Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands
Encyclopedia
Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands is an early massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMORPG) that was developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.
in 1996 for Windows 95
. Dark Sun Online is based on the licensed Dark Sun
campaign setting
for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game. Dark Sun Online was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs.
The game was originally commissioned for AT&T
's proposed Interchange network, an intended competitor for AOL
. Dark Sun Online was intended to be Interchange's competition for the original Neverwinter Nights
, which ran on AOL at the time. Although AT&T withdrew from funding Dark Sun Online after Interchange was scrapped, SSI continued development on the game. The game was eventually released on the Total Entertainment Network
(TEN). The Dark Sun Online servers were shut down in 1998 when TEN was discontinued. Total Entertainment Network was eventually purchased by Pogo.com
and official support and development for Dark Sun Online was ceased.
The Dark Sun Online game engine was originally adapted from the same engine used by SSI's previous Dark Sun game, Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
. Some sprites and sound files were borrowed from that game, its prequel (Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
), and other games from SSI's parent company, Mindscape
(namely Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
and Thunderscape). Interaction between players was accomplished via a MUD
-like chat interface, and combat was turn-based, with each player having a short timer on their turn. Dark Sun Online was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs to feature a number of features popularized by later games like Ultima Online
, such as nearly unrestricted player versus player
combat. Due to the game's peer-to-peer
structure, the game was susceptible to hacking by its players.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(MMORPG) that was developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Strategic Simulations, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher with over 100 titles to its credit since its founding in 1979. It was especially noted for its numerous wargames, its official computer game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons, and for the groundbreaking Panzer General...
in 1996 for Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
. Dark Sun Online is based on the licensed Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game. Dark Sun Online was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs.
The game was originally commissioned for AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
's proposed Interchange network, an intended competitor for AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
. Dark Sun Online was intended to be Interchange's competition for the original Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)
Neverwinter Nights was the first multiplayer online role-playing game to display graphics, and ran from 1991 to 1997 on AOL.-Gameplay:Neverwinter Nights was developed to be played similarly to the Gold Box series of games...
, which ran on AOL at the time. Although AT&T withdrew from funding Dark Sun Online after Interchange was scrapped, SSI continued development on the game. The game was eventually released on the Total Entertainment Network
Total Entertainment Network
Total Entertainment Network was an online gaming service that existed from September, 1996 until October, 1999. T E Network, Inc., which created and operated the TEN service, was formed from the merger of Optigon Interactive and Outland in June, 1995 when they received their first round of venture...
(TEN). The Dark Sun Online servers were shut down in 1998 when TEN was discontinued. Total Entertainment Network was eventually purchased by Pogo.com
Pogo.com
Pogo.com is a gaming website that offers a variety of free casual games, from card and board games to puzzle, sports, and word games. It is owned by Electronic Arts....
and official support and development for Dark Sun Online was ceased.
The Dark Sun Online game engine was originally adapted from the same engine used by SSI's previous Dark Sun game, Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager is a computer role-playing game developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. in 1994 for the MS-DOS operating system. It is the sequel to Dark Sun: Shattered Lands. Wake of the Ravager was initially released in two boxed versions: on floppy disk and on...
. Some sprites and sound files were borrowed from that game, its prequel (Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands is a turn-based computer role-playing game that takes place in the Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting of Dark Sun...
), and other games from SSI's parent company, Mindscape
Mindscape
Mindscape is an international software publishing company, previously part of The Learning Company. They are now affiliated with EA . As of 2004, the group has offices in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. It has an annual turnover of €38 million and employs 150 people. Mindscape...
(namely Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse is an action role-playing game for the PC set in the Al-Qadim campaign setting of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It was developed by Cyberlore Studios and published in 1994 by Strategic Simulations, Inc.-Plot:...
and Thunderscape). Interaction between players was accomplished via a MUD
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
-like chat interface, and combat was turn-based, with each player having a short timer on their turn. Dark Sun Online was one of the first fully graphical MMORPGs to feature a number of features popularized by later games like Ultima Online
Ultima Online
Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
, such as nearly unrestricted player versus player
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
combat. Due to the game's peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
structure, the game was susceptible to hacking by its players.