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{{Short description|American online games company}}
'''Simutronics''' is the online ] responsible for '']'', '']'', and many other games. Simutronics was founded by ], who currently still owns and runs the company. It is located in ], with additional offices in ].
{{Infobox company
⚫ | name = Simutronics Corp.
| logo = Simutronics.webp
| type = ]
| foundation = ], ] (1987)
| location = ], ]
| industry = ]
| owner = ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stillfront.com/site/studios/#simutronics|title=Stillfront Group|date=25 April 2024 }}</ref> (55.06%)
| num_employees = 30
| homepage =
}}


'''Simutronics''' is an American online ] whose products include '']'' and ''DragonRealms''. It was founded in 1987 by ], with husband and wife Tom & Susan Zelinski. The company is located in ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Games People Play |work=St. Charles Journal|date=January 9, 1994|author=McCrary, William S.}}</ref> It became part of the ] in 2016.
⚫ The company's flagship product, ''GemStone IV'', has been running for around 15 years. ''GemStone'' was on ]'s ] GEnie for a number of years before moving to ] and ] before Simutronics moved to their own domain: play.net.


⚫ The company's flagship product is the text based game, ''GemStone IV'', which went live in November 2003, with predecessor games running back in 1988. ''GemStone'' was originally accessed through ]'s ] ], later becoming accessible through ], ], and ] before Simutronics finally moved all their games to their own domain in 1997.
⚫ ==Simutronics Products==


==Simutronics products==
All of the following titles are multiplayer online games:
===Multiplayer online games===
* '']'', Simutronics' flagship product, a text-based multiplayer fantasy game, which has seen over one million users over the years. It is the longest-lived commercial ] game, followed by ].<ref>{{ cite web | title = Facts about early Avalon the Legend Lives | url = https://www.avalon-rpg.com/guide/facts }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | title = Raph Koster's Timeline of Online Worlds | date = 13 January 2014 | url = http://www.raphkoster.com/games/the-online-world-timeline/ }}</ref>
* ''DragonRealms'', a 1996 MUD set in ''GemStone''{{'s}} Elanthia world, with popularity on online services AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy. In comparison with ''GemStone'', ''DragonRealms''{{'s}} has more skill-based gameplay.<ref name="olivetti">{{cite web
| last = Olivetti
| first = Justin
| title = The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: The games
| work = Massively
| date = 2011-04-19
| url = http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-the-games/
| accessdate = 2011-04-25
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110507224055/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-the-games/
| archive-date = 2011-05-07
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
* '']'', also known as ''CyberStrike Classic'', a graphical futuristic ship combat game. It won the first ever "Online Game of the Year" award from ] magazine in 1993.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 1993 | title = CGW's Game of the Year Awards | magazine = Computer Gaming World | issue = 111 | pages = 70–74 | url = http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_111.pdf }}</ref>


===Mobile games===
* '']'', Simutronics' flagship product, a text-based multiplayer fantasy game, which has seen over one million users over the years, and is the longest-running commercial ] in the world.
* ''],'' a ] game for ] and ], released in 2011<ref>{{cite web | url=http://toucharcade.com/2011/09/09/tiny-heroes-review/ | title = Tiny Heroes Review | date = 9 September 2011 | first = Nissa | last = Campbell | work = Touch Arcade}}</ref>
* '']'' - The same game world as GemStone, but with a smaller player-base.
* ''One Epic Knight,'' an ], released in 2012<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/175943/Run_for_Gold_One_Epic_KnightLaunch_Date_Announced_Sprintsfor_Free_onto_iOS_Devices_August_23.php | title = Run for Gold! One Epic Knight Launch Date Announced, Sprints for Free onto iOS Devices August 23 | date = 14 August 2012 |work = ]}}</ref> for ] devices and in 2013 for Android<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.androidauthority.com/underrated-game-list-for-android-may-2013-219850/ | title = The 6 most underrated games for Android: May 2013 edition | first = Brad | last = Ward | date = 5 June 2013 | work = Android Authority}}</ref>
* '']'', (no longer available) an early graphical game involving team combat between wizards
* '']'', a spin-off sequel to the ''Lara Croft'' sub-series in the '']'' franchise and a mission-based runner released on iOS and Android in 2015.
* '']'', set in the same fantasy world as ''GemStone'', only at a later place in time. Additional versions include DragonRealms Platinum, and DragonRealms: Fallen.
* Siege: Titan Wars, a 3D real-time PvP game that launched on iOS and Android in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suckley |first=Matt |date=2017-07-06 |title=Simutronics on Siege: Titan Wars and 30 years of multiplayer gaming |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/66140/simutronics-on-30-years-of-multiplayer-gaming/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=pocketgamer.biz}}</ref>
* '']'', a crime-solving MUD.
* Siege: World War II, a wartime sequel to Siege: Titan Wars, launched on iOS and Android in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larsson |first=Jörgen |date=19 September 2018 |title=Stillfront Group AB: Simutronics announces "SIEGE: World War II" |url=https://www.stillfront.com/en/stillfront-group-ab-simutronics-announces-siege-world-war-ii-2/ |website=stillfront.com}}</ref>
* '']'', formerly ''] & ]'', this adventurebased ] is set in the ] & ] universe.

* '']'', winner of the first ever "Online Game of the Year" award from ''Computer Gaming World'' magazine in 1993.
==HeroEngine==
* '']'', an upcoming graphical ], scheduled for 2006 release
{{Main|HeroEngine}}
HeroEngine is a ] and server technology platform developed specifically for building ]-style games, based around a system similar to the IFE using the Hero Script Language (HSL). Originally developed for the company's own game ''Hero's Journey'' - ] which never made it to the testing stage - the engine has since been licensed by other companies.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Business Wire | date = August 8, 2006 | url = http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060808005769&newsLang=en |title = BioWare Licenses Simutronics HeroEngine for MMO Game Project | location = Austin Game Conference 2006}}</ref> Simutronics sold the HeroEngine to Idea Fabrik, Plc. on August 5, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/599200-wolfgangbrand/85715-idea-fabrik-plc-purchases-heroengine-technologies |title = Idea Fabrik Plc purchases HeroEngine technologies | date = 5 August 2010 | first = Wolfgang |last = Brand}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite magazine | magazine = ] | url = http://www.inc.com/magazine/19991015/14255.html | title = Pure Internet Play | first = Nancy K. |last = Austin | date = 15 October 1999}}
* {{cite book
| last = Bartle | first = Richard | author-link = Richard Bartle
| title = ]
| publisher = New Riders
| year = 2003
| isbn = 0-13-101816-7}}
* {{cite book | first = Amy Jo | last = Kim | author-link=Amy Jo Kim | title = Community Building on the Web | year = 2000 | publisher = Peachpit Press | isbn =0-201-87484-9}}
* {{cite magazine | magazine = ] | url = http://www.inc.com/magazine/19991015/14325.html | title = Recruiting Strategies: Motivation | date = 15 October 1999 | quote = THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE FORCE: With all the hype that surrounded the opening of Star Wars: Episode I --The Phantom Menace, it's no surprise that the film created a minor truancy problem for some companies. Like numerous other CEOs whose companies made this year's list, David Whatley of Simutronics Corp. (#295), in Rockville, Md., decided to do a preemptive strike. "I thought it would be more cost-effective to see the movie as a group," he says. "It was either that or have people call in sick for a week."}}
{{Refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
*
*
* from ]
* from ]
* from ]
{{MUDs}}


]
{{cvg-corp-stub}}
] ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 02:08, 12 December 2024

American online games company
Simutronics Corp.
Company typePrivate company
IndustryVideo games
FoundedSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (1987)
HeadquartersSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
OwnerStillfront Group (55.06%)
Number of employees30
WebsiteSimutronics Official Site

Simutronics is an American online games company whose products include GemStone IV and DragonRealms. It was founded in 1987 by David Whatley, with husband and wife Tom & Susan Zelinski. The company is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It became part of the Stillfront Group in 2016.

The company's flagship product is the text based game, GemStone IV, which went live in November 2003, with predecessor games running back in 1988. GemStone was originally accessed through General Electric's internet service provider GEnie, later becoming accessible through AOL, Prodigy, and CompuServe before Simutronics finally moved all their games to their own domain in 1997.

Simutronics products

Multiplayer online games

  • GemStone IV, Simutronics' flagship product, a text-based multiplayer fantasy game, which has seen over one million users over the years. It is the longest-lived commercial MUD game, followed by Avalon: The Legend Lives.
  • DragonRealms, a 1996 MUD set in GemStone's Elanthia world, with popularity on online services AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy. In comparison with GemStone, DragonRealms's has more skill-based gameplay.
  • CyberStrike, also known as CyberStrike Classic, a graphical futuristic ship combat game. It won the first ever "Online Game of the Year" award from Computer Gaming World magazine in 1993.

Mobile games

  • Tiny Heroes, a tower defense game for iPhone and iPad, released in 2011
  • One Epic Knight, an endless runner game, released in 2012 for iOS devices and in 2013 for Android
  • Lara Croft: Relic Run, a spin-off sequel to the Lara Croft sub-series in the Tomb Raider franchise and a mission-based runner released on iOS and Android in 2015.
  • Siege: Titan Wars, a 3D real-time PvP game that launched on iOS and Android in 2017.
  • Siege: World War II, a wartime sequel to Siege: Titan Wars, launched on iOS and Android in 2018.

HeroEngine

Main article: HeroEngine

HeroEngine is a 3D game engine and server technology platform developed specifically for building MMO-style games, based around a system similar to the IFE using the Hero Script Language (HSL). Originally developed for the company's own game Hero's Journey - vaporware which never made it to the testing stage - the engine has since been licensed by other companies. Simutronics sold the HeroEngine to Idea Fabrik, Plc. on August 5, 2010.

References

  1. "Stillfront Group". 25 April 2024.
  2. McCrary, William S. (January 9, 1994). "Games People Play". St. Charles Journal.
  3. "Facts about early Avalon the Legend Lives".
  4. "Raph Koster's Timeline of Online Worlds". 13 January 2014.
  5. Olivetti, Justin (2011-04-19). "The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: The games". Massively. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. "CGW's Game of the Year Awards" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 111. October 1993. pp. 70–74.
  7. Campbell, Nissa (9 September 2011). "Tiny Heroes Review". Touch Arcade.
  8. "Run for Gold! One Epic Knight Launch Date Announced, Sprints for Free onto iOS Devices August 23". Gamasutra. 14 August 2012.
  9. Ward, Brad (5 June 2013). "The 6 most underrated games for Android: May 2013 edition". Android Authority.
  10. Suckley, Matt (2017-07-06). "Simutronics on Siege: Titan Wars and 30 years of multiplayer gaming". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  11. Larsson, Jörgen (19 September 2018). "Stillfront Group AB: Simutronics announces "SIEGE: World War II"". stillfront.com.
  12. "BioWare Licenses Simutronics HeroEngine for MMO Game Project" (Press release). Austin Game Conference 2006: Business Wire. August 8, 2006.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. Brand, Wolfgang (5 August 2010). "Idea Fabrik Plc purchases HeroEngine technologies".

Sources

External links

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