# Simutronics

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American online games company

Simutronics Corp. Type Private Industry Video games Owner Stillfront Group[1] (55.06%) Number of employees 30

**Simutronics Corp.** is an American online [games company](/source/Video_game_developer) whose products include *[GemStone IV](/source/GemStone_IV)* and *DragonRealms*. It was founded in 1987 by [David Whatley](/source/David_Whatley), with husband and wife Tom & Susan Zelinski. The company is located in [St. Louis, Missouri](/source/St._Louis%2C_Missouri).[2] It became part of the [Stillfront Group](/source/Stillfront_Group) in 2016.

The company's flagship product is the text based game, *GemStone IV*, which went live in November 2003, with predecessor games running back in 1988. *GemStone* was originally accessed through [General Electric](/source/General_Electric)'s [internet service provider](/source/Internet_service_provider) [GEnie](/source/GEnie), later becoming accessible through [AOL](/source/AOL), [Prodigy](/source/Prodigy_(online_service)), and [CompuServe](/source/CompuServe) before Simutronics finally moved all their games to their own domain in 1997.

## Simutronics products

### Multiplayer online games

- *[GemStone IV](/source/GemStone_IV)*, Simutronics' flagship product, a text-based multiplayer fantasy game, which has seen over one million users over the years. It is the longest-lived commercial [MUD](/source/Multi-user_dungeon) game, followed by [Avalon: The Legend Lives](/source/Avalon%3A_The_Legend_Lives).[3][4]

- *DragonRealms*, a 1996 MUD set in *GemStone*'s Elanthia world, with popularity on online services AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy. In comparison with *GemStone*, *DragonRealms*'s has more skill-based gameplay.[5]

- *[CyberStrike](/source/CyberStrike)*, also known as *CyberStrike Classic*, a graphical futuristic ship combat game. It won the first ever "Online Game of the Year" award from [Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World) magazine in 1993.[6]

### Mobile games

- *[Tiny Heroes](/source/Tiny_Heroes_(video_game)),* a [tower defense](/source/Tower_defense) game for [iPhone](/source/IPhone) and [iPad](/source/IPad), released in 2011[7]

- *One Epic Knight,* an [endless runner game](/source/Endless_runner#Endless_running_games), released in 2012[8] for [iOS](/source/IOS) devices and in 2013 for Android[9]

- *[Lara Croft: Relic Run](/source/Lara_Croft%3A_Relic_Run)*, a spin-off sequel to the *Lara Croft* sub-series in the *[Tomb Raider](/source/Tomb_Raider)* franchise and a mission-based runner released on iOS and Android in 2015.

- Siege: Titan Wars, a 3D real-time PvP game that launched on iOS and Android in 2017.[10]

- Siege: World War II, a wartime sequel to Siege: Titan Wars, launched on iOS and Android in 2018.[11]

### Former games

- *Modus Operandi*, a MUD set on a fictional Caribbean island, originally designed to encourage mystery-based roleplay, which closed on November 2, 2015.

- *Alliance of Heroes*, formerly *Hercules & Xena: Alliance of Heroes*, this adventure-based [MUD](/source/Multi-user_dungeon) was set in the universe of the TV shows *[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys](/source/Hercules%3A_The_Legendary_Journeys) & [Xena: Warrior Princess](/source/Xena%3A_Warrior_Princess)*. In later years the game changed its license, and removed specific Hercules & Xena trademarks, and ran as a retooled "[tongue in cheek](/source/Tongue_in_cheek)" [mythology](/source/Mythology) MUD until its closure on November 2, 2015.

- *Orb Wars*, (no longer available) an early graphical game involving team combat between wizards

- *GemStone ][* (no longer available), an early commercial text-based multiplayer fantasy game

- *GemStone III* (morphed into GemStone IV), a text-based multiplayer game which was originally based on the [Rolemaster](/source/Rolemaster) rules from [Iron Crown Enterprises](/source/Iron_Crown_Enterprises)

- *[CyberStrike 2](/source/CyberStrike_2)*, a sequel to *CyberStrike*, released in 1998

## HeroEngine

Main article: [HeroEngine](/source/HeroEngine)

HeroEngine is a [3D game engine](/source/Game_engine) and server technology platform developed specifically for building [MMO](/source/Massively_multiplayer_online_game)-style games, based around a system similar to the IFE using the Hero Script Language (HSL). Originally developed for the company's own game *Hero's Journey* - [vaporware](/source/Vaporware) which never made it to the testing stage - the engine has since been licensed by other companies.[12] Simutronics sold the HeroEngine to Idea Fabrik, Plc. on August 5, 2010.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Stillfront Group"](http://www.stillfront.com/site/studios/#simutronics). 25 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** McCrary, William S. (January 9, 1994). "Games People Play". *St. Charles Journal*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Facts about early Avalon the Legend Lives"](https://www.avalon-rpg.com/guide/facts).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Raph Koster's Timeline of Online Worlds"](http://www.raphkoster.com/games/the-online-world-timeline/). 13 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-olivetti_5-0)** Olivetti, Justin (2011-04-19). ["The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: The games"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110507224055/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-the-games/). *Massively*. Archived from [the original](http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-the-games/) on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["CGW's Game of the Year Awards"](http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_111.pdf) (PDF). *Computer Gaming World*. No. 111. October 1993. pp. 70–74.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Campbell, Nissa (9 September 2011). ["Tiny Heroes Review"](http://toucharcade.com/2011/09/09/tiny-heroes-review/). *Touch Arcade*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Run for Gold! One Epic Knight Launch Date Announced, Sprints for Free onto iOS Devices August 23"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204917/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/175943/Run_for_Gold_One_Epic_KnightLaunch_Date_Announced_Sprintsfor_Free_onto_iOS_Devices_August_23.php). *[Gamasutra](/source/Gamasutra)*. 14 August 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/175943/Run_for_Gold_One_Epic_KnightLaunch_Date_Announced_Sprintsfor_Free_onto_iOS_Devices_August_23.php) on March 3, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ward, Brad (5 June 2013). ["The 6 most underrated games for Android: May 2013 edition"](http://www.androidauthority.com/underrated-game-list-for-android-may-2013-219850/). *Android Authority*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Suckley, Matt (2017-07-06). ["Simutronics on Siege: Titan Wars and 30 years of multiplayer gaming"](https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/66140/simutronics-on-30-years-of-multiplayer-gaming/). *pocketgamer.biz*. Retrieved 2024-06-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Larsson, Jörgen (19 September 2018). ["Stillfront Group AB: Simutronics announces "SIEGE: World War II""](https://www.stillfront.com/en/stillfront-group-ab-simutronics-announces-siege-world-war-ii-2/). *stillfront.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["BioWare Licenses Simutronics HeroEngine for MMO Game Project"](http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060808005769&newsLang=en) (Press release). Austin Game Conference 2006: Business Wire. August 8, 2006.{{[cite press release](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_press_release)}}: CS1 maint: location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Brand, Wolfgang (5 August 2010). ["Idea Fabrik Plc purchases HeroEngine technologies"](https://seekingalpha.com/instablog/599200-wolfgangbrand/85715-idea-fabrik-plc-purchases-heroengine-technologies).

### Sources

- Austin, Nancy K. (15 October 1999). ["Pure Internet Play"](http://www.inc.com/magazine/19991015/14255.html). *[Inc. Magazine](/source/Inc._Magazine)*.

- [Bartle, Richard](/source/Richard_Bartle) (2003). *[Designing Virtual Worlds](/source/Designing_Virtual_Worlds)*. New Riders. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-13-101816-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-13-101816-7).

- [Kim, Amy Jo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amy_Jo_Kim&action=edit&redlink=1) (2000). *Community Building on the Web*. Peachpit Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-201-87484-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-201-87484-9).

- ["Recruiting Strategies: Motivation"](http://www.inc.com/magazine/19991015/14325.html). *[Inc. Magazine](/source/Inc._Magazine)*. 15 October 1999. THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE FORCE: With all the hype that surrounded the opening of Star Wars: Episode I --The Phantom Menace, it's no surprise that the film created a minor truancy problem for some companies. Like numerous other CEOs whose companies made this year's list, David Whatley of Simutronics Corp. (#295), in Rockville, Md., decided to do a preemptive strike. "I thought it would be more cost-effective to see the movie as a group," he says. "It was either that or have people call in sick for a week."

## External links

- [Simutronics company website](https://www.simutronics.com/)

- [Play.net, Simutronics on-line games website](http://www.play.net/)

- [One Epic Knight website](http://www.oneepicknight.com)

- [Siege: World War II website](https://www.siegeworldwarii.com/)

- [Simutronics profile](http://www.mobygames.com/company/simutronics-corporation) from [MobyGames](/source/MobyGames)

- [Simutronics profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20040506183704/http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026712.html) from [IGN](/source/IGN)

- [Simutronics profile](http://www.giantbomb.com/simutronics-corporation/65-5629/) from [Giant Bomb](/source/Giant_Bomb)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simutronics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simutronics) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simutronics?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.