1337: A Game Novel About Gaming
| 1337: A Game Novel about Gaming | |
|---|---|
 The logo of 1337 |
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| Developer(s) | Real1st Games |
| Publisher(s) | Real1st Games |
| Designer(s) | Unknown |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) | 2010 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPGARGFPS |
| Media | floppy disc |
| Input methods | Keyboard |
1337: A Game Novel About Gaming is an interactive serialized online computer game novel released in 2010 by Real1st Games, makers of the haXX0r alternate reality online game. The game combines elements of empire simulator, first-person shooter, open simulator, and role-playing game. It is notable for integrating Jungian archetypes into the RPG player golem attributes and for making use of web 2.0, user-generated NPCs.
[edit] Gameplay
Players join a clan in the year 1337 A.D. as underling footsoldiers to either King Edward III of England or King Philip VI of France. Early gameplay involves traditional MMORPG gathering, exploring, and leveling-up tasks, which culminates in a ganking battle with the level's main boss. Further empire-building levels follow, based on subsequent historical periods. The total number of levels is currently unknown.
[edit] Reception
The game was pre-reviewed in Gameology Magazine in late 2009 by David Braskin, a name later discovered to be fictitious. A real David Braskin filed a defamation lawsuit shortly thereafter. Gameology Magazine was unavailable for comment. The specious review gives the game 3 1/2 out of 5 stars, not-Braskin writing "the thing that lost it those 1 1/2 stars for me was the cheesy binary code on the box cover. Or wait. Was it like wink-wink cheesy?"
"Vaster than empires and more real. Frigteningly so." -- Dara Colbert, Spectre
"One insane behemoth of a pesonality test." --McFarley's Weekly
"Tune in, turn on, drop out." -- Timothy Leary
"It requires some cooperation from God, but if he's willing, I'm willing.” -- David Milch
[edit] Controversy
Real1st Games is one of many callsigns associated with the underground hacking collective Sparse. The group originated in Okinawa, under the leadership of Johnny Otaku, and is believed to be in some way connected to the Yakuza.
The company originally attributed lead design of 1337 to "Mark Fullmer", which was later discovered to be a fictional persona. The company apparently spent years creating a backstory for the nonperson, including a Facebook page, personal weblog, and even complete short story and poetry collections. The true creator of 1337 remains unknown. Fans are actively working to discover the identity.
On January 15, 2010, the company was suddenly disbanded, though there has been speculation that this was simply media misdirection.
[edit] References
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