Magestorm
Encyclopedia
Rolemaster: Magestorm was an online
-only first-person shooter
using magical spells
as weapons. It was developed in 1996 by Interworld Productions (now Mythic Entertainment
). It centered on team-based gameplay and included some role-playing elements, notably the character class
and level-based systems. The four character classes were the Wizard
, Psionic, Eldritch
and Healer
; but prior to Magestorm Millennium, the character classes were named as Magician
, Mentalist, Arcanist and Cleric, respectively. A character could gain experience points by hitting other players and raise up to level 30. Each gained level gave spell picks which allowed to unlock new spells.
The game was a feature of various gaming services over the years. Firstly as part of the Engage Games Online service, before moving to AOL
. For a time, there was choice between the hourly billing method of AOL's game service versus the flat monthly charge offered by rival service Gamestorm. The game was also briefly available via the Gamezone network in Europe.
When Electronic Arts purchased both the AOL Games Channel and Gamestorm, the game was shut down almost immediately in 2000. As compensation, players of the game were given free copies of Ultima Online
. The game however was relaunched as Magestorm Millennium in 2001, on the Mythic-Realms game service, operated by Mythic Entertainment itself. It brought together the former two communities of AOL and Gamestorm and was one of the most popular games on the service, surpassing its spiritual successor, Spellbinder: The Nexus Conflict
, developed in 1999.
This game is no longer officially available and was finally retired in January 2006, along with all other games offered on the Mythic-Realms gaming center excluding Dragon's Gate
. An unofficial server emulator is however, currently in development as of January 2010. The emulator, "Magestorm: Revival" is in public testing and available to play currently.
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
-only first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
using magical spells
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
as weapons. It was developed in 1996 by Interworld Productions (now Mythic Entertainment
Mythic Entertainment
BioWare Mythic is a computer game developer in Fairfax, Virginia which is most widely recognized for developing the 2001 massively multiplayer online role-playing game Dark Age of Camelot...
). It centered on team-based gameplay and included some role-playing elements, notably the character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
and level-based systems. The four character classes were the Wizard
Wizard (character class)
The Wizard is a type of magical character class in certain role-playing games and computer role-playing games. Wizards are considered to be spellcasters who wield powerful spells, but are often physically weak as a trade-off. Wizards are commonly confused with similar offensive spellcasting...
, Psionic, Eldritch
Eldritch
Eldritch may refer to:* Andrew Eldritch , frontman, singer, songwriter and the only remaining original member of The Sisters of Mercy* Eldritch , an Italian heavy metal band* Eldritch Wizardry, a Dungeons & Dragons supplement...
and Healer
Healer (gaming)
A healer is a type of character class in video gaming. When a game includes a health game mechanic and multiple classes, often one of the classes will be designed around the restoration of allies' health, known as healing, in order to delay or prevent their defeat. Such a class can be referred to...
; but prior to Magestorm Millennium, the character classes were named as Magician
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
, Mentalist, Arcanist and Cleric, respectively. A character could gain experience points by hitting other players and raise up to level 30. Each gained level gave spell picks which allowed to unlock new spells.
The game was a feature of various gaming services over the years. Firstly as part of the Engage Games Online service, before moving to 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...
. For a time, there was choice between the hourly billing method of AOL's game service versus the flat monthly charge offered by rival service Gamestorm. The game was also briefly available via the Gamezone network in Europe.
When Electronic Arts purchased both the AOL Games Channel and Gamestorm, the game was shut down almost immediately in 2000. As compensation, players of the game were given free copies of 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...
. The game however was relaunched as Magestorm Millennium in 2001, on the Mythic-Realms game service, operated by Mythic Entertainment itself. It brought together the former two communities of AOL and Gamestorm and was one of the most popular games on the service, surpassing its spiritual successor, Spellbinder: The Nexus Conflict
Spellbinder: The Nexus Conflict
Spellbinder: The Nexus Conflict was a 3D action game developed by Mythic Entertainment, developed as a follow-up to Magestorm, and which has been hosted by Centropolis Entertainment and Mightygames....
, developed in 1999.
This game is no longer officially available and was finally retired in January 2006, along with all other games offered on the Mythic-Realms gaming center excluding Dragon's Gate
Dragon's Gate
Dragon's Gate was an interactive, real time, text-based multi user online fantasy role-playing game, sometimes referred to as a MUD. It was one of the longest running pay-for-play online games in the world, it opened to the public in the spring of 1990 on GEnie. In the summer of 1996 the game was...
. An unofficial server emulator is however, currently in development as of January 2010. The emulator, "Magestorm: Revival" is in public testing and available to play currently.