Castle Infinity
{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Castle Infinity
|image=C8screenshot.jpg
|caption=A screenshot of the Central Fountain
|developer=Starwave
|publisher=Starwave Corporation
|designer=Russell Ginns
Gregg Foster
Scott Wallin
|genre=MMOG
|released=1996
}}
Castle Infinity is a discontinued Massively multiplayer online game, the first intended for children. It was launched by Starwave Corporation in 1996, and features personalized avatars, an embedded message system and live chat in a 2D side scrolling game world.{{Cite journal|date=September 10, 1996|title=Starwave and Blockbuster to offer new multiplayer Internet game; Castle Infinity poised for nationwide launch.|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Starwave%20and%20Blockbuster%20to%20offer%20new%20multiplayer%20Internet%20game;%20...-a018665556|journal=Business Wire}} It survives as a freeware MMOG.
The game is full of interactions that force players to collaborate with each other in order to pass from one area to the next, by way of four-person vehicles and other game-like lobbying devices.
The a cappella group The Bobs provided several original songs for the soundtrack. Additionally, members of the band also lent their voices for most of the characters.
History
Castle Infinity was first released in 1996, making it the first fully released MMOG designed for children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/1997/04/get-in-here-kid/|title=Get in Here, Kid!|last=LewisCastle|first=Elizabeth|date=April 1, 1997|newspaper=WIRED|access-date=February 22, 2017|language=en-US}} It was originally designed by Russell Ginns, Gregg Foster, and Scott Wallin, with art direction and animation by Jonathan Maier and Andy Norman. It was developed and published by Paul Allen's early internet company Starwave.{{Cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961107/2358320/starwave-wants-to-take-kids-to-castle-infinity----firm-breaks-into-online-games|title=Starwave Wants To Take Kids To Castle Infinity -- Firm Breaks Into Online Games|last=Haines|first=Thomas W.|date=November 7, 1996|newspaper=The Seattle Times|access-date=February 22, 2017}}
The initial launch included a joint promotion with Netcom, retail displays in Blockbuster Video, and coupons included in the packaging toward the purchase of a USRobotics modem.
Access to the game required a CD-Rom and also a subscription.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1996/11/11/story8.html|title=Starwave is game for the Net with new CD-ROM products|last=Baker|first=M. Sharon|date=November 10, 1996|newspaper=Puget Sound Business Journal|access-date=February 22, 2017}} This technology requirement, plus the nascent child online audience at the time, proved too limiting for wide distribution.{{Cite news|url=http://www.imediaconnection.com/articles/ported-articles/red-dot-articles/2009/feb/5-online-initiatives-we-werent-ready-for/|title=5 online initiatives we weren't ready for|last=Luechtefeld|first=Lori|date=February 13, 2009|access-date=February 22, 2017|publisher=iMedia Connection|work=imediaconnection.com}} At its peak, the service had approximately 4,000 registered players. Ownership passed to Disney when Starwave was acquired in 1997. Disney did not maintain development for the game, and access to the service became intermittent starting in 1998, and was shut down entirely by 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-05-12-a-limited-history-of-castle-infinity|title=A Limited History of Castle Infinity|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=15 May 2017 }}
=Revival=
In 2000, the game servers were rescued from a dumpster{{Cite web|url=https://massivelyop.com/2018/11/24/the-game-archaeologist-castle-infinity-the-mmo-that-was-literally-rescued-from-a-dumpster/|title=The Game Archaeologist: Castle Infinity, the MMO that was literally rescued from a dumpster | Massively Overpowered|first=Justin|last=Olivetti|date=24 November 2018 }} by Kevin Quitt, a programmer who happened to be one of the game's players, and new development of the game began run by Castle Infinity, Inc. a non-profit organization. In 2005 there was fresh media coverage of the game by way of Slashdot and BoingBoing.
In 2011 a new server was launched with the help of former players, including Spencer Jerome, Donald Butyen and Rachel Coleman. At present, Castle Infinity, LLC, manages the effort.
Story
Castle Infinity takes place in a virtual world created by dinosaurs 65,000,000 years ago to escape from a comet approaching the earth. The virtual world has become infested with monsters but mammals have evolved to the point that they have invented the internet and can now access the Castle. Players are welcomed in by dinosaurs, who want mammals (kids) to help them save the Castle from the monsters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-12-24-ls-12069-story.html|title=A Game Kids Could Play Into Infinity|last=Colker|first=David|date=December 24, 1996|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 22, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}
Gameplay
Castle Infinity is a 2D side-scrolling world, where players collect "grow caps" and "hats" to unlock new play areas. The game places a heavy emphasis on player interaction, and much of the game's map is constructed to encourage users to collaborate in order to proceed. Players complete challenges which require multiple players to participate together, such as piloting a submarine that requires four pilots to steer properly. There are many locations where, in order to access higher levels, at least 3 or 4 members are required to stand on the same spot for the lift to activate.
Much of the directing of players between single and multi-player environments was a solution to the challenges of latency. The game was launched when a majority of home users had 9600 or 14.4k Modems. By siphoning players into individual areas, they could experience side-scrolling action. Then, in 4-player or unlimited areas, the focus was on communication and exchanging items.
The game's "official language" is Esperanto. Many signs and audio clips feature warnings and comments in a pidgin version of that language.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://castle-infinity.com/ Castle Infinity Revival Project Website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20020914015751/http://www.castleinfinity.org/ Castle Infinity website] from Starwave era
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930082037/http://www.castleinfinity.org/ Castle Infinity website] from user-owned era
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMgcrlZV1CM Excerpt from Attack of the Show featuring Castle Infinity]
- [http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/06/21/0133233.shtml?tid=206&tid=209&tid=10 Slashdot thread] about the return of Castle Infinity
Category:Multiplayer online games