I played a similar game. Originally released as Subspace in 1997 as a MMO asteroid-type game by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. VIE later abandoned server hosting duties but server software was available so the game became player ran on community servers. Eventually the client needed to be replaced due to cheating, which was done by a player named Priit Kasesalu, known for Kazaa. Years later the server software was also replaced by the community as well.
The game split game types into "zones" that were 24/7. The zone I played, and eventually became a "sysop" of, would regularly have only 40-80 people tops at any given time. Maybe 500 unique people. Not sure exact numbers because we didn't track stats like that.
Anyways, can totally resonate with playing with the game group of people every day for months or years. I had an arch-nemesis who, while we were cordial, always ended up playing league matches against each other. The rivalry was fierce but so was the friendship.
The game has been Steam Greenlit after many years of problems (copyright issues with original company, no source code for client, etc) and is about to make its debut:
My brother still plays Subspace and he was on the beta in '96. Something about that game brings out the meanest streak in humanity, though. The comments are often hilarious, you can almost hear the other guy snap his keyboard in rage.
Great, balanced mechanics, though perhaps that's changed. I'm thinking of the old Chaos and Capture the Flag zones. Can still hear the sound effects as I'm typing this.
I'm glad someone replied who recognized the game. I started in around ~2001 when its spiritual successor game (SOE Cosmic Rift) went pay-to-pay and killed off its dedicated beta player base.
I login every so often to check my ?messages and see if any old friends are online. The zone I eventually sysoped in is dead these days but the community is still strong.
The game honestly started my programming and tech career with things like bot and zone/squad website dev. I plan to check in tomorrow for the Steam launch.
> "you can almost hear the other guy snap his keyboard in rage."
This made me chuckle as it 100% spot on.
Do you know your brothers alias or would you be willing to ask him if he was ever involved in SS[*] RedStar or knew me? (game alias same as hn account)
The game split game types into "zones" that were 24/7. The zone I played, and eventually became a "sysop" of, would regularly have only 40-80 people tops at any given time. Maybe 500 unique people. Not sure exact numbers because we didn't track stats like that.
Anyways, can totally resonate with playing with the game group of people every day for months or years. I had an arch-nemesis who, while we were cordial, always ended up playing league matches against each other. The rivalry was fierce but so was the friendship.
The game has been Steam Greenlit after many years of problems (copyright issues with original company, no source code for client, etc) and is about to make its debut:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=144913...
You can play today at http://getcontinuum.com