Neverwinter Nights the MMORPG (1991)

[Lady Jaye]

Yes, before Bioware's Neverwinter Nights, there was another NWN, which was the first ever graphical MMORPG. It was a joint project involving AOL, SSI and TSR, and it was online from 1991 to 1997. Like its later incarnation, it was a Forgotten Realms licensed title. It was a pretty expensive game, as AOL charged players by the hour (except for the last year, when AOL switched to a flat-rate fee model).

http://www.bladekeep.com/nwn/screens/wielsek.gif

Here's a great site with lots of info about the original game, including tons of screenshots and the possibility to play offline (let us know how well that works with current computers): http://www.bladekeep.com/nwn

(funny enough, I stumbled upon that info while looking for info about Dragon Quest IX -- I ended up on kotaku, which had an article about Gary Gygax's influence on videogames, in which the original NWN was mentioned. I had to find more info about it!)

[Ed Oscuro]

Hell yes, the good old gold box SSI engine! Well known from games like the original Pools of Radiance.

I had no idea it was used in a MMO, let alone the first. Thanks a bunch! :)

[dsullo]

very nice. I was an AOL user during that time and never new about it. Thankfully, I would have rung up some hefty bills