DWANGO: Difference between revisions
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|developer = Interactive Visual Systems |
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|type = Online service |
|type = Online service |
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|released = December 1994<ref name="mastersofdoom"/> |
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|platform = [[DOS]] |
|platform = [[DOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]] |
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|website ={{Wayback|url=http://www.dwango.com|title=Official website|date=19980207042117}} |
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The '''Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation''', better known by the [[acronym]] '''DWANGO''' was an early [[online game|online gaming]] service based in the [[United States]]. It was originally known for its compatibility with ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', for which it functioned as a matchmaking service for [[online multiplayer]]. The service also supported various other titles, including other [[id Software]] games such as ''[[Doom II]]'' and ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' as well as titles from other companies like ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'', ''[[Blood (video game)|Blood]]'' and ''[[Shadow Warrior]]'' from [[3D Realms]].<ref name=UGO>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/history-of-online-gaming-1993-1994|title=History of Online Gaming - 1993-1994: DOOM and DWANGO|date=July 10, 2008|accessdate=January 16, 2013|publisher=UGO |
The '''Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation''', better known by the [[acronym]] '''DWANGO''' was an early [[online game|online gaming]] service based in the [[United States]]. It was originally known for its compatibility with ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', for which it functioned as a matchmaking service for [[online multiplayer]]. The service also supported various other titles, including other [[id Software]] games such as ''[[Doom II]]'' and ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' as well as titles from other companies like ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'', ''[[Blood (video game)|Blood]]'' and ''[[Shadow Warrior]]'' from [[3D Realms]].<ref name=UGO>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/history-of-online-gaming-1993-1994|title=History of Online Gaming - 1993-1994: DOOM and DWANGO|date=July 10, 2008|accessdate=January 16, 2013|publisher=UGO}}</ref> |
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To use the service, players would pay a fee and run the DWANGO [[client software]] which would dial into a DWANGO [[server (computing)|server]]. Initially, a phone number in [[Houston, Texas]] had to be dialed, but soon a number of servers in other cities were also set up.<ref name=PCMag /> However, DWANGO's dial in approach was soon overshadowed by online multiplayer through the increasingly popular [[Internet]] and the service ceased operation in October {{vgy|1998}}.<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/10/21/dwango-dies|title=Dwango Dies|publisher=IGN|date=October 21, 1998|accessdate=January 16, 2013}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 17:10, 16 January 2013
| Developer | Interactive Visual Systems |
|---|---|
| Type | Online service |
| Launch date | December 1994[1] |
| Platform(s) | DOS, Microsoft Windows |
| Website | Template:Wayback |
The Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation, better known by the acronym DWANGO was an early online gaming service based in the United States. It was originally known for its compatibility with Doom, for which it functioned as a matchmaking service for online multiplayer. The service also supported various other titles, including other id Software games such as Doom II and Heretic as well as titles from other companies like Duke Nukem 3D, Blood and Shadow Warrior from 3D Realms.[2]
To use the service, players would pay a fee and run the DWANGO client software which would dial into a DWANGO server. Initially, a phone number in Houston, Texas had to be dialed, but soon a number of servers in other cities were also set up.[3] However, DWANGO's dial in approach was soon overshadowed by online multiplayer through the increasingly popular Internet and the service ceased operation in October Template:Vgy.[4]
History
DWANGO was created in early 1994 by Bob Huntley and Kee Kimbrell in Houston, Texas. The first version was released with the shareware release of Heretic by id Software. Since it predated widespread consumer access to the Internet, players had to dial long distance to Houston. Even so, it was wildly popular, and the creators reaped a healthy profit from the subscription fees. By early 1995, ten thousand subscribers were paying $8.95 a month, some calling from as far as Italy and Australia. The company set up headquarters in New York City. Soon DWANGO began setting up a franchising system. A flat fee of $35,000 was charged to set up a server, and the franchisee could keep the rest of the profits. In four months, 22 servers were set up across the country.[1] In 1996, the service expanded to cover Japan, Singapore and South Korea.[5] The company also set up an area on Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone in 1997.[6]
With the advent of Quake came multiplayer across the Internet, and DWANGO, which had started to dwindle by late 1995, was all but dead after its release. It was formally shut down in 1998.[4]
Software and games supported
Users originally ran the DWANGO client software as an DOS application which required booting up independent of Windows 3.1 into DOS mode because of hardware constraints of that era. Servers were represented by area code as during its original inception the only way to log onto DWANGO was via a dial-up modem.[citation needed] The client featured an ASCII interface requiring users to connect via dial-up modem. Once logged in, users could chat in a lobby with other gamers and create their own launchpad for the specific game of their choice.[3] Servers were represented by area code as during its original inception the only way to log onto DWANGO was via a dial up modem. DWANGO originally supported id Software's games, and would later expand to offer games from developers and publishers such as 3d Realms.[2]
Games supported included the following:[5]
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DWANGO WADs
One of the widest reaching aspects of DWANGO were the semi-official DWANGO wads created by various authors. Compiled into collections by Lance Lancaster, a.k.a. Aikman, an employee of IVS[disambiguation needed] (the operators of DWANGO), they are still widely used amongst the Doom faithful.
References
- ^ a b Kushner, David (2003). Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 182–187. ISBN 0-375-50524-5.
- ^ a b "History of Online Gaming - 1993-1994: DOOM and DWANGO". UGO. July 10, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b Ryan, Michael E. (October 22, 1996). "DWANGO". PC Magazine.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b "Dwango Dies". IGN. October 21, 1998. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ a b "DWANGO Expands its Presence in the Far East with New Servers in Japan, Singapore and South Korea" (Press release). DWANGO. August 27, 1996. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
{{cite press release}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "DWANGO Set to Open on Microsot's Zone". GameSpot. December 4, 1997. Retrieved January 16, 2013.