The World Opponent Network (WON) operated in its original form, more or less, from 1996 until about 2001. WON then went through many changes until the last of the WON-based game servers shut down in 2008. [1] See the main WON article for its complex history after 2000.
WON provided features for online game servers—primarily for multiplayer games —for matchmaking and chat. Games that used these features were tagged as "WON Enabled" in the WON downloads database. While this database ultimately included hundreds of titles regardless of WON capabilities, this is a list of only the WON-enabled titles (with some exceptions as noted below). [2]
A sister feature of WON, called "WONswap," allowed for user-created DLC sharing. [3] [4] While many titles supported by WONswap were also WON enabled, this was not always the case and this list does not include WONswap-only titles. For example, StarCraft is not in this list because, even though it appeared on WONswap, [5] the game itself was served by Battle.net instead of WON.
Most of these games used WON game servers to enable online multiplayer capabilities. A few, however, such as Shivers II, just used some of the other WON features such as chat (for chatting while playing solo) and puzzle sharing. This list also includes WON-enabled demos of retail games that were, essentially, free online multiplayer mini-games.
While chess.net for Windows (1999) is a retail game that was linked to from WON.net (eventually replacing/outlasting Power Chess), it is not included in the list below because there is no indication that any chess.net products were WON enabled. [6] [7]
Games announced as coming to WON.net but never appeared.
This is a list of all free/ad-supported, browser-based/download-on-demand games that were featured on WON.net. Some are WON enabled (such as ARC and Silencer); some not (such as the single-player "Quick Games"); [58] [59] some difficult to tell after the fact. Hence, all free games are included here as the list is not very long.
The PrizeCentral.com games are not listed here (which could be the topic of its own list). Likewise, games that appeared after the breakup of WON.net into Flipside.com and, later, UPROAR.com also are not listed here. These games came with the acquisition of WON.net by Havas (who had also acquired PrizeCentral.com and other properties). It is not known that any of these later Havas-acquired games are WON enabled.
The instant messaging games are not included here (which appeared in download.won.net in Sep 2000, and later on Flipside.com). Even though some like IM Backgammon are tagged as WON Enabled in the downloads database, they are built upon ICQ and not WON (and have no known WON components). [60] [61]
The Hoyle series of games evolved from retail to free on WON and, as such, are difficult to classify in the other lists here. Hoyle retail games started much like all the other retail games here until it was announced that the servers for the retail and demo versions would be shut down in favor of the new free versions. The new free versions were dubbed the "Hoyle Channel." It was also announced that future Hoyle retail games would work with the Hoyle Channel for online play--only with more features (such as choices for backgrounds and card graphics) plus the usual array of offline features and games. [84] Thus, here is a detailed list of the retail releases, plus a simple list of the free games (due to version evolution of the free games being unknown, and staying in sync with the retail releases anyhow).
For the most part, bundles are not included in the list, but a-la-carte splits (Hoyle Bridge being a split from Hoyle Card Games for example) are included.
Title | Release date | Developer(s) | Publisher | SIGS/WON launch date [lower-greek 1] | SIGS/WON shut-down date | Online fate [lower-greek 2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hoyle Battling Ships and War | Feb 1, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Feb 1, 1998 | Offline | |
Hoyle Blackjack | Jun 30, 1996 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Oct 4, 1996 [85] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Board Games | Sep 1, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 1, 1998 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Board Games | Sep 21, 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 21, 1999 | Offline | |
Hoyle Board Games | Oct 3, 2000 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 3, 2000 | Offline | |
Hoyle Board Games | Sep 25, 2001 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Entertainment | Sep 25, 2001 | Offline | |
Hoyle Board Games | Sep 7, 2002 | Sierra Entertainment | Vivendi | Sep 7, 2002 | Offline | |
Hoyle Board Games demo [lower-alpha 1] | Nov 24, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Nov 24, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Bridge | Aug 25, 2000 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Aug 25, 2000 | Offline | |
Hoyle Bridge & Euchre | Feb 1, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Feb 1, 1998 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Card Games | Sep 1, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 1, 1998 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Card Games | Sep 21, 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 21, 1999 | Offline | |
Hoyle Card Games | Oct 3, 2000 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 3, 2000 | Offline | |
Hoyle Card Games | Sep 25, 2001 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Entertainment | Sep 25, 2001 | Offline | |
Hoyle Card Games | Sep 7, 2002 | Sierra Entertainment | Vivendi | Sep 7, 2002 | Offline | |
Hoyle Card Games | Sep 2, 2003 | Sierra Entertainment | Vivendi | Sep 2, 2003 | Offline | |
Hoyle Card Games demo [lower-alpha 2] | Nov 24, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Nov 24, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Casino | Oct 1, 1996 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Dec 1996 [87] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Casino | Nov 28, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Nov 28, 1997 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Casino | Oct 1, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 1, 1998 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Casino | Sep 20, 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 20, 1999 | Offline | |
Hoyle Casino | Oct 3, 2000 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 3, 2000 | Offline | |
Hoyle Casino | Sep 25, 2001 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Entertainment | Sep 25, 2001 | Offline | |
Hoyle Casino | Sep 7, 2002 | Sierra Entertainment | Vivendi | Sep 7, 2002 | Offline | |
Hoyle Casino | Sep 2, 2003 | Sierra Entertainment | Vivendi | Sep 2, 2003 | Offline | |
Hoyle Casino demo [lower-alpha 3] | Nov 13, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Nov 13, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Classic Backgammon & Cribbage | Mar 15, 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Mar 15, 1999 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Classic Board Games | Nov 30, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Nov 30, 1997 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Classic Board Games demo | Oct 9, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Jun 16, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Classic Card Games | Nov 30, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Nov 30, 1997 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Classic Card Games demo | Sep 27, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Jun 16, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Craps and Blackjack | 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | 1999 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Poker [lower-alpha 4] | Apr 14, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Apr 14, 1997 | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Poker demo [lower-alpha 5] | Jul 24, 1997 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Jul 24, 1997 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Poker demo [lower-alpha 6] | Jul 23, 1998 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra On-Line | Jul 23, 1998 [86] | Feb 29, 2000 [84] | Hoyle Channel |
Hoyle Word Games | Oct 13, 1999 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 13, 1999 | Offline | |
Hoyle Word Games | Oct 3, 2000 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Oct 3, 2000 | Offline | |
Hoyle Word Games | Sep 1, 2001 | Sierra On-Line | Sierra Attractions | Sep 1, 2001 | Offline |
Quake III Arena is a 1999 multiplayer-focused first-person shooter developed by id Software. The third installment of the Quake series, Arena differs from previous games by excluding a story-based single-player mode and focusing primarily on multiplayer gameplay. The single-player mode is played against computer-controlled bots. It features music composed by Sonic Mayhem and Front Line Assembly founder Bill Leeb.
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Furcadia is a free-to-play MMOSG/MMORPG or graphical MUD, set in a fantasy world inhabited by magical creatures. The game is based on user-created content with emphasis on world building tools, exploring, socializing, and free-form roleplaying. Furcadia hosts a large volunteer program called the Beekin Helpers, allowing players to help with community moderation, welcoming new players, handling in-game technical support, running in game events, creating art for the game itself, accessing and updating the game's website, and bug hunting. Furcadia holds the Guinness World Records title for the longest continuously running social MMORPG and in addition to being one of the first games to heavily encourage modding and let users build virtual worlds for themselves, it was also one of the first freemium online games. In 2008, Furcadia was reported as having over 60,000 players.
The World Opponent Network was an online video game service, originally developed by Sierra On-Line as the Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS). SIGS-based and WON-based servers operated from 1996 until 2008.
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DR-WebSpyder is a DOS web browser, mail client and operating system runtime environment that was developed by Caldera UK in 1997. It was based on the DR-DOS operating system and networking components from Novell as well as the Arachne web browser by Michal Polák of xChaos software. The system was designed to run on low-end desktop systems, but being able to boot and execute from disk as well as from ROM or network, it was also tailored for x86-based thin clients and embedded systems with or without disk drives. Using the web browser as its principal user interface, it could be also used for kiosk systems and set-top boxes. It was ported to Linux in 1999 under the name Embrowser and was renamed Embedix Browser in 2000.
Silencer is an online, multiplayer-only video game by Mind Control Software that was published by the World Opponent Network (WON.net) for free play on their website in January 2000. It features capture-the-flag-style gameplay—common in 3D first-person shooter arenas at the time—but presents it in a low-resource 2D package. The game was released by WON.net as an open beta. It saw a number of beta updates before it was removed, without explanation, from WON.net's website in September 2000 and the multiplayer servers shut down in October 2000. Silencer is a bit of an anomaly in that it managed to spawn a fan-made WONswap site, 7 known fansites, plus a legacy of independent multiplayer servers and game clones, from its short run as an open beta on WON.net.
The following game servers will be shut down as of 11/01/08...
Found: 608
The sites and multiplayer functionality for the following products will terminate as of August 16, 2007...
mgpat11.exe ... The update will allow for: ... Internet (via SIGS) play
brwin95pt.exe ... Addresses multi-player...
We've posted the full list of 2,000 chosen to beta test Dark Reign 2.
Everybody's welcome at the Dark Reign 2 open beta!
Starting July 26th the shutdown of the WON authentication servers will begin. This process will be completed on July 31st.
Aug 16th, Beta Begins
The second phase of the Empire Earth beta-testing program has begun...
Modem, network, and Internet play...
SIGS is currently the only method you can use to play on the internet. The problems you are encountering are currently being addressed as SIGS is still in a beta state.
Win 95 Multiplayer options over Internet, modem-to-modem, or LAN.
Internet (SIGS) Games
Date Added: June 10, 1998
Following is a list of games that will be active on the December 1 beta launch date...
cstorm11.exe ... posted on 12/21/96
You may now play games over the Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS).
If you have any trouble playing Power Chess over the Internet, check our S.I.G.S. page for a quick fix.
As of August 2001, WON no longer hosts Soldier of Fortune multiplayer gaming.
* Removed WON, * Added GameSpy
WON expects to soon add ... Front Page Sports: Ski Racing...
By the end of the year the following titles will be added: ... Front Page Sports: Ski Racing...
Front Page Sports: Ski Racing is a fast paced, adrenaline pumping, downhill ski simulation with competitive Internet racing.
Multiplayer support is included through won.net...
By the end of the year Sierra Sports: Skiing will be added.
This title is WON Enabled!
You need ICQ version 2000a or later. Download and install IMGames.
Although the company had scheduled an "open pilot" release of the game for today, it has been postponed until next week.
Get the Picture joins Bezerk's award-winning line-up including Cosmic Consensus (formerly [occupied by] What's the Big Idea?)...
CosmicSetup.exe 17-May-1999
GTPsetup.exe 04-Jun-1999
...the sierra/won.net licence for The Cypher and S.P.I.T.E, which ended December 1999...
In October they shut down their servers, making the game un-playable.
Version 1.0.7 (12/20/98) This was the initial release of SpiritWars that offered open game play via the World Opponent Network.
Version 1.8.1 (6/17/00) This version ... moved the "free version" server off of WON.net's hardware and onto its new home in the Kellogg Creek Software offices...
On 9/9/95, the system went through a major upgrade.
...thank you for participating in the Sierra Internet Gaming System beta evaluation of Stock Market Challenge.
bigidea/ 14-Dec-98
sports/ 11-Nov-98
JACKinstall.exe 11-Nov-1998
To find out more about the Hoyle Internet Blackjack BETA test, press here
hb*.exe, hc*.exe, hi*.exe
(SIGS Logo) Play Blackjack and Poker over The Internet!
The Hoyle series is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, series to properly cover, simply because there are so many releases (many by the same name)...