Gone But Not Forgotten Video Game Developers/Publishers Lost 2000-2017 - Kesmai Corporation
Gone But Not
Forgotten Video Game Developers/Publishers Lost 2000-2017
Kesmai Corporation were a video game developer and publisher who
were founded way back in 1981 by John Taylor and Kelton Flinn, the company were
a leading part of the online multiplayer surge of the 90s releasing several
multiplayer online games during their 20 years in existence they distributed
online gaming content to over 12 million subscribers of America Online,
Prodigy, CompuServe, EarthLink Network, Delphi, and major websites throughout
the Internet during the companies lifespan.
By far the most famous of Kesmai’s titles is the 1987 release Air
Warrior in the GEnie network one of the first graphical MMOGs (Massively
Multiplayer Online Games). Air Warrior was an online multiplayer flight
simulator with the game featuring 17 World War II fighters such as the
Spitfire, Junkers JU-88, F4U Corsair and P-51D Mustang. With aircraft form 5
nations featured in the game, for players who played the game through GEnie
network, online battles could feature up to 50 people.
One of Kesmai's Biggest and most ground breaking titles was the 1987 Air Warrior
During the early years of Kesmai they also released a MUD game
named Island of Kesmai this game ran on CompuServe (CompuServe Information
Service) or CIS as it is more commonly known, one of the first major commercial
online service providers in the United States, dominating the field during the
80s and early 90s.
CIS was known for its online chat system, message forums, large
software libraries and online games Island of Kesmai being one of. Island of
Kesmai was a an early commercial online game in the MUD genre, which is a
multiplayer real time virtual work these generally are text based worlds which
combine elements of RPG’s Hack and Slash, PvP, interactive fiction and online
chat.
Players are able to read and view a description of rooms objects, other
players and NPC’s as well as actions in the virtual work pretty much like a
Dungeon Master would describe during a game of D&D with players inputting
their actions into the game rather than telling the DM. the game received a 2D
successor in 1996 launching on AOL both games were commercially retired in
2000.
1994 saw Kesmai Corporation purchased by Rupert Murdoch's News
Corporation, the company continued to develop massively multiplayer online
games after the take over. 1997 saw the launch of Air Warrior II the sequel to
the company first big hit in what could be considered over saturation Air
Warrior III released the same year.
Air Warrior II (Left) and Air Warrior III (Right) both released in 1997
1998 saw the release of the Aliens Online massively multiplayer
first person shooter released on the GameStorm subscription service the game
involved the player either choosing to be a member of the Colonial Marines
(Gearbox could have just recoded footage of this it would have been better) or
as one of H. R. Giger’s iconic Aliens in a team deathmatch.
Aliens Online allowed players to either play as the Colonial Marines or the Aliens
Released in 1998 the game was co developed by Mythic Entertainment
Aliens online was co developed by Mythic Entertainment, the studio
which would later bring us Dark Age of Camelot as well as working on Dragon Age
II before EA would once again confirm why they are the most evil company in the
world.
It was also a fate that Kesmai would also face the following year
after the release of Aliens Online, Axis & Allies, Godzilla Online, Starship
Troopers: Battlespace and Virtual Pool, the company would be purchased from News
Corporation by EA for an unknown amount.
After the EA acquisition the company would only publish one more
titles, a 2000 release called Fierce Harmony, an online 3D sword fighting game,
with players battling it out to become the mightiest warrior of the Nexus,
Players created or chose their offensive attacks before battling it out in the Arean,
with each warrior having different strengths and weaknesses which were effected
by which of the twelve fantasy realms the battle occurred, the game received
something of a spiritual successor recently with the release of Absolver.
Fierce Harmony a 3D online sword fighting game was the last game published by Kesmai.
A year later after the release of Fierce Harmony the writing was
on the wall for the company, largely due to the shift away from how
subscription services were sold to consumers as a result the company along with
all of its subsidiaries were closed.
After the closure of Kesmai several key members of staff went on
to form Lodestone Games, developers of the original PlanetSide, upon the
closure of Lodestone in 2003 many of the team moved on to Sony Online
Entertainment, Mythic Entertainment, Volition and Obsidian Entertainment.
Written By
P J Gibbon
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