The MMORPG Chronicles of Elyria aimed to provide a new, realistic MMORPG that allowed players to be part of a simulated world. Through Kickstarter and their own platform, the team raised approximately 7.5 million euros. However, the CEO mismanaged the funding. He couldn’t find another investor, had to lay off the team, and essentially had to stop development, but he cannot back out of the situation.
What kind of MMORPG was it supposed to be?
- The development began in 2016. The man behind the game, Jeromy Walsh, sold his possessions and started developing a realistic MMORPG on his own.
- In the game, players could age and die. They would gain weight if they ate too much. They could gain power and prestige.
- Through Kickstarter, they quickly raised $900,000, and by October 2019, hopeful fans had invested even $7.7 million into the online role-playing game that sold virtual land and hosted early browser-game-like events on its website.
MMORPG project fails in 2020 but cannot stop
That was the breaking point: The $7.7 million they had raised was not enough to implement the ideas that Walsh had in mind. His plan was to use the money to finance a prototype that was good enough to convince solvent investors to fund the game.
Other developers who had successfully managed projects before had succeeded in doing this, but Walsh, as a nobody, failed to convince investors. However, the backers’ money was already gone.
After a pre-alpha had failed miserably, Walsh announced in March 2020 that the studio was closing and all employees were laid off. But he later added that it was a misunderstanding and that he was continuing the project.
This is the problem: In reality, the development of the MMORPG has failed, but it cannot be stopped because he cannot repay the backers the money. Therefore, Chronicles of Elyria has been subjected to intense ridicule since 2020. While Walsh tries to keep the MMORPG alive somehow, former upset fans are determined to get their money back.
Developer claims 93% of fans still wish for the MMORPG
This is the latest farce: In January 2024, Walsh wanted to determine through a survey among the fans which of his 6 projects the fans would most likely want. Multiple answers were possible.
These were all phantom projects
, mocked the online role-playing game site Massivelyop, which still tracks Chronicles of Elyria.
An evaluation of the survey in February 2024 now shows that the MMORPG “Chronicles of Elyria” itself received the most votes; more than 93% still showed interest in this game. Walsh sees this as confirmation that interest in the MMORPG is still high.
Former fans, however, are cynical about this survey. On the site Massivelyop it is stated: The survey had only limited options available. The choice “Give me my damn money back” was missing. That would surely have won.
Others compared the survey to asking visitors at a band’s concert which band they would prefer – the result is clear.
Another says: At Kickstarter, 10,752 people participated, while only 500 were involved in such a survey. He could continue with his role-playing game as CEO and game developer.
This is what it’s about: Since 2020, there has been an uncomfortable situation surrounding Chronicles of Elyria. One hardly wants to look at it anymore:
- Former fans are angry and disappointed. They threaten with lawsuits and want their invested money back. They even openly accuse Walsh of fraud and embezzlement.
- However, there is a strong indication that someone simply had a dream he desperately wanted to believe in, took on too much, and now simply cannot find a way out.
A story from the MMORPG from better times: Player pays $10,000 to become king in MMORPG – Subjects rebel
