PAX Prime this year showcased a game that is over fifteen years old. Just let that sink in for a minute. A title released the same year as the first Resident Evil and the original Tomb Raider had a booth at PAX Prime… in 2011.
Meridian 59 was first introduced in 1995, then to the public at large in 1996. To this day, it is still considered by most to be the first true 3D MMORPG, even edging out Ultima Online’s official release by about a year.
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Interestingly enough, this fascinating story seemed but a footnote to most PAX Prime 2011 reports. Knowing your history is important, but why even bring a game like Meridian 59? To get the whole skinny, I decided to get in touch with two of the individuals responsible for this anachronistic venture.
Josh Rotunda is the webmaster and subscription guru for the game, and addressing the most obvious question first said that it offers things that no other MMO can – even by today’s standards. “Meridian 59 just offers a more intimate and emotional experience, and it has a very strong community,” he said.
Adrien Laws wears many hats, among them taking nearly three months to completely re-orchestrate the game’s original MIDI soundtrack turning them into MP3’s. He adds, “I feel that's the core of Meridian – the emotions that emerge due to the brutality of the game world and the community. Hate/Love/Revenge are common themes and they are much stronger than in most MMORPGs where loss isn't as great.”
The word “brutality” seems the best summation of where Meridian 59 stands in the crowded MMO field. There is no shortage of stories about love found in virtual worlds, but rarely will you hear about the other themes and feelings Laws mentions. Much less will any self-respecting player cop to them.
As Rotunda recalled his first ever death in the game world – an entertaining story about being opportunistically struck down while clinging to life with only a single hit point – he also recalled how much his character’s death affected him. Not only does his story exemplify the emotional aspects of the game, it fills you with the belief that anything these fans do would be with the game’s best interests at heart.
In some ways, it sounds obvious – a smaller, niche game environment cultivated over time would indeed have a very close-knit community. Not saying there aren’t fervent communities existing in other MMOs as well, but on a certain scale it essentially becomes no different than living in a real city.
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If you live there for, let's say… fifteen years, you simply grow to love it.
Speaking solely on the game’s technical merits, Rotunda admits, “People don’t give it a chance because of the graphics,” but quickly follows that up by noting that he’s seen a shift in the gamer mindset. Ostensibly, with the recent popularity of Minecraft and a myriad of retro titles, he sees an opportunity for a game like Meridian 59 to shine.
Laws adds, “This is a game that has been running for fifteen years. It’s mature and stable.” In follow-up correspondence he adds, “MMORPGs pop up all the time but it takes time to really craft a stable world. Meridian is exceptional in that it is still running even after so many mutations and it is stable. It takes time.”
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Great, so… it’s rock solid, but there’s still nothing cutting edge about its presentation. It has a rabid fan base, too, but we aren’t talking Call of Duty numbers – the entire thing is hosted on only two small servers. So how did Meridian 59 even get to be represented by fans at a major convention? It’s not like any random group of kids could have a bake sale and finance a booth for Gears of War or Zelda.
Developed by Andrew and Chris Kirmse, Meridian 59 was purchased during beta and released by 3DO who maintained the title until 2000. Fans had a healthy wait before new entity Near Death Studios – founded by two of Meridian 59’s original developers Rob Ellis and Brian Green – finally re-released the game in 2002.
A rapidly expanding world-wide-web and increasing competitive pressure in the MMO space lead to Near Death Studios’ demise in January of 2010. It was only then the Kirmses were able to capitalize, and proudly began maintaining Meridian 59 themselves after that.
This all brings us to PAX Prime 2011, a trip financed by Laws with the help of donations from the aforementioned rabid fan base. Laws estimates the entire trip was under $6000, significant for a group of fans – but down right paltry compared to the budget of a major publisher’s booth.
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Regardless, the team made its mark. It was the first time a self-funded booth run by fans has ever been present at PAX.
The Mars rover Opportunity launched in 2004, and was only supposed to survey that planet’s surface for 90 days – but still works now, seven years later. No one knows how long Meridian 59 will last, and unfortunately someday technology may force the game’s demise. In the meantime there’s a great community and a vibrant world ready to be explored, and it’s clear for fans that their opportunity could be now.
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For more information or to sign up and start playing for free, visit www.Meridian59.com
An amazing starter resource replete with community forums, The Gilroy Meridian 59 Reference Site, can be found at http://www.gilcon.net/meridian/
Finally, for a little taste of what you can expect, check out this fan-made trailer – approved by the Meridian 59 team.