Quantum Space was the first play-by-email game offered as part of a major commercial online service. It ran on 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...

 from 1989 to 1992. The game was developed by Stormfront Studios

Stormfront Studios

Stormfront Studios was a video game developer based in San Rafael, California which had one of the longest creative histories in the industry. In 2007, the company had over 50 developers working on two teams, and owned all its proprietary engines, tools and technology. As of the end of 2007 over...

, designed and programmed by Don Daglow

Don Daglow

Don Daglow is an American computer game and video game designer, programmer and producer. He is best known for designing a series of pioneering simulation games and role-playing games, as well as the first computer baseball game and the first graphical MMORPG, all between 1971 and 1995...

 and produced by Kathi McHugh.

In 1990-91 Quantum Space was the highest-rated text-based area of AOL other than chat rooms and message boards.