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The Realm Online

The Realm Online
Developer(s) Sierra On-Line (previous), Codemasters (previous), Norseman Games (current)
Publisher(s) Sierra On-Line (previous)
Designer(s) Stephen Nichols
Platform(s) Windows
Release
Genre(s) MMORPG
Mode(s) Multiplayer

The Realm Online, originally known simply as The Realm, is a second generation MORPG (multiplayer online role playing game).

The Realm was launched in December 1996 for Windows PC It was designed in the tradition of graphical MUDs, before the popular usage of the terms "massively multiplayer" and "MMORPG".

Originally published by Sierra On-Line, it was abandoned by that company because of its unfavorable comparison to Ultima Online and EverQuest. It was next taken up for a short time by a company called World Opponent Network which was also owned by Sierra On-line, then Codemasters, and presently is a Norseman Games production.

The Realm Online uses turn-based combat, which makes it different from other MUDs of its generation, and is convenient for players with a bad Internet connection. it has been credited to be the first virtual world to use instances, with every battle taking place in a special room outside of the open world.

The game has been criticized for its unforgiving character creation: a character that hasn't been created optimally can't reach maximum potential.

In the game's first year, 25,000 user accounts had been made. In 2008, the server would still reach an online population of 100 to 200 players during peak hours.


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