The Story of Phantasia

Phantasia was a game originally conceived, designed and written by Edward Estes in his off time working for AT&T. It was released as public domain software on UNIX systems, so people were free to compile it for their systems, modify the code as they see fit. In the late 80's to early 90's, a copy was compiled and put on one of the machines at the Colorado School of Mines. I spent a great deal of time playing this game instead of going to classes.

As the web has become more popular, I decided that Phantasia would make an excelent internet game because, although people are playing together and interact, there is enough separation that network connections and player speed doesn't affect other players. As one person speeds along, barely reading anything, another person takes his/her time, with each player unaffected by the other.

Phantasia Reimagined

Decades later the realm was opened again. The original server was brought back to life on modern machines, and the game grew: a client that runs in any web browser, gear with real abilities and eleven one-of-a-kind artifacts, daily quests and champion monsters, realm-wide world events, rulers with regalia, treasuries and decrees, and 3D ceremonies when a wizard arrives or a new ruler takes the throne. Its name became Phantasia Reimagined.