1. TomeNET
Tales Of Middle Earth

2. Brief History
TomeNET was based on the old ‘rogue-like’ games such as rogue, hack, moria, angband, and many others. From the era where video games were comprised of only text.
The TomeNET project was initiated by Darkgod, a gamer from France, back in 2002.
Darkgod gathered a few programmers from around the world to create TomeNET, a multiplayer angband or mangband game. The original team consisted of Darkgod (FRA), Evileye (GBR), Jir (RUS), Zz (USA) Blue (DE)
Since TomeNET was created, it has been a free game, with a small community.

3. Basic Information Game title TomeNET (Tales Of Middle Earth NET)
Company & Author
Coded by a team of programmers from around the globe. Darkgod, Evileye, Jir, Zz, Blue.
Type of game
MMO RPG (Small Community)
Price
FREE
Minimum stated hardware requirements
Since this isn’t a commercial endeavor none have been stated.
Actual hardware required
1MB hard drive space
4MB RAM
33.6k modem
Internet Access
Pentium 60
Installation
Download and run

4. Game Summary Quick Overview: Story line:
You roll a character in the classic D&D style, and get ready face the world of middle earth.
You must kill Sauron, the Sorcerer, and then Morgoth, Lord of Darkness.
Story line:
World based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien
You create your own story.
World Map -- European Server

5. Game Summary Player’s Role:
The player assumes the role of a hero that must eventually defeat Morgoth.
The player’s exact role has many possibilities.
Character Creation Screen

6. Game Summary User Interface:
The user only interacts with the main terminal.
The keyboard is the only input method.
Numpad for direction
Letters for special tasks
Function keys for macros
Starting Town - Bree

7. Game Summary Game Play:
Typical of a 'rogue-like', however in real-time.
- Chase down monsters and destroy them.
- Run away from things that will kill you.
- Shop in town when needed.
(Just like most RPGs)

8. Game Summary
Scoring:
Ranked players get scored based on how far they have gotten until they died.
Time is not a factor, only level advancement is.
Leaderboard

9. Game Summary
Artwork:
Old School ascii graphics (as you can surely tell)

10. Game Summary Sound and Music
TomeNET doesn’t actually have sound or music. System beeps can be used to notify you, but that’s about it.
So you are free to listen to whatever you like.
This makes noise.

11. Game Summary Special Features: Manual:
Some effects, such as rain, have been implemented for users’ pleasure.
Manual:
There is a very large (roughly 170 page) guide which can be found at:

12. Game Review Good Bad Very challenging.
Hunter/gatherer aspect as well as quests to keep one occupied.
A very different system allows flexible character control.
Reminiscent of older games.
Sometimes discouragingly difficult.
No graphics.
No sound.
Steep learning curve.

13. Game Review TomeNET Diablo 2 Community Difficulty Graphics Sound
Small- allows for a tight knit group of friends
Difficulty
Constant challenge
Graphics
Leaves more to imagination
Sound
Alerts user occasionally
Community
Large- less belonging
Difficulty
At the beginning, providing a rough start followed by monotony
Graphics
Easy to start and know what’s going on
Sound
Keeps user entertained

14. Game Review Better than similar games Worse than similar games
Difficult – Less forgiving than most games, so it’s not too easy.
Very lose restrictions – Gives user nearly complete character control.
Graphics – Require some getting used to.
Combat – Targeting system can be difficult to use.

15. Game Review Appropriate Audience:
The appropriate audience would exist in the intersection of this venn diagram.
Enjoy Challenge
Like Role Playing
Play with others

16. Game Review Design Mistakes:
The design has been refined over a period of 7 years, and is very well done, however there are a few issues such as:
Targeting
Field of view
Level Generation
The walls of the room were generated oddly.

17. Summary Overall strengths and weaknesses: Is TomeNET worth purchasing?
User has extensive control.
Provides a sufficient challenge
Extremely low requirements
Weaknesses:
No graphics
Complex
Is TomeNET worth purchasing?
Yes, but it’s free anyway! Everyone should give TomeNET a serious go and see if it’s the type of game they like.
How could it be improved?
An easier game mode could be implemented to attract more users.