It is always a shame when an MMORPG is shut down. But wouldn’t it be interesting to bring back games like WildStar or Star Wars Galaxies? The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment has an idea.
Especially in the area of MMORPGs, the games show how they evolve. They are a kind of witnesses of a certain era. A museum now wants to revive shut down MMOs.
Shut down MMORPGs should be preserved in the museum
The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment wants to save old MMOs: The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment in California, short MADE, has an interesting idea. In the museum, the already shut down MMORPGs should be “revived”.
Visitors would then have the opportunity to see and play these titles to get an impression of how online role-playing games were during their times and how the games played. This would allow even titles like Star Wars Galaxies, City of Heroes, or Wildstar, which will be shut down in November, to be experienced in action.
What are the problems? The idea is great, but the concept also brings some problems with it:
- MMORPGs run online and require a network code
- MADE is currently looking for the network code of Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes
- Developers and publishers must give their consent
- An MMORPG lives from thousands of players. How would this be implemented in a museum?
- An MMORPG also lives from the constant progression through the story, quests, character development, and what one achieves over a long time in the game. How will this be achieved if you can only play for a short time in a museum?
- Can an MMO convey the game feeling that fans loved with just a short insight?
An interesting and popular plan
The plan is feasible: MADE has already brought back many other games, including the proto-MMO Habitat. And the museum operators explain that nothing can be harder than getting Habitat to run. Therefore, they are confident that the idea of bringing shut down MMORPGs back to the museum can be implemented.
How the idea is received: Players are excited about the plan. Even if it means that an MMO would only be available within the museum, fans could still reminisce a little and perhaps share their experiences with younger gamers.
snacky writes on MassivelyOP: “These are fantastic news! Exciting!”
kalech says: “Interesting idea. I think it would be good to preserve a few selected MMOs for posterity. Even if the games cannot be played publicly.”
