July 3rd was the opening of Play.Net on the web 20 years ago. Do you remember the screams of joy from GEnie people when there were no more hourly charges to play and the screeches of pain from the AOL people at having to pay an additional flat charge per month? Do you remember the friends who did not make the switch? KBD (King Bad Dude) Wyrom says watch for special celebrations and events each week, starting the 7th.
Category: GemStone Promotions Topic: General Promotions
Date: 07/03/2017 12:15 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Play.net Turns Twenty
July 3 1997 is the day we moved to the World Wide Web! Crazy to think it was that long ago.
During this month, we’ll have some interesting bonuses for subscribers. Things will kick off starting on July 7th, with something new each week!
Thanks for making GemStone IV one of the best text-based games on the market!
Wyrom, PM
Date: 07/03/2017 12:28 PM CDT
From: VANKRASN39
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>Thanks for making GemStone IV one of the best text-based games on the market!
one of the best? which one is the best?
Date: 07/03/2017 12:33 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
You know, can’t compete with DragonRealms! We have to share the top spot!
Wyrom, PM
Date: 07/03/2017 12:52 PM CDT
From: MENOS
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
GS can take the lead. We just need those starting verbs, chat, and amulet thing that DR has. Fantastic intro stuff, mediocre game after that (compared to GS).
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain, And the stream that falls from the hill to plain. Better than rain or rippling brook, Is a mug of beer inside this Took.
Date: 07/03/2017 12:53 PM CDT
From: VANKRASN39
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>You know, can’t compete with DragonRealms! We have to share the top spot!
ppfffftttt
Date: 07/03/2017 01:44 PM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
If anyone still has an archive of the time, I would LOVE to see the “Kobold Reasons” that used to be scattered across the site for “why you should consider stepping up to Premium.”
Date: 07/03/2017 01:47 PM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
“July 3 1997 is the day we moved to the World Wide Web!” — Wyrom
And I was on the Philmont trip from the 5th to the 19th, so I didn’t want to burn 15 days of free 2x experience by not-being-here. 🙁 <sigh>
Good times, though. (Both on the trail, then, and in the intervening time, here. 🙂
Date: 07/03/2017 01:55 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
It’s okay, Robert, my computer couldn’t run IE with 8 MB of ram, so I had to order 2 gold-contact 8 MB sticks before I could even get access to GS on the web. I just about missed the entire double exp period.
Wyrom, PM
Date: 07/03/2017 01:56 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>>GS can take the lead. We just need those starting verbs, chat, and amulet thing that DR has. Fantastic intro stuff, mediocre game after that (compared to GS).
I’ll be honest, I’m scared of CHATTER.
Wyrom, PM
Date: 07/03/2017 02:27 PM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
NO computer should ever need more than 640K of RAM anyway… 🙂
.
Let’s see, in 1997 my 386DX was getting ready to give up the ghost, so that must’ve been when I got the sexy new Pentium-whatever with Win95 on it… and immediately used my nice fast graphical interface to run a text-based game.
Date: 07/03/2017 02:41 PM CDT
From: MENOS
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Maybe it is because I am still a Luddite with no lich or Lchat, but I found chatter to be extremely helpful in figuring out what to do with my new guy in DR. I hadn’t touched those systems in over a decade (and most were new anyway). In the end the game wasn’t for me, but it wasn’t because of an impossible learning curve.
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain, And the stream that falls from the hill to plain. Better than rain or rippling brook, Is a mug of beer inside this Took.
Date: 07/03/2017 02:57 PM CDT
From: SEARSW3
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Did someone mention double experience? Gosh, I remember that! My first character got fat on the back of that lovely period. And I was young enough to be able to spend every spare moment playing the game. A major regret is killing that character off. Stupid move in retrospect.
>> Thanks for making GemStone IV the best text-based games in the world!
Fixed! Thanks to the passion and energy of all the dev, GM, and QC folks (and others) that have made this game such a success!
— Robert
* Wyrom was just vaporized!
Date: 07/03/2017 09:28 PM CDT
From: LUXELLE
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>> You know, can’t compete with DragonRealms! We have to share the top spot!
We can. We did. GS won.
<3
— Rohese: “… the TownCrier (tune in if you haven’t, it’s without doubt the best thing to ever happen on LNet)”
Date: 07/04/2017 12:05 AM CDT
From: LEAFIARA
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Twenty whole years… talk about standing the test of time, huh? Here’s to twenty more!
Date: 07/04/2017 09:02 PM CDT
From: MAYNIST
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Wait a minute…I’ve been playing GS for over 20 years?
It’s not possible – I can’t be that old. Someone made a mistake somewhere.
Date: 07/05/2017 08:57 AM CDT
From: COLEMANJ
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>Wait a minute…I’ve been playing GS for over 20 years?
>It’s not possible – I can’t be that old. Someone made a mistake somewhere.
My initial reaction was the same, and then I stood up to protest and heard something creak and groan…. so I sat back down and grumbled about those darned whippersnappers always playing pranks
Date: 07/05/2017 09:12 AM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
“something creak and groan” — ColemanJ
Not narrowing the field all that much here… ankle, knee, hip, or back? (I routinely hear cracks or pops from any or all when standing up after a bout of GemStone. And never mind intentionally stretching my neck, or cracking my knuckles.)
Date: 07/05/2017 09:18 AM CDT
From: ZENDADA
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
“Follow me,” said the spider to the unenlightened sprite, “To lands of bold adventure, of darkness and of light. Join me in my web,” she urged, “We’ll be so happy there. Your fantasies await you, there in my dreaming lair.”
20+ years of entertainment. Thanks, Simu!
Chad, player of a few
Date: 07/05/2017 09:19 AM CDT
From: COLEMANJ
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
I see what you’re doing there, but I’ll bite.
No, yes, no, yes. Respectively.
Date: 07/05/2017 03:23 PM CDT
From: RROY
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
How odd memories, and time are… The move to the web still seems like a somewhat new development even though the game has been n the web for most of its life. The game has never been better and in fact its finally seeing its potential with new areas, new events, new verbs, all added at a faster pace than it saw in the past.
Lets see another 20 years, both myself and the game….
Just an elf about town…
Date: 07/05/2017 03:23 PM CDT
From: KITHUS
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Ugh I started playing on AOL… God I’m old.
Keith/Brinret/Eronderl
Keith is correct
-Wyrom, APM
Keith is correct.
-GameMaster Estild
Date: 07/05/2017 09:39 PM CDT
From: DVDMORSE
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>Ugh I started playing on AOL… God I’m old.
I suspect we could start a club for those of us who can say this (both parts of it).
–David
“At a moment like this, I can’t help but wonder, ‘What would Jimmy Buffett do?'”
Date: 07/05/2017 11:39 PM CDT
From: LUXELLE
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>Ugh I started playing on AOL… God I’m old.
>I suspect we could start a club for those of us who can say this (both parts of it).
Oooh, You gave me an idea! I could start a new MHO of GemStoneII players…!
— Rohese: “… the TownCrier (tune in if you haven’t, it’s without doubt the best thing to ever happen on LNet)”
Date: 07/06/2017 12:09 AM CDT
From: ROBLAR
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
The Ancient Ones
😉
Date: 07/06/2017 01:32 AM CDT
From: DVDMORSE
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>Oooh, You gave me an idea! I could start a new MHO of GemStoneII players…!
Well, I don’t quite go back to Gemstone II. I started playing on AOL, but it was Gemstone III, just a few months before the move to the web.
–David
“At a moment like this, I can’t help but wonder, ‘What would Jimmy Buffett do?'”
Date: 07/06/2017 08:44 AM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Base it on Cthulhu, call it the Great Old Ones.
Date: 07/06/2017 09:37 AM CDT
From: VUWH60A
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
>computer couldn’t run IE with 8 MB of ram
Yep, I upgraded my 4mb s286 to a 12mb s486 for the same reason. As a bonus my modem went from 4800 to 9600 bps.
Good times.
😀
Askip
Date: 07/07/2017 02:02 PM CDT
From: DMAC188
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
What’s kicking off today?
Date: 07/07/2017 02:16 PM CDT
From: KRAKII
Subj: Re: Play.net Turns Twenty
Elanith Football League; today’s game was billed as the Landing Leapers (recruited from the normal denizens of the treehouse & the ledge in shadow mares) versus the Vaalorian Victuallers (all of whom must be able to self-cast Manna).
