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Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

Submitted by Abalieno on March 29, 2006 - 08:11.

a) I/we were doing MUDs before 99.999% of the world's developers had even heard of them (let alone MMORPGs).

b) I actually (with Richard Mulligan at GEnie), tried to convince Richard Garriot to sell us the rights (or co-develop/publish) to do an online version Ultima back in the late 80s. Richard told us he didn't believe in online games.

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Re: Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

StrangerA (not verified) on March 29, 2006 - 10:22.

What a goddamn attention whore.

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Re: Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

D-0ne really (not verified) on March 29, 2006 - 15:03.

I remember playing multiplayer games on GEnie. Airwarrior was one and there were multiplayer RPGs on GEnie at the time, something called "Something something Dragon something", it wasn't to memerable. This was 1990ish.

I also remember the MUD we created on PLATO at the UI in the mid 80s... Just saying, if Mark was behind GEnie at the time and he had worked on systems like PLATO he is in fact a pioneer of Online Games.

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Re: Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

Raph (not verified) on March 30, 2006 - 01:01.

What's the gripe? Both of these are accurate comments on his part.

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Re: Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

Dellaster on March 30, 2006 - 05:55.

I was baffled by the gripe myself. Mark Jacobs was one of the few pioneers of commercial online multiplayer games. Also, other than Mythic, what other company has been an ongoing concern from those early days and made a successful transition to modern MMOGs? Simutronics may become the second, if Hero's Journey ever sees the light of day. But otherwise I don't think Mythic has any peers in that regard. Please correct me if I missed someone.

As a historical note, Mythic finally shut down their gaming center at the end of January. All their legacy games are gone ... except the first, Dragon's Gate. Mark Jacobs and Darrin Hyrup salvaged Dragon's Gate and set up the server in one or the other's home (I assume). It's no longer open to the public (for now), but former registered players, like me, can continue to log on for free.

I thought that was very nice of Mr. Jacobs. And you can go ahead and call me biased in his favor because of it. I probably am. ;)

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Re: Mark Jacobs invented the mmorpgs

Endie (not verified) on April 10, 2006 - 16:48.

Your title is unfairly sarcastic, and doesn't deal with what he said, but at least it gives fair warning of what is coming. I mean, like it or not, he's right on both points. And who wouldn't be interested in Garriot's reaction?

So thanks for pointing out the reference, though, erm, that ongoing chip on your shoulder about Mythic, especially now that the WH:O bandwagon is gaining speed, is getting mighty hefty.

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