Wurm Online

Wurm Online is a 3D massively multiplayer online video game (MMO) developed by Code Club AB (formerly Onetofree AB and Mojang Specifications AB) in Motala, Sweden. Development started in 2003 by friends Rolf Jansson and Markus Persson, and it was released for personal computers using Java in 2006. Both player versus player and realm versus realm combat are possible in the game.

This article is about the video game. For the fictional web serial, see Worm (web serial).

Wurm Online
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Rolf Jansson
Markus Persson
Platform(s)Java
Release2006
Mode(s)

Gameplay

Wurm Online is a sandbox MMO game.[1] Players can perform many different sandbox actions. There are multiple servers to play on, each an island separated from the others by a sea that can be crossed. Wurm Online has hundreds of skills, ranging from carpentry and smithery to specific tool and weapons skills, and even religion stats, allowing for a wide range of specialization and therefore industries to emerge where players can co-operate with each other to achieve goals and complete projects. The game also has a notable religious system, where one can choose to worship one of a handful of gods. The player's favor with their god can be increased by completing various tasks.

Development
An example of the user interface for Wurm Online in 2012

Wurm is developed in Java and uses OpenGL for rendering the game. The development of the game was started by Rolf Jansson and Markus Persson.[2] Wurm first started its Beta stage in 2003 and had its official release in 2006.[1] In 2007, Markus Persson left the company. When asked if Wurm would shut down due to his resignation, Markus said "Wurm's not going anywhere."[3] In 2008, the main developer began publishing a blog.[4]

In 2011, the main developer hired their first paid employee, a client developer. This was later followed by a lead artist being hired by the developer,[5] resulting in a total of two known employees as of July 2011. The game was officially released in 2012.

On 21 October 2015, a standalone version of Wurm Online, known as Wurm Unlimited, was released as an alternative payment method, having a one time fee rather than having a limited free trial and monthly fee, and is played on player-run servers instead of the main official servers.[6]

Reception

Massively.com has, since 2012, begun regularly featuring Wurm, often doing live streams of the game and regularly posting news updates about Wurm. Massively have often praised Wurm for its no-limit freedom and for truly being a "sandbox" MMO with many different skills and abilities, criticizing only the "maintenance mode" that occurs when maintaining a (large) deed/village.[7]

Tisthammer examined it in a "First Impressions" review. The distant landscapes were highlighted for their photographic quality, and the main appeal was seen in the interactivity of the world. However, overall, it failed to keep the reviewer's attention, feeling that MUD-style text-based combat has been eclipsed by modern MMORPGs.[8]

A PC Gamer review after the official release was critical, with a score of 68%, citing the time commitment required as well as the lack of creativity in what a player could accomplish.[9]

Christopher Steele of Topfreemmorpg.net praised Wurm Online's gameplay and noted that it "provides a true challenge to the players."[10]

MMO Sandboxes' reviewer Crescent Wolf described it as a "true sandbox title" and that "if you ever wanted to experience how a true sandbox game looks like here you have it."[11]

References
  1. "Wurm Online". Wurm Online. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  2. McDougal, Jaz (29 July 2010). "Community heroes: Notch, for Minecraft". PC Gamer. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  3. "User:Notch – Wurmpedia".
  4. "Wurm Online Developer Blog". Wurmonline.com. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  5. Wurm Online (12 July 2011). "Lead Artist Hired". Wurmonline.com. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  6. "Wurm Unlimited Store Page". Steam. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  7. "Yahoo". massively.joystiq.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  8. Gourley, Danny (1 July 2008). "Wurm Online: First Impressions". TenTonHammer. Retrieved 24 December 2010. I only can say that it failed to hold my attention.
  9. Cobbett, Richard (2 February 2013). "Wurm Online review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  10. Steele, Christopher (27 June 2014). "Wurm Online Review". Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  11. Wolf, Crescent (2 January 2014). "Wurm Online Review". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.

Further reading
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