By now, there are incredibly many MMORPGs with an open world. But which one came first? We from MeinMMO take you back to the year 1996 and look at Meridian 59.
Meridian 59 was the first MMORPG with 3D graphics and is considered one of the first MMOs ever. It is therefore seen as a forerunner of subsequent MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.
Is the game still available? In fact, this ancient MMORPG is still playable today. In 2018, it even received a Steam version and is available there for free download.
To this day, Meridian 59 has a loyal fanbase that still plans and hosts events.
Despite ancient graphics, there are invested players
The game throws you into a typical fantasy setting with swords and sorcery, where you must battle monsters.
What content does Meridian 59 offer?
- Improve your character through attributes and skills and be free from any class systems. There are also no levels. Instead, you master weapon skills and various types of magic.
- A PvP system that is completely controlled by the players.
- A game world that invites exploration. Although not a huge world like in today’s open-world games, it is worth seeing for its time.
- A community! The MMORPG is still played today, with some players who have been involved since its release and are still invested.
In the video, you will see 5 more old MMORPGs that are still being played:
The history of an MMORPG classic
The alpha version of Meridian 59 launched in December 1995. The original developer was Archetype Interactive.
In 1996, the game was released in the USA and in 1997 in Germany. It was the first MMORPG that was fully available in German.
After its release by 3DO Company, Meridian 59 survived only until 2000, when the service was discontinued due to the operator’s bankruptcy. In 2002, MDO Entertainment took over the MMORPG. Then, in 2004, a graphics update for the old 3D graphics was implemented.
In 2012, the source code of Meridian 59 was released as free software (open source) with some exceptions.
What do you think about Meridian 59? Do you remember it and perhaps played it earlier in your youth? Or were you not born yet in 1996? How important does the perspective of modern MMORPGs back to old classics like Meridian 59 seem to you? Feel free to write it in the comments here on MeinMMO!
Are you interested in the new expansion of WoW? Here you can find information about the release of Wrath of the Lich King.
