Is this a valid patent?

[Thorin]

System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space: http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690

This is a patent apparently filed in 2000.  I'm pretty sure there is both prior art in William Gibson's Neuromancer series and in apps/games that were around in 1998...

[Mr. Analog]

Is this a patent for a MUD because those have been around since the dawn of Usenet...

I'm-a confused.

[Thorin]

Sorta like a MUD, but with a "3-D" interface...