Massive Multiplayer Entertainment Article

There’s a lengthy article over on Computer Games Online that gives a full history of online gaming, from the 70s until today. Mentioned in the article are some of the very first MUDs, the original Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online, EverQuest, and more. Here’s a taste:

Meridian 59 eventually launched in 1996, and Sierra’s The Realm and Dark Sun Online went into beta testing. Origin shows Ultima Online at the video game trade show, E3. A number of online networks are announced or started, including Engage, TEN, and Mplayer. Sony’s 989 Studios, which is later spun off and then repurchased by Sony, began working on EverQuest. Furcadia, created by Dr. Cat and others, also opened.

The entire online role-playing scene exploded with the launch of Ultima Online, the first of the “Big Three” (which includes EverQuest and Asheron’s Call). Ultima Online quickly grew to over 100,000 subscribers despite severe launch problems. Turbine began developing Asheron’s Call, which Microsoft ultimately published. Neverwinter Nights on AOL is shut down when AOL switches to WorldPlay (formerly INN, the Sierra network AT&T bought and then sold) for its Games Channel.