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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 originally accessed through ]'s ] GEnie, later becoming accessible through ], ], and ] before Simutronics finally moved all their games to their own domain, play.net, in 1997.


⚫ 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>
* '']'', (no longer available) an early graphical game involving team combat between wizards
* ''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>
* '']'', set in the same fantasy world as ''GemStone'', only at a later place in time. Additional versions include DragonRealms Platinum, and DragonRealms: Fallen.
* '']'', 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.
* '']'', a crime-solving MUD.
* 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>
* '']'', formerly ''] & ]'', this adventure-based ] is set in the ] & ] universe.
* 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>
* '']'', also known as ''CyberStrike Classic'', a graphical futuristic ship combat game.
* '']'', a sequel to ''CyberStrike'' released in 1998.
* '']'', an upcoming graphical ], scheduled for 2006 release


==HeroEngine==
==Interactive Fiction Engine==
{{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==
Simutronics' products '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' are text-based multiplayer games built on the proprietary Interactive Fiction Engine (IFE), which is written in the ]. The IFE is responsible for managing the server's memory, interacting with the game's database, and communicating with the clients. It also includes an interpreter for the proprietary GemStone Scripting Language (GSL), a relatively simple language which abstracts away most of the complex details that the IFE handles.
{{Reflist}}


===Sources===
The major advantage of the IFE, unlike most other game engines including those of many major graphical ]s, is that it is constructed to allow the modification of all properties of the game except those implemented directly by the IFE without requiring a game restart. This includes the game's geography and all functions written in GSL. As a result of this, scheduled game ] tends to be infrequent and short. It also means that game releases tend to be incremental instead of gathered up into large ]es, and bug fixes can be applied immediately on completion instead of waiting for the next downtime.
{{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}}
Originally, many core game ]s (such as those relating to movement and inventory management) were implemented directly by the IFE. Over time, most of those have been migrated to GSL to allow for easier modification.
* {{cite book

| last = Bartle | first = Richard | author-link = Richard Bartle
The upcoming title ''Hero's Journey'' will be based around a similar system, using the Hero Script Language (HSL).
| title = ]

| publisher = New Riders
==Corporate culture==
| year = 2003

| isbn = 0-13-101816-7}}
Unlike most game developers, the majority of Simutronics employees are not full time staff housed in the corporate offices. The relatively small onsite staff includes mainly corporate officers, billing and legal staff, ], and engine programmers. The day-to-day development and customer service staff of the games is comprised of part time offsite contractors, called ], most of whom have full time jobs elsewhere. As a result of their less central status, GameMasters do not have access to billing or personal information for customers or the engine code. All development work by GameMasters is done in GSL (for the IFE games) or HSL (for ''Hero's Journey'').
* {{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."}}
GameMasters are hired, trained, and perform their duties without ever setting foot in a corporate office. This employment practice provides wider options for hiring and a lower payroll to Simutronics, and a flexible work environment for the GameMasters. However, as GameMasters are only employed part time and are not physically present, this also sometimes leads to a lower commitment to their jobs. Due to their part time status, events in GameMaster lives sometimes result in missed deadlines, and GameMasters have been known to disappear for long periods of time or, rarely, forever, causing their projects to languish. As a result, Simutronics has the reputation of failing to uphold promises and leaving projects half-finished.
{{Refend}}

The main avenue for customer-company communication is through the official Simutronics forums. Compared to the employees of other online game companies, GameMasters are relatively unrestricted in their discussions with customers. Most unusual is the ability of developers to discuss issues directly with customers, rather than through a community manager or other customer service employee. However, GameMasters vary in their skill and training in customer service and their willingness to use the forums, so different areas of the forums receive inconsistent levels of service.

==Trivia==
* ''GemStone'' was the first multiplayer game to achieve one million paid hours in a single month.
* ''CyberStrike'' was the winner of the first ever "Online Game of the Year" award from ''Computer Gaming World'' magazine in 1993.
* Simutronics names often have a midword capital letter in them, such as in ''GemStone'', ''DragonRealms'', ''CyberStrike'', the client application ''StormFront'', the official title of GameMaster, and ''StormHammer'', the development name of ''GemStone IV''.


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* - Timeline maintained by ], Simutronics General Manager of Online Community *
*
*
* from ]
* from ]
* from ]
{{MUDs}}


] ]
]
]
]
]

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

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