This site offers a wealth of information about the classic game of M.U.L.E. Scroll down this page and browse around, or choose the "categories" link in the left menu bar.

Note: Until I have finished migrating the old site content, you can still access it here.

It is the year 2009 as you read these lines. I will try to convey why a 27-year-old computer game designed for 8-bit Atari and Commodore machines from the early 1980'ies deserves to be played even today. Today's computers have far superior graphics and sound capabilities - but M.U.L.E. doesn't depend on these sizzles. Today's strategy games have reached a complexity which requires you to read thick manuals before really enjoying a game. M.U.L.E. is much simpler, yet as least as compelling and interesting. Every game is different, every game is a new challenge.

The story is as simple (four settlers reach the planet Irata and have to colonize it) as the gameplay seems to be at first sight. But the more you play M.U.L.E., the more you will get addicted to it, especially if you have friends with whom you can play. Twenty years ago, this meant four people sitting around a tiny TV screen. Nowadays, it is also possible to play M.U.L.E. via the internet with other people from around the world.
This website will help you to make your first steps with the game if you're a newbie, and it also offers a wealth of information and goodies for everyone else.

Getting started

If you have never ever played M.U.L.E., you might want to start out by reading my own guide to M.U.L.E.. Or, if you are the more literary type, start with my short story Irata, Here I Come!.

How can I play M.U.L.E. today?

• You can try to buy the original computer and game on eBay, if you're lucky. See my eBay MULE report
• You can use an emulator to play it on a modern PC - either alone or with human players rallied around one PC just like in old times
• You can play it online via the internet
• You can play it using a Sega Dreamcast

Information on the classic commercial M.U.L.E. releases

Here you will find information about all versions of M.U.L.E. officially published by Electronic Arts, or licensed by Electronic Arts to be published by other labels. You will also find some information about two MULE versions which were began to be developed, but never finished: "Deluxe M.U.L.E." for the Commodore Amiga and "Son of M.U.L.E." for the Sega Genesis. Enjoy!

• Published versions:
  • Atari 800
  • Commodore 64
  • IBM PCjr.
  • MSX-1
  • Nintendo Entertainment System
  • PC-8801 MKII

• Planned, but never released M.U.L.E. successors:
  • Commodore Amiga - "Deluxe M.U.L.E."
  • Sega Genesis - "Son of M.U.L.E."

Information on M.U.L.E. clones

Being a unique and popular game, a lot of people have strived to recreate the M.U.L.E. gaming experience over the past twenty years. Some of them have

• Commercial clones
  • Traders?
  • Subtrade?
  • Space Horse?

• Fan clones
  • M.U.L.E. 386?

Fan Art

• Graphical Art
  • to be added...
• Musical Art
  • A capella M.U.L.E. Theme by Visa Röster
• Literary Art
  • "Irata, Here I Come!" - M.U.L.E. short story by Christian Schiller

Reverse Engineering projects

• Christian Schiller's statistics on C64 M.U.L.E.?
• Tobias Bauer's statistics on C64 M.U.L.E.?

Game Reviews

• Creative Computing Review, December 1983
• Classicgaming.com Review, February 2000
• Richard's Review, 2000
• M.U.L.E. game review (The Gameshelf) also featuring Space HoRSE, November 2007

Game Strategies

• Christian Schiller's Guide to M.U.L.E.
• Dan Bunten's Strategy
• Bill Bunten's Strategy
• Alan Watson's Strategy
• Jim Rushing's Strategy
• A M.U.L.E. strategy published in Electronic Games magazine
• Joseph Fenton's Strategy
• Darxi's Strategy

Tournament Records

• Christian Schiller's tournaments since 1994?

Trivia

• Where did the name Irata come from?
• Ten Signs You're a M.U.L.E. Addict, by Ashley Millard
• This is how a Chinese M.U.L.E. might look like

Articles

• MULE on eBay by Christian Schiller
• Emails from Dani Bunten and Jim Rushing to Christian Schiller
• Dani Bunten Memorial page by Christian Schiller
• Josh Day's M.U.L.E. 1.5 project? by Josh Day
• Salon.com article (to be added)
• Magellan magazine article (to be added)
• Ozark Softscape: Creators of MULE by Karl Mamer

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