:55:10Z

Tafyrn: Initial page version

Tafyrn

2008-01-08T10:01:33Z

Tafyrn:

'''Tafyrn''' is a tawny [[arctic wolf]] furry. His mate is [[Seamora]]. He enjoys [[Furcadia]] and [[fursuit]]ing. His fursuit was made by [[Whiteyfawks]]. He is part of the [[Vancouver Island Furs]]. His interests include botany, geology, and playing the piano.

== External links ==
{{Contributor}}
* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/tafyrn/ Tafyrn] on [[LiveJournal]]
* [http://www.livejournal.com/community/tafs_pictures/ Tafyrn's Photo Journal]

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Fursuiters]]
[[Category:Arctic Wolf characters]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:Ham radio operators]]

Talk:Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:51:12Z

Tafyrn: Added notice of intent for edits

{{featured}}

11/01/05: I can't seem to connect to [http://www.furcadia.com Furcadia]; Their site appears to be down. Does anyone know what's wrong? I certainly hope they've not been vandalised.

:Site seems to be up here . . . --{{UT|GreenReaper}} 05:21, 2 Nov 2005 (UTC)

14:22 11/02/05/: Okay! It's up now!

== Pending Improvements ==

The following improvements should be added to this article:

* Mention of the new Dragon Scales in-game currency, and restructure the section that talks about for-pay items.
* Discussion of the upcoming Adult Verification changes (See [http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?furcadia_session_id=11469-zksg-mvj&showtopic=22941 Forum Posts])
--{{UT|Tafyrn}} 08:13, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

== Major Edits Needed ==

I'm going to do a comprehensive review and series of updates over the next week to try to improve the quality of this article. If anyone has any problems with my edits, please respond below and we can work together to improve accuracy, brevity and readability. --{{UT|Tafyrn}} 09:49, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:43:02Z

Tafyrn: Moved TOC to left hand of page to improve readability.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present
<div style="float:right;clear:right;">__TOC__</div>
== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:38:30Z

Tafyrn: Moved unofficial sites from "Addresses" section at top to the "References" section at bottom

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present

== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

== Unofficial sites ==
* '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
* '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:36:48Z

Tafyrn: Removed un-needed date links from added citation.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions''.</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
** '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
** '''IRC''': ?
** '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Administrators''': ?
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present

== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:35:28Z

Tafyrn: Updated number of registered players and added citation.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 70,000 registered players<ref name="newsletter-May2007">"[http://www.furcadia.com/cards/update023/ May 2007 Newsletter]", ''Dragon's Eye Productions'', [[May 5]] [[2007]].</ref> and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
** '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
** '''IRC''': ?
** '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Administrators''': ?
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present

== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:15:08Z

Tafyrn: Added consistent wiki links for Founders listing

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
** '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
** '''IRC''': ?
** '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page
* '''Founders''': [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]], [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Administrators''': ?
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present

== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Furcadia

2008-01-08T09:12:15Z

Tafyrn: Reference for go-live date.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''', also known as '''Furc''', is a [[furry]] graphical multiplayer online community ([[Wikipedia:MMOSG|MMOSG]]) developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ("Manda"), with contributions from many others.<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html Furcadia's contributor page]</ref> Furcadia has been running since 1996<ref>[http://www.furcadia.com/tenth/timeline.html Furcadia Timeline]</ref> and is possibly the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.
{{WikiFurNews|Kitterwing update for Furcadia}}
* '''Addresses''':
** '''Website''': http://www.furcadia.com/
** '''Forums''': http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php
** '''LiveJournal''': http://community.livejournal.com/furcadiajournal/
** '''IRC''': ?
** '''Wiki''': http://wiki.nf.qien.net/f/Main_Page
* '''Founders''': Felorin and Talzhemir, [[Emerald Flame]], [[Sanctimonious]]
* '''Administrators''': ?
* '''Ran from/to''': 1996 - present

== Overview ==
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the Furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

Joining Furcadia involves creating a character by selecting a name, entering a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a [[species]], choosing colors, and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]], [[Squirrel (species)|Squirrel]], [[Bovine]] (also known as [[Minotaur]]s), and [[Ursine]]. It is also common to use one of these base species to create another; for example, choosing the coloring on a squirrel to make it look like a [[skunk]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as "Digos". These include Portrait spaces (for one [[port]] each), pixel roses, four types of [[wing]]s (Classic Wings, Tricolor Wings, Butterfly Wings, [[Bat]] Wings, and Prime Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]], [[Gryphon]], Kitterwing, and "ferian" ("unevolved", non-biped) species of Wolven, Tygard, and Leonen), and flight and fire-breathing effects. In their latest update, Furcadia introduced Seasonal Avatars, such as the Bat, Penguin, and Werewolf as well as an offer to get a Kiwi (small bird) for life. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

You can also have your real-world money translated in to game currency, known as "Dragonscales", or simply D for short. Dragonscales are only good for spending at the digo market and are often used for game-related trades. They come in three types:
*Golden Dragonscale (GD) - Worth one real American dollar.
*Silver Dragonscale (SD) - Worth ten real American cents.
*Copper Dragonscale (CD) - Worth one real American cent.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features or get Dragonscales. This business model has been criticized by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through Vista. An officially supported PowerPC Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development. GNU/Linux users should find that The Furcadia Client installs and runs perfectly under [http://www.winehq.org wine] versions greater than 0.9.17. or with [[Wikipedia:CrossOver|CrossOver]].

New Mac units sporting [[Wikipedia:Intel|Intel]] chips can run Furcadia via CrossOver, [[Wikipedia:Parallels_Desktop|Parallels Desktop]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Boot Camp|Boot Camp]] (which allows Windows 95 to Vista OS to run natively.)

However, if you want to run a native Macintosh version, Ghost Tiger has developed [http://www.ghosttiger.com/mfurc/ mFurc] for the Mac users to enjoy giving all the benefits of the Windows versions plus a contact list, a feature called totem, and much more. mFurc is now Leopard (10.5) compatible.

=== Third-party applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include Furnarchy, [[DogProxy]] and Mreow! Proxy.
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include FurBot.
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[Patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[Dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include Dreamer.
* Alternate clients, which allow characters to visit Furcadia. Examples include mFurc.

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia, is created by Felorin and Talzhemir.
* '''1996''': 12/16 - First release of Furcadia
** [http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.mud.admin/msg/6fd37689f7063635?dmode=source New MUSH seeking builders] - July 1996 usenet post
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2000''': 08/28 - Dragon update (V. 13)
* '''2001''': 04/15 - Phoenix update (V. 16)
* '''2001''': 11/04 - Lapine update (V. 18)
* '''2002''': 03/15 - Butterflywing update (V. 19)
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': 01/09 - Gryffe update (V. 20)
* '''2004''': 10/29 - Squirrel and Batwing update (V. 22)
* '''2006''': 12/16 - Furcadia is the very first MMO to reach ten years running
* '''2007''': 04/06 - Kitterwing and Bovine update (V. 23)
* '''2007''': 10/28 - Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG! Update (V. 24)

== Community ==
[[Image:FurcadiaBeekinStatue.png|right|frame|A statue of [[Beekin]] in Naia Green]]
There are twelve official maps within Furcadia:

*'''''All ages'''''
** '''[[Naia Green]]''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
** '''[[Vinca]]''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to almost all of the other main dreams. it also is where festival dreams are uploaded during the assorted yearly festivals.
* '''''Age 13+'''''
** '''[[Acropolis]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Allegria Island]]''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
** '''[[Challenges]]''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess, bumper spiders, and checkers.
** '''[[Imaginarium']]'' is a place where furres can load strict [[roleplay]]-oriented dreams.
** '''[[Meovanni Village]]''' is a free-form "persona play" role playing map.
**'''[[Theriopolis]]''' is a Renaissance-themed freeform roleplaying area.
**'''[http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/goldwyn.html The Village of Goldwyn]''' a place for freeform roleplay for those wishing to roleplay in [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/dragonlands.html Furcadia's official cannon].
** '''[[The Wylde]]''' An area in which it simulates a wild life area built to cator to [[Feral]] Furries.
*'''''Age 16+'''''
** '''[[Hawthorn]]''' (Previously Haven and New Haven) is a map for teens and adults ages 16 and up.
** '''[[Club Dusk 2 Dawn]]''' An area built for gothic horror roleplaying.
* '''''Adults Only'''''
** '''[[Furrabian Nights]]''' (aka "FurN") is a "Mysterious Arabia" themed map for adult role-play and dream uploads.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuities range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to [[Fantasy]]. One famous outside the Furcadia community is [[Lost Lake]], featured in the popular [[webcomic]] ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]''

The official continuity of Furcadia is known as [[Furre!]] and was created by Talzhemir and set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2 Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds ("Dreams".) This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing DragonSpeak code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== The "Kitterwing" Update==

At the town hall meeting held on April 16 2005, Felorin indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.
{{q|Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bug-fixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA -- Felorin}}
However, this quarterly system does not yet seem to have been implemented.

=== Announced improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': [[Bear|Ursines]] (Postponed to future update)
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color (Postponed to future update)
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new DragonSpeak

== Volunteer community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the "Beekins". There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing DragonSpeak
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== Criticism ==
Furcadia has been criticized by furries and non-furries alike for its lack of an interesting gaming environment.{{fact}} Players used to [[Wikipedia:MMORPG|MMORPG]]-style games find the online roleplay and chatroom-style interaction to be repetitive and boring after extended play, lacking the elements found in other MMORPGs such as killing, leveling up, and other common game play features of the MMORPG genre.

Other complaints have arose that staff shows little regard to paying customers.

=== Bans ===
{{Unreferenced-section}}
Complaints about proper usage of the ban command have arisen to the loose application (such as an incident involving [[Mirr0r]] being permanently denied access to the game for saying [[Cironir]] "devours [[horse]]s,"{{fact}} compared to an incident where former admin [[Aviance]] suspending an unidentified person for saying he "looks like an alien."{{fact}}) Claims of bans not lifted when it originally scheduled to be have included [[Alla]]'s ban in 2005 lasting 7 months instead of the 2 weeks she was originally sentenced to.{{fact}}

"Banish" commands, available to the general public, now can be abused and sometimes are used to deny access to dreams for the most minimal of reasons, such as spelling ability, refusal to enter IC/OOC mode, and in some cases, sexual orientation (as some add this to their descriptions.){{fact}}
However the "Banish" command is given ONLY to dream owners, (not shared furres), and the Furcadia rules clearly state that dreams are solely owned by the dream owner, they are free to use the Banish/eject commands on whomever they choose for whatever reason, if any, they choose.

=== Dream locations & Group Charters ===
[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t37043.html Complaints have arisen] around the inclusion of '''[http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t32642.html Guild Sponsorship Charters] and [http://www.furcadia.com/community/gg.html Group Packages]''' , a feature no longer purchasable, in which by using real-life money, one may purchase a spot on a main map where no one but said buyer may upload their dream.

A common complaint revolves around the [[Lost Lake]] dream, a dream in Allegria Island that is always uploaded in the same spot as an official tribute and shrine to the deceased owner [[Alexsi]]. People who upload their dreams or sit in Lost Lake's "spot" may receive anything as minimal as being ejected from AI to something as extreme as being temporarily suspended from the game as a whole.{{fact}} This has led protestors to rhetorically question whether or not their dream would get special attention if they were to commit suicide.{{fact}}

=== Suggestions ===
The Dragons Eye Production Team are notorious for asking for suggestions but never listening to them. The most notorious example of this involves the bear avatars.

Since the game's creation, people have been requesting bear avatars. There have been [http://forums.furcadia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t13236.html teasers of bears], but instead of making bears, DEP stuck to their to do list from ten years despite the fact that the [http://books.dreambook.com/lunardessert/bears.html Bear Mode Petition] which started in 1997 has had so many entries added that dreambooks has begun removing the oldest ones to make way for new ones.

Only after TEN YEARS did bears finally get added and it wasn't due to popular demand, it was because bears were at the bottom of their To-Do list of Free Avatars.

===Art Alteration===
Taken from the Furcadia Terms of Service

{{q|By uploading their original work and/or derivative work to Furcadia, Content Providers automatically grant their permission for other players to use the Furcadia software to view and experience those works, a process in which the software may download copies of the works to the viewer's computer for viewing. In addition, '''the act of uploading grants Dragon's Eye license to redistribute the work in other formats or on other media that the software may support in the future, and to redistribute it in any way that it deems beneficial towards the goal of promoting Furcadia to the general public''', so long as such distribution is performed either at no charge, or for no more than a nominal fee to cover the costs involved.}}

Translation? Anything you make that you upload to Furcadia can be taken by Dragon's Eye productions and used at a later date on Furcadia by DEP as "Other Media" can simply mean an update of the Furcadia Client as significant updates to the game's code alters the original transmission media making it count as "another media source". Promoting Furcadia to the general public can be construed as anything from new avatars added to enhance appeal to having your work shown on poster, advertisements and in magazines uncredited.

There have been allegations of art being taken, altered and used uncredited in Furcadia as an official part of the game however, finding proof has been hard as many of the oldest Furcadia related patch sites have gone down. Here are a couple of alegations...
* the lapine design from an ancient "Mouse to Rabbits" patch, altered without consent
* the Triwings were originally from Kestrel's ArchAngel wings, altered with consent, but still uncredited.

===Art Theft===

Furcadia also refuses to do anything to stop the theft of patches from dreams or other use of uncredited artwork instead placing it all in the hands of the patch and dream creators to protect their work and prosecute theives. As stated in their Terms of Service...

{{q|Content Providers recognize and acknowledge that making their content available for other players to view and use incurs a certain amount of risk that some of those players may use, modify, or distribute that content in unauthorized ways which may infringe on the copyrights of the Content Provider. Each Content Provider agrees that they '''assume the entire risk of such infringement''' when they choose to upload, that they indemnify Dragon's Eye from any liability resulting from such infringement by third parties, that '''Dragon's Eye assumes no responsibility for taking punitive or corrective actions against such copyright violators''', and that the Content Provider will pursue any and all remedies for such infringements on their own, whether these consist of requesting the infringer to cease and desist, filing a civil lawsuit against the infringer, or any other measures.}}

The problem is that unless there is an obvious copyright symbol in the art or something else has been done to personally identify artwork as belonging to a person (such as a trademark) it is nearly impossible to prove who created a piece of art first. This makes things especially difficult on the owners of dreams with exclusive patches as they are usually the biggest targets of theft.

===Furcadia is slowly becoming a "Pay to play" Site===

Despite claims of "Forever free", slowly but surely Furcadia has been adding more pay to use options than normal "free" options. Dissenters belive that to Furcadia "Forever Free" now means Furcadia is free to play as long as you don't mind being able to play with only parts of it.

The current list of [http://www.digomarket.com/cart.php4 Pay options] includes...
* About 18 different giveable description tag items (including Roses and pies)
* 5 kinds of wings
* 9 avatars (including alternate forms)
* Portraits visible outside of personal dreams
* The (now defunct) Group Packages
* Sponsorship with 17 new functions, free stuff, special dream upload colors and spots, their own semi-official dream for showcasing their dreams, access to all the other avatars and free beta testing of new functions

That (with functions) is at least 51 things that nonpaying Furcadia players do not get listed in their Market pages alone. Including Beta testing functions and Phoenix Speak Usage (sponsors only), that number is most certainly higher.

During the last update, the only things that weren't just program tweaks that were made available for non-pay users were Tweaks to the Dragonspeak and ursines. Pay users recieved 6 new features they can buy: Bats, Phoenix Speak (sponsors), Ferian Leonen, Ferian Tygard, Penguins and Werewolves.

To illustrate this, here is a list of updates from the most recent update. Things that are for pay-only players are in '''Bold'''. Minor edits to the program itself, not actual features for players in-game, are in ''Italic''.

====VERSION 24: "Lions & Tigers & Bears, OMG!"====
RELEASED: 10/26/2007

*Added: A bunch of new DragonSpeak
*'''Added: Bats'''
*''Added: Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word from the input box''
*''Added: Dsbtns.fsh to hold DragonSpeak Buttons #11 - #99''
*'''Added: Ferian Leonen'''
*'''Added: Ferian Tygard'''
*''Added: Improved insides: Furcadia runs faster and requires less memory than before
*Added: Furcadia window size docks to 640 x 480.''
*''Added: Localdir: Placing an empty localdir.ini file in your Furcadia folder will force all 'write' paths inside the Furcadia folder''
*''Added: Localdir: Saving a folder path in localdir.ini will force all 'write' paths under that folder''
*'''Added: Penguins
*'''Added: PhoenixSpeak (alpha)'''
*''Added: Pressing Ctrl or Shift while resizing the Furcadia window will force 4:3 aspect ratio''
*''Added: 'Show Hidden Buttons' option in Furcadia Skinner''
*Added: Ursines
*'''Added: Werewolves'''
*''Added: Wine compatibility''
*''Changed: Buttons can now be placed over the text area, portrait, and butler''
*''Changed: DragonSpeak Buttons now always start hidden, and must be activated with DragonSpeak''

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] on Uncyclopedia

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]

==== Dragonspeak ====
* [http://www.geocities.com/dreamlessdancer/index.htm Dreamless Dancer's site]

==== Criticism====
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - An essay by [[nothingkat]] of [[Nothingkat.com]] about the world of Furcadia
* ''[http://www.crushyiffdestroy.com/show/furcadia Holiday In Furcadia]'' - A satirical account of a player's sex adventures in Furcadia from [[Crush Yiff Destroy]].

==== Dreams and guilds ====
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

==== Patching ====
* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]
* [http://archive.roamheart.com/ Roamheart Patching Database]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ The Association of Dream Makers]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Talzhemir's Treasure Trove]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]]
[[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Video games]]
{{featured article}}

Howloween

2006-11-01T04:35:57Z

Tafyrn: /* Photo galleries */

{{Howloween}}
'''Howloween''' is a Halloween-themed [[furmeet]] held in [[wikipedia:Coquitlam, British Columbia|Coquitlam]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]], about 20 minutes east of [[wikipedia:Vancouver|Vancouver]], [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]].

It has been held annually around Halloween at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre since [[Howloween 2003|2003]]. As more of a furmeet than a full-fledged [[convention]], Howloween does not have a specific [[dealers den]] or [[art show]], but there are many available tables and chairs in the event area which now takes up two halls in the hotel. An ongoing tradition of the event is [[fursuit]] bowling at [http://www.revs.ca/holdom/ Revs Bowling Centre] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]].

==History==
[[Image:Howloween06.jpg|right|150px|Howloween 2006!]]
* '''[[Howloween 2002]]''' began at the home of [[TJ_Wolf]] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]]. About 10 people attended the [[house party]], which featured modest events such as pizza and videos.
* '''[[Howloween 2003]]''' was the first to be held in a formal hotel setting. It was originally planned to be held at the Burnaby Radisson Hotel, but was moved to the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre, where it has remained to the present day. The event was featured in the [[wikipedia:CBC|CBC]] television program ''Culture Shock''.<ref>[http://fursuit.timduru.org/view/FursuitVideo/FurriesInTheNews/200401_CultureShock ''Culture Shock'' on CBC] (from [[Timduru]]'s Fursuit Archive)</ref>
* '''[[Howloween 2004]]''' was extended to two days and moved to the upstairs event area of the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. A [[fursuit]] of the new mascot - a pink [[bunny]] with a hockey mask and chainsaw - was introduced, and the [[Wikipedia:pumpkin carving|pumpkin carving]] contest was also held for the first time.
* '''[[Howloween 2005]]''' introduced the candy table, where furries pooled their money to buy a whole bunch of candy. Attendees who pre-registered this year began receiving a Howloween T-shirt with their membership.
* '''[[Howloween 2006]]''' was once again be held at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. The room block was increased and the convention space was expanded to two halls. Pre-registration and total attendence surpassed the record of the previous year. The cause of this increase is speculated to be the cancellation of [[Conifur Northwest 2006]].

==Staff==
[[Image:113-1325 IMG.JPG|right|thumb|2004 Howloween dance]]
[[Image:Img 2249.jpg|right|thumb|2005 Howloween fursuiters]]
The Howloween staff over the years has included:
* [[TJ_Wolf]]
* [[WhiteyFawks]]
* [[AericWolf]]
* [[Scribblefox]]
* [[Trapa]]
* [[Kyle Fox]]
* [[Kai]]
* [[RainRat]]
* [[Frysco]]
* [[Gola'Waya]]
* [[Frizbee]]
* [[Thumper]]
* [[Orwin]]
* [[Macabail]]
* [[Wile]]
* [[Lil_Wolfy]]
* [[P-Dawg]]
* [[Grizby]]
* [[Oden]]

==Photo galleries==
* [[Howloween 2002]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/Miscellaneous/Howloween%25202002 Frysco]
* [[Howloween 2003]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/ConPics/Howloween_2003 Frysco]
* [[Howloween 2004]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_frysco Frysco], [http://pics.vulpes.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_rainrat RainRat], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2004/ Tafyrn]
* [[Howloween 2005]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/ConPics/Howloween_2005 Frysco], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2005/ Tafyrn], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10 RainRat], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=372 Qumick]
* [[Howloween 2006]]: [http://www.bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=11108 RainRat], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2006/ Tafyrn]

==References==
<references />

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Howloween staff|Howloween staff]]

==External links==
* [http://www.howloween.org Howloween official website]
** [http://www.howloween.org/2005/ Howloween 2005 website]
** [http://www.howloween.org/2004/ Howloween 2004 website]
* [http://www.furry.ca/cgi-bin/furryca/forum/ikonboard.cgi?s=5aca3733ee26a0b62f75b99bac798aa7;act=SF;f=20 Howloween forum] at [[furry.ca]]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/howloween/ Howloween Yahoo! group]
* [http://www.bestwesterncoqinn.com/ Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre] ([http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=319+North+Road&csz=Coquitlam%2C+BC&country=ca&new=1&name=&qty= Yahoo! map])

[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:2002 births]]
{{featured article}}

Howloween 2004

2006-11-01T04:34:52Z

Tafyrn:

{{Howloween}}
'''Howloween 2004''' was held from October 29 to 30 at [[wikipedia:Coquitlam, British Columbia|Coquitlam]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]] in [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]]. The event was extended to two days and moved to the upstairs event area of the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. 53 attendees pre-registered for $35 CDN or registered for $40 at the door.

A [[fursuit]] of the new mascot, a pink [[bunny]] with a hockey mask and chainsaw, was introduced this year.

==Activities==
* The pumpkin carving contest was held for the first time.
* [[Fursuit]] Bowling was held on the 30th at the [http://www.revs.ca/holdom/ Revs Bowling Centre] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]].

==External links==
* [http://www.howloween.org/2004/ Howloween 2004 website]
* [http://www.bestwesterncoqinn.com/ Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre]
* Photos: [http://pics.critter.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_frysco Frysco], [http://pics.vulpes.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_rainrat RainRat], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2004/ Tafyrn]

<gallery>
Image:113-1319 IMG.JPG|2004 fursuiters([[Kodi Pup]] as Kinnick the [[Tanuki]], and [[Twig Mouse]] as Frenzy the [[Ferret]])
Image:113-1325 IMG.JPG|2004 dance
</gallery>

[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:2004 events]]

Howloween 2005

2006-10-31T10:48:06Z

Tafyrn:

{{Howloween}}
'''Howloween 2005''' was held on October 29th at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre in [[wikipedia:Coquitlam, British Columbia|Coquitlam]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]], [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]]. The theme for 2005 was "Are you lost?"

74 [[fur]]s registered for $20 CDN. Attendees who pre-registered also received a Howloween T-shirt with their membership.

==Activities==
* Art & Sketching
* Candy table (furries pooled their money to buy a lot of candy)
* Cartoons & Movies
* Console & Card games
* Costume Photo Shoot
* Dance
* [[Fursuit]] Bowling at [http://www.revs.ca/holdom/ Revs Bowling Centre] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]] (held October 30th)
* Improv Games
* Pumpkin Carving

==External links==
* [http://www.howloween.org/2005/ Howloween 2005 website]
* [http://www.bestwesterncoqinn.com/ Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre]
* Photos: [http://pics.critter.net/view/ConPics/Howloween_2005 Frysco], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2005/ Tafyrn], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10 RainRat], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=372 Qumick]

<gallery>
Image:Img 2249.jpg|2005 fursuiters
Image:Img 2280.jpg|2005 attendees
</gallery>

[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:2005 events]]

Howloween 2006

2006-10-31T10:47:26Z

Tafyrn: /* External links */

[[Image:Howloween06mascot.jpg|right|240px|Howloween 2006 banner with mascot]]
{{Howloween}}
'''Howloween 2006''' is scheduled to be held on October 28th at [[wikipedia:Coquitlam, British Columbia|Coquitlam]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]] in [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]]. [[Fursuit]]-optional bowling will be held the next day on October 29th.

The convention space and hotel room block were expanded for Howloween 2006 at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. The two halls available included the larger Columbia Room (used for [[Howloween 2004]] and [[Howloween 2005|2005]]) along with the smaller Coquitlam Room.

Admission was $20 CDN; attendees who pre-registered before September 30th received a Howloween T-shirt with their membership. Total attendance (111) was greater than [[Howloween 2005|last year]]. The cause of this increase in attendance is believed to be the cancellation of [[Conifur Northwest 2006]] this year.

==Activities==
* Art & Sketching
* Cartoons & Movies
* Console & Card games
* Costume Photo Shoot
* Critterlympics (Musical chairs, Balloon stomp, etc)
* Dance
* [[Fursuit]] Bowling at [http://www.revs.ca/holdom/ Revs Bowling Centre] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]]
* Improv Games
* Pumpkin Carving

==External links==
* Photos: [http://www.bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=11108 RainRat], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2006/ Tafyrn]
* [http://www.howloween.org Howloween website]
* [http://www.bestwesterncoqinn.com/ Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre] ([http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=319+North+Road&csz=Coquitlam%2C+BC&country=ca&new=1&name=&qty= Yahoo! map])
* [http://www.furry.ca/cgi-bin/furryca/forum/ikonboard.cgi?s=5aca3733ee26a0b62f75b99bac798aa7;act=SF;f=20 Howloween forum] at [[furry.ca]]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/howloween/ Howloween Yahoo! group]

[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:2006 events]]

Howloween

2006-10-31T10:46:49Z

Tafyrn:

{{Howloween}}
'''Howloween''' is a Halloween-themed [[furmeet]] held in [[wikipedia:Coquitlam, British Columbia|Coquitlam]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]], about 20 minutes east of [[wikipedia:Vancouver|Vancouver]], [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]].

It has been held annually around Halloween at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre since [[Howloween 2003|2003]]. As more of a furmeet than a full-fledged [[convention]], Howloween does not have a specific [[dealers den]] or [[art show]], but there are many available tables and chairs in the event area which now takes up two halls in the hotel. An ongoing tradition of the event is [[fursuit]] bowling at [http://www.revs.ca/holdom/ Revs Bowling Centre] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]], [[wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]].

==History==
[[Image:Howloween06.jpg|right|150px|Howloween 2006!]]
* '''[[Howloween 2002]]''' began at the home of [[TJ_Wolf]] in [[wikipedia:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]]. About 10 people attended the [[house party]], which featured modest events such as pizza and videos.
* '''[[Howloween 2003]]''' was the first to be held in a formal hotel setting. It was originally planned to be held at the Burnaby Radisson Hotel, but was moved to the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre, where it has remained to the present day. The event was featured in the [[wikipedia:CBC|CBC]] television program ''Culture Shock''.<ref>[http://fursuit.timduru.org/view/FursuitVideo/FurriesInTheNews/200401_CultureShock ''Culture Shock'' on CBC] (from [[Timduru]]'s Fursuit Archive)</ref>
* '''[[Howloween 2004]]''' was extended to two days and moved to the upstairs event area of the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. A [[fursuit]] of the new mascot - a pink [[bunny]] with a hockey mask and chainsaw - was introduced, and the [[Wikipedia:pumpkin carving|pumpkin carving]] contest was also held for the first time.
* '''[[Howloween 2005]]''' introduced the candy table, where furries pooled their money to buy a whole bunch of candy. Attendees who pre-registered this year began receiving a Howloween T-shirt with their membership.
* '''[[Howloween 2006]]''' was once again be held at the Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre. The room block was increased and the convention space was expanded to two halls. Pre-registration and total attendence surpassed the record of the previous year. The cause of this increase is speculated to be the cancellation of [[Conifur Northwest 2006]].

==Staff==
[[Image:113-1325 IMG.JPG|right|thumb|2004 Howloween dance]]
[[Image:Img 2249.jpg|right|thumb|2005 Howloween fursuiters]]
The Howloween staff over the years has included:
* [[TJ_Wolf]]
* [[WhiteyFawks]]
* [[AericWolf]]
* [[Scribblefox]]
* [[Trapa]]
* [[Kyle Fox]]
* [[Kai]]
* [[RainRat]]
* [[Frysco]]
* [[Gola'Waya]]
* [[Frizbee]]
* [[Thumper]]
* [[Orwin]]
* [[Macabail]]
* [[Wile]]
* [[Lil_Wolfy]]
* [[P-Dawg]]
* [[Grizby]]
* [[Oden]]

==Photo galleries==
* [[Howloween 2002]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/Miscellaneous/Howloween%25202002 Frysco]
* [[Howloween 2003]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/ConPics/Howloween_2003 Frysco]
* [[Howloween 2004]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_frysco Frysco], [http://pics.vulpes.net/view/VAF/Howloween_2004/vaf_howloween2004_rainrat RainRat]
* [[Howloween 2005]]: [http://pics.critter.net/view/ConPics/Howloween_2005 Frysco], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2005/ Tafyrn], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10 RainRat], [http://bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=372 Qumick]
* [[Howloween 2006]]: [http://www.bcfurries.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=11108 RainRat], [http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/galleries/v/furry/Howloween/howloween2006/ Tafyrn]

==References==
<references />

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Howloween staff|Howloween staff]]

==External links==
* [http://www.howloween.org Howloween official website]
** [http://www.howloween.org/2005/ Howloween 2005 website]
** [http://www.howloween.org/2004/ Howloween 2004 website]
* [http://www.furry.ca/cgi-bin/furryca/forum/ikonboard.cgi?s=5aca3733ee26a0b62f75b99bac798aa7;act=SF;f=20 Howloween forum] at [[furry.ca]]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/howloween/ Howloween Yahoo! group]
* [http://www.bestwesterncoqinn.com/ Best Western Coquitlam Inn & Convention Centre] ([http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=319+North+Road&csz=Coquitlam%2C+BC&country=ca&new=1&name=&qty= Yahoo! map])

[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:2002 births]]
{{featured article}}

Talk:Furcadia

2006-05-10T08:12:50Z

Tafyrn: Add To Do Items

11/01/05: I can't seem to connect to [http://www.furcadia.com Furcadia]; Their site appears to be down. Does anyone know what's wrong? I certainly hope they've not been vandalised.

:Site seems to be up here . . . --{{UT|GreenReaper}} 05:21, 2 Nov 2005 (UTC)

14:22 11/02/05/: Okay! It's up now!

== Pending Improvements ==

The following improvements should be added to this article:

* Mention of the new Dragon Scales in-game currency, and restructure the section that talks about for-pay items.
* Discussion of the upcoming Adult Verification changes (See [http://forums.furcadia.com/index.php?furcadia_session_id=11469-zksg-mvj&showtopic=22941 Forum Posts])
--{{UT|Tafyrn}} 08:13, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Furcadia

2006-05-10T08:01:48Z

Tafyrn: Moved The Wisdom Tree to Dreams and Guilds, added additional guilds

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''' (also known as '''Furc''') is a furry graphical multiplayer online community developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ('Manda), with contributions from [http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html many others]. Furcadia has been running since 1996, and is probably the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.

* '''Address''': http://www.furcadia.com/

== Overview ==
<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

When one first joins Furcadia, one first creates a character. This involves selecting a name, entering in a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a species, selecting one's colours and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]] and [[squirrel (species)|Squirrel]]. It is also commonplace to use one of these base types to create a specialized species: for example, choosing the colouring on a squirrel to make it look like a skunk. The next update of Furcadia will introduce [[Bovines]], also known as [[Minotaurs]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as [[Digos]]. These include four types of wings (Classic Wings, Tri-colour Wings, Butterfly wings and Bat Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]] and [[Gryphon]]), flight and fire-breathing effects. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features. This business model has been criticised by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status. Dispite this minor critisism, the approach has been quite successful and built up a sizable and mostly satisfied community of players.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through XP. An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development.

=== Third Party Applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include [[Furnarchy]], [[DogProxy]] and [[Mreow! Proxy]].
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include [[FurBot]].
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include [[Dreamer]].
* Alternate Clients, which allow characters to visit furcadia. Examples include [[mFurc]].

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia is created by [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]].
* '''1996''': First release of Furcadia
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2001''': Phoenix Update
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': Gryffe Update
* '''2004''': Squirrel Update

== Community ==
There are nine main dreams within Furcadia:

* '''Vinca''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to all of the other main dreams.
* '''Naia Green''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
* '''Haven''' (Previously [[New Haven]]) is a friendly map for old and new friends to meet and talk.
* '''Challenges''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess and checkers.
* '''Acropolis''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Meovanni Village''' is a free-form "persona play"role playing map.
* '''Imaginarium''' is a place where furres can load strict roleplay-oriented dreams.
* '''Allegria Island''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Furrabian Nights''' ([[Furn]]) is a dream for adult role-play.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuties range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to Fantasy.

The official continuity of Furadia is known as Furre!, and was created by [[Talzhemir]], and is set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds. This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing [[DragonSpeak]] code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Upcoming Update ==

At the last town hall meeting, held on 2005-04-16, [[Felorin]] indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.

"Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bugfixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA" -- [[Felorin]]

However, this quarterly system does not seem to have been implemented yet in the manner indicated.

=== Announced Improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': Bovines and Kitterwings
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Truetype Fonts, Text Colours, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new [[DragonSpeak]]

== Volunteer Community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [[Beekins]]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing [[DragonSpeak]]
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== See also ==

* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* An [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] at Uncyclopedia
* [[w:c:furcadia|The Furcadia Wikia]] (Currently empty)

== External links ==

* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]
* [http://forums.furcadia.com/ Furcadia Forums]

=== Dreams and Guilds===

* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]
* [http://circle.sanct.net/ The Circle - Help Guild)] (Sanctuary)
* [[Lost Lake|Lost Lake - Social RP Guild]]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki The Wisdom Tree]

=== Patching ===

* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]

=== Critics ===

* ''[http://www.omgjeremy.com/furcadia.shtml X-1's Guide to Furcadia]'' - A harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[OMGJeremy]]
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - Another harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[Nothingkat.com]]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]][[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]

Furcadia

2006-05-10T07:50:59Z

Tafyrn: Updated external wiki links to include wikipedia, note on emptiness of wikia furcadia wiki

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''' (also known as '''Furc''') is a furry graphical multiplayer online community developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ('Manda), with contributions from [http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html many others]. Furcadia has been running since 1996, and is probably the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.

* '''Address''': http://www.furcadia.com/

== Overview ==
<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

When one first joins Furcadia, one first creates a character. This involves selecting a name, entering in a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a species, selecting one's colours and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]] and [[squirrel (species)|Squirrel]]. It is also commonplace to use one of these base types to create a specialized species: for example, choosing the colouring on a squirrel to make it look like a skunk. The next update of Furcadia will introduce [[Bovines]], also known as [[Minotaurs]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as [[Digos]]. These include four types of wings (Classic Wings, Tri-colour Wings, Butterfly wings and Bat Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]] and [[Gryphon]]), flight and fire-breathing effects. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features. This business model has been criticised by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status. Dispite this minor critisism, the approach has been quite successful and built up a sizable and mostly satisfied community of players.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through XP. An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development.

=== Third Party Applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include [[Furnarchy]], [[DogProxy]] and [[Mreow! Proxy]].
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include [[FurBot]].
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include [[Dreamer]].
* Alternate Clients, which allow characters to visit furcadia. Examples include [[mFurc]].

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia is created by [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]].
* '''1996''': First release of Furcadia
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2001''': Phoenix Update
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': Gryffe Update
* '''2004''': Squirrel Update

== Community ==
There are nine main dreams within Furcadia:

* '''Vinca''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to all of the other main dreams.
* '''Naia Green''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
* '''Haven''' (Previously [[New Haven]]) is a friendly map for old and new friends to meet and talk.
* '''Challenges''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess and checkers.
* '''Acropolis''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Meovanni Village''' is a free-form "persona play"role playing map.
* '''Imaginarium''' is a place where furres can load strict roleplay-oriented dreams.
* '''Allegria Island''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Furrabian Nights''' ([[Furn]]) is a dream for adult role-play.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuties range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to Fantasy.

The official continuity of Furadia is known as Furre!, and was created by [[Talzhemir]], and is set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds. This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing [[DragonSpeak]] code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Upcoming Update ==

At the last town hall meeting, held on 2005-04-16, [[Felorin]] indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.

"Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bugfixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA" -- [[Felorin]]

However, this quarterly system does not seem to have been implemented yet in the manner indicated.

=== Announced Improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': Bovines and Kitterwings
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Truetype Fonts, Text Colours, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new [[DragonSpeak]]

== Volunteer Community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [[Beekins]]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing [[DragonSpeak]]
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== See also ==

* [[Wikipedia:Furcadia|Furcadia]] on Wikipedia
* An [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] at Uncyclopedia
* [[w:c:furcadia|The Furcadia Wikia]] (Currently empty)

== External links ==

* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]
* [http://forums.furcadia.com/ Furcadia Forums]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki Furcadian History as told by The Wisdom Tree]

=== Dreams ===

* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]

=== Patching ===

* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]

=== Critics ===

* ''[http://www.omgjeremy.com/furcadia.shtml X-1's Guide to Furcadia]'' - A harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[OMGJeremy]]
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - Another harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[Nothingkat.com]]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]][[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]

Furcadia

2006-05-10T07:45:38Z

Tafyrn: Minor grammar edits, added beginnings of mac client info.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''' (also known as '''Furc''') is a furry graphical multiplayer online community developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ('Manda), with contributions from [http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html many others]. Furcadia has been running since 1996, and is probably the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.

* '''Address''': http://www.furcadia.com/

== Overview ==
<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

When one first joins Furcadia, one first creates a character. This involves selecting a name, entering in a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a species, selecting one's colours and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]] and [[squirrel (species)|Squirrel]]. It is also commonplace to use one of these base types to create a specialized species: for example, choosing the colouring on a squirrel to make it look like a skunk. The next update of Furcadia will introduce [[Bovines]], also known as [[Minotaurs]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as [[Digos]]. These include four types of wings (Classic Wings, Tri-colour Wings, Butterfly wings and Bat Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]] and [[Gryphon]]), flight and fire-breathing effects. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features. This business model has been criticised by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status. Dispite this minor critisism, the approach has been quite successful and built up a sizable and mostly satisfied community of players.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of a furre when they are clicked on.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through XP. An officially supported Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development.

=== Third Party Applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include [[Furnarchy]], [[DogProxy]] and [[Mreow! Proxy]].
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include [[FurBot]].
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include [[Dreamer]].
* Alternate Clients, which allow characters to visit furcadia. Examples include [[mFurc]].

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia is created by [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]].
* '''1996''': First release of Furcadia
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2001''': Phoenix Update
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': Gryffe Update
* '''2004''': Squirrel Update

== Community ==
There are nine main dreams within Furcadia:

* '''Vinca''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to all of the other main dreams.
* '''Naia Green''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
* '''Haven''' (Previously [[New Haven]]) is a friendly map for old and new friends to meet and talk.
* '''Challenges''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess and checkers.
* '''Acropolis''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Meovanni Village''' is a free-form "persona play"role playing map.
* '''Imaginarium''' is a place where furres can load strict roleplay-oriented dreams.
* '''Allegria Island''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Furrabian Nights''' ([[Furn]]) is a dream for adult role-play.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuties range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to Fantasy.

The official continuity of Furadia is known as Furre!, and was created by [[Talzhemir]], and is set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds. This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing [[DragonSpeak]] code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Upcoming Update ==

At the last town hall meeting, held on 2005-04-16, [[Felorin]] indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.

"Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bugfixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA" -- [[Felorin]]

However, this quarterly system does not seem to have been implemented yet in the manner indicated.

=== Announced Improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': Bovines and Kitterwings
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Truetype Fonts, Text Colours, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new [[DragonSpeak]]

== Volunteer Community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [[Beekins]]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing [[DragonSpeak]]
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== See also ==

* An [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] at Uncyclopedia
* [[w:c:furcadia|The Furcadia Wikia]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]
* [http://forums.furcadia.com/ Furcadia Forums]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki Furcadian History as told by The Wisdom Tree]

=== Dreams ===

* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]

=== Patching ===

* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]

=== Critics ===

* ''[http://www.omgjeremy.com/furcadia.shtml X-1's Guide to Furcadia]'' - A harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[OMGJeremy]]
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - Another harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[Nothingkat.com]]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]][[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]

Furcadia

2006-05-10T07:39:32Z

Tafyrn: Updated active user counts, updated information about update.

[[Image:Furcadia.png|right|Furcadia]]
'''Furcadia''' (also known as '''Furc''') is a furry graphical multiplayer online community developed by [[Felorin]] (Dr. Cat) and [[Talzhemir]] ('Manda), with contributions from [http://www.furcadia.com/credits.html many others]. Furcadia has been running since 1996, and is probably the largest online furry community, with over 60,000 registered users and 2,000 - 4,500 online users active at any given time.

* '''Address''': http://www.furcadia.com/

== Overview ==
<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
Furcadia is free to all users. To join Furcadia, the [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Windows client] can be downloaded and installed. This client connects to the furcadia server, allows for character creation, and provides a graphical environment where a [[furre]] (Furcadia character) can explore [[Dream (Furcadia)|dreams]] (player-made areas) and interact with others.

When one first joins Furcadia, one first creates a character. This involves selecting a name, entering in a contact e-mail address to activate an account, selecting a species, selecting one's colours and writing a personal description that is visible to other furres.

The following species can be selected during the character creation process: [[Rodent]], [[Equine]], [[Feline]], [[Canine]], [[Musteline]], [[Lapine]] and [[squirrel (species)|Squirrel]]. It is also commonplace to use one of these base types to create a specialized species: for example, choosing the colouring on a squirrel to make it look like a skunk. The next update of Furcadia will introduce [[Bovines]], also known as [[Minotaurs]].

In addition to the basic species, furres can purchase various add-ons for their character using real-world money. These add-ons are known as [[Digos]]. These include four types of wings (Classic Wings, Tri-colour Wings, Butterfly wings and Bat Wings), various alternate species ([[Dragon]], [[Phoenix]] and [[Gryphon]]), flight and fire-breathing effects. All purchases help support the operation and improvements of Furcadia.

Real money is not required to join or use the service, only to add these character features. This business model has been criticised by some for breaking down the isolation between character and player, as those with real money available can use it to improve their in-game status. Dispite this minor critisism, the approach has been quite successful and built up a sizable and mostly satisfied community of players.

== Furcadia Client ==
[[Image:Furcadia_client_jujinka.png|thumbnail|250px|right|Furcadia in action]]

The Furcadia Client is organized into four main areas:
* The upper left section displays the portrait and name of another furcadia within the dream.
* The lower left section contains five tabs that allow the furre to move about and interact with the world around them.
* The upper right section shows the dream that the furre is currently in, including other furres that are nearby.
* The lower right section contains a text window, used to talk with other furres visible above, and to whisper (private message) other furres that are currently logged in.

The Furcadia Client runs on Windows 95 through XP. A Macintosh client has often been requested, but is considered a lower priority development.

=== Third Party Applications ===

Many third-party applications have been written to complement and enhance the Furcadia Client. These applications include:
* Proxies, which sit between the Furcadia Client and the Server and provide additional capabilities. Examples include [[Furnarchy]], [[DogProxy]] and [[Mreow! Proxy]].
* Bots, which allow characters to be controlled by a computer program. Examples include [[FurBot]].
* Editors, which allow the editing of [[patch (Furcadia)|patches]], [[DragonSpeak]] and [[dream (Furcadia)|dream]] maps. Examples include [[Dreamer]].

== History ==

* '''1994''': DragonSpires, a predecessor of Furcadia is created by [[Felorin]] and [[Talzhemir]].
* '''1996''': First release of Furcadia
* '''1998''': The Circle Help Guild is chartered
* '''2001''': Phoenix Update
* '''2002''': Furcadia is a finalist at the Fifth Annual [[Wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]]
* '''2003''': Gryffe Update
* '''2004''': Squirrel Update

== Community ==
There are nine main dreams within Furcadia:

* '''Vinca''' is the nexus of Furcadia, allowing access to all of the other main dreams.
* '''Naia Green''' is the central community map, where furres can get assistance, take classes and meet other furres.
* '''Haven''' (Previously [[New Haven]]) is a friendly map for old and new friends to meet and talk.
* '''Challenges''' contains many single and multi-furre games, including chess and checkers.
* '''Acropolis''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Meovanni Village''' is a free-form "persona play"role playing map.
* '''Imaginarium''' is a place where furres can load strict roleplay-oriented dreams.
* '''Allegria Island''' is a socializing area where furres can load their own dreams.
* '''Furrabian Nights''' ([[Furn]]) is a dream for adult role-play.

== Role-playing ==

Many different [[role-playing]] communities exist within Furcadia. As furres can create their own dreams, continuties range from Pirates on the High Seas, to Furres in Spaceships, to Elizabethan Gardens, to Medieval to Fantasy.

The official continuity of Furadia is known as Furre!, and was created by [[Talzhemir]], and is set in the world of [[Kasuria]]. It has a rich history and mythology.

* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/chargen7.html Furre! - The official Furcadia RP Character Generation Rules]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/history.htm History of the Furcadian World]
* [http://www.bga.com/~pixel/Fur/kasuria2.gif Map of the Land of Kasuria]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/roleplay/primes.html Furcadian Primes]

Many non-continuity Role Playing Guilds also exist within Furcadia:

* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=1 Social Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=2Persona Roleplay Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Strict Roleplaying Guilds]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/services/guilds/guilds.php4?guild_type=3 Adult Guilds]

== Dreams ==

Furcadia comes with tools allowing a furre to create their own worlds. This includes '''DreamEd''' for laying out objects, floors and walls, '''DSEditor''' for writing [[DragonSpeak]] code to add interactivity, and '''fsheditor''' to draw new objects, floors, walls and portraits.

== Upcoming Update ==

At the last town hall meeting, held on 2005-04-16, [[Felorin]] indicated that to bring new innovations and improvements to the Furcadia community sooner, [[Dragon's Eye Productions]] is moving over to a system where updates are released on a quarterly basis.

"Instead of waiting till all of a particular set of features and bugfixes are done, we're just going to work on stuff, and when update time comes we'll say "What's done and ready to put in", and release that. This should get you new things to enjoy more often - and make it easier to test each one for bugs, as there won't be as many changes to test at once. We hope you'll enjoy our new update schedule. #SA" -- [[Felorin]]

However, this quarterly system does not seem to have been implemented yet in the manner indicated.

=== Announced Improvements ===

* '''New Avatars''': Bears, Bovines and Kitterwings
* '''Client Improvements''': Buddy Lists, Truetype Fonts, Text Colours, Chat Windows, 24-Bit Color
* '''Dream Improvements''': Dream Banishing, new [[DragonSpeak]]

== Volunteer Community ==

Furcadia has a large and active volunteer community, known as the [[Beekins]]. There are many types of Beekins:

* Bugge Hunters provide technical support and track down bugs
* Dream Masons provide assistance with creating dreams and writing [[DragonSpeak]]
* Guardians enforce rules within Furcadia. Their roles are similar to that of Wizards in other online MUDs/MUCKs
* Helpers provide general assistance, in person and via a help channel
* Pixels provide help with drawing and creating patches
* Scribes maintain the Furcadia web site and moderate the Furcadia Forums
* Welcomers welcome new furres, provide orientation tours and answer questions
* Mentors provide assistance and guidance for furres in the Beekin program
* Teachers provide classes for furres in the Beekins program

== See also ==

* An [[Uncyclopedia:Furcadia|alternate explanation of Furcadia]] at Uncyclopedia
* [[w:c:furcadia|The Furcadia Wikia]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.furcadia.com/download/ Furcadia Client Download]
* [http://www.furcadia.com/beekins/ Furcadia Beekins]
* [http://forums.furcadia.com/ Furcadia Forums]
* [http://www.dsfargeg.com/wtwiki Furcadian History as told by The Wisdom Tree]

=== Dreams ===

* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society - Dream Archives]
* [http://dreams.greydawn.net/ Association of Dream Makers - Help Guild]

=== Patching ===

* [http://www.furcadia.com/patches/ Furcadia Patch Archive]
* [http://www.realtime.net/~pixel/patches/ Talzhemir's "The Basics of Patching"]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/kell/ Kell Bengal's Furcadia Patches]

=== Critics ===

* ''[http://www.omgjeremy.com/furcadia.shtml X-1's Guide to Furcadia]'' - A harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[OMGJeremy]]
* ''[http://nothingkat.com/confession/furcadia.htm The Joys Of Furcadia]'' - Another harsh and rather uncivil critique of Furcadia from [[Nothingkat.com]]



[[Category:Multiplayer worlds]][[Category:Furcadia]]
[[Category:1996 births]]

Lost Lake

2005-10-03T03:21:28Z

Tafyrn: Added image.

[[Image:lostlake.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Furres congregate at the edge of Lost Lake]]
'''Lost Lake''' is a popular role playing setting in [[Furcadia]], and was originally created by [[Drax]] for [[Alexsi]], with the assistance of many of her friends. Set in the Renaissance period, Lost Lake is oriented towards socializing and [[persona play]]. The entrance to Lost Lake can be found in [[Allegria Island]], to the south-west of the Silver Showcase, just outside the entrance of the building.

The Lost Lake [[Furcadia Charter|Charter]] describes the setting of the dream as: "Lost Lake is a village set in the high mountains next to a lake. The magical waters of the lake purify and heal the inhabitants. The naturally pure waters are rich with healing magic. Most of the action occurs in the bar and around the pool. A very calm and restful place which welcomes all who mean no harm."

'''Lost Lake''' inspired the locale in [[DMFA]] where a great deal of the comic's activity takes place, and its popularity has been greatly expanded as a result of this exposure.

After the passing away of [[Alexsi]] in 2004, '''Lost Lake''' was nominated to be preserved as a permanent map in [[Furcadia]] as a tribute and shrine. Through her creation, her gifts to others and her friendships, she shall never be forgotten.

== See also ==

* [[DMFA]]
* [[Miss Mab]].

== External Links ==

* [http://www.100megsfree2.com/lostlake/charter.html Lost Lake RP Charter], [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/alexsi2/charter/ Updated Charter]
* [http://100megsfree2.com/pyroduck/His/AlexsiHis.html Alexi's History]
* [http://thornton2.com/comments/alexsi.php The Passing of Alexsi Athenis]
* [http://simon.greydawn.net/public/ Furcadia Historical Society, including the original Lost Lake Dream]

[[Category:Fictional locations]][[Category:Furcadia]]