1. The Evolution of Role Playing Games

2. PEDIT5 – The first graphical RPG Created in 1975 by Rusty Rutherford – “I wrote it all in about 4-6 weeks in the fall and winter of 1975” [1] Made on the PLATO network system Based heavily on Dungeons & Dragons - “I used the basic features of D&D as much as possible: hit points, monster levels, experience and treasure awards, and so on...” [2] Deleted soon after its discovery by administrators Recreated as Orthanc (seen right)

3. Dungeons of Daggorath – The first 3D real-time RPG Created in 1981 by DynaMicro Inc, a small team of 6 people - “I was the president of DynaMicro, Inc......Additional credits to Phillip C. Landmeier...... April Landmeier...... and to Keith Kiyohara...” [3] “Duncan Cummings - Electrical engineer… …Jim Thomas (me) - Developer” [4] Released in 1982 on the Tandy TRS-80 CoCo (Colour Computer) Took up only 8kb Celebrated for its audio effects, which only took up 500 bytes – “Shack themselves were amazed when we went and demo'd the game for them at what their own machine could be made to do” [5] “…the sound code occupies all of about 500 bytes or so including the data” [6] Was controlled using text commands Featured a heartbeat health system

4. Dungeons of Daggorath Gallery

5. Neverwinter Nights – The first graphical online RPG Created in 1989/1990 by Stormfront Studios, SSI and TSR Inc Went live in 1991, hosted by AOL Based on Dungeons & Dragons Allowed a maximum of 50 players per world (later increased to 500) Originally cost 4, 6 or 8 dollars per hour depending on time Community based, featured regular events such as trivia contests, combat competitions etc., as well as large numbers of sanctioned (and unsanctioned) player guilds Shut down in 1997 after a disagreement between AOL and the game’s creators – “I know we’re throwing away millions… …My problem is that I’ve got everyone focused on not losing billions” [7]

6. Neverwinter Nights Gallery

7. References 1.Armchair Arcade (2008): Breaking News – Author of PEDIT5 Speaks Out. Available at http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1948 [Accessed 14/12/09] http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1948 2.Armchair Arcade (2008): Breaking News – Author of PEDIT5 Speaks Out. Available at http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1948 [Accessed 14/12/09] http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1948 3.Douglas J. Morgan (2001): Grant of license to reproduce Dungeons of Daggorath. Available at http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/license.html [Accessed 14/12/09]http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/license.html 4.Jim Thomas (2002): Forum Post – “I’m Astonished”. Available at http://mspencer.net/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=50&forum=8 [Accessed 14/12/09] http://mspencer.net/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=50&forum=8 5.Douglas J. Morgan (2001): E-mail transcript. Available at: http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html#Contact%20With%20The%2 0President [Accessed 14/12/09] http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html#Contact%20With%20The%2 0President 6.Keith S. Kiyohara (2001): E-mail transcript. Available at: http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html#Contact%20With%20Progra mmer [Accessed 14/12/09] http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html#Contact%20With%20Progra mmer 7.GameBanshee: Stormfront Studios Interview (page 2). Available at http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/stormfrontstudios2.php [Accessed 14/12/09] http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/stormfrontstudios2.php

8. Picture Credits Orthanc image from Armchair Arcade: Fun with PLATO. Available at http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1396 [Accessed 14/12/09] http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/1396 Dungeons of Daggorath images from: The Dungeons of Daggorath Video Game. Available at http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html [Accessed 14/12/09] http://iloveglory.freehostia.com/daggorath/index.html Armchair Arcade (2006): A Review of DynaMicro's The Dungeons of Daggorath (1982). Available at http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/900 [Accessed 14/12/09]http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/900 Tandy (TRS-80) Color Computer Games: Dungeons of Daggorath. Available at http://nitros9.lcurtisboyle.com/daggorath.html [Accessed 14/12/09] http://nitros9.lcurtisboyle.com/daggorath.html Neverwinter Nights images from The Original Neverwinter Nights 1991-1997. Available at http://www.bladekeep.com/nwn/index2.htm?http%3A//www.bladekeep.com/nwn /demise.shtml [Accessed 14/12/09] http://www.bladekeep.com/nwn/index2.htm?http%3A//www.bladekeep.com/nwn /demise.shtml