MMOsite 2009 Wrap-Up: Farewells to 5 MMORPGs

"Good bye, my games, good bye, my friends!"

It is brings upon great grief to part from friends, relatives, family, and even a familiar game. Every time when a game ends its service or shuts down a server, we have no choice but to leave. Maybe we don't remember clearly when we met each other and how we got together, but we cannot forget the moment we bid farewell and the pain of parting.

At the last moment before the server closed down, we went to the rendezvous involuntarily where was crowded but silent. Nobody talked or nobody wanted to. Somebody intended to break the ice, "Hi, dudes, we can stay in contact!", but people seemed more heavy-hearted. Indeed, now we could keep in touch via MSN, Facebook and continue to make jokes even if the server wasn't available any more. Whereas, without our beloved game, what should we talk about?

Many years later, when I tidied up my hard disks, I happened to find the client that hadn't been started for a long time and then opened its Screenshots Folder unconsciously. The happy times we had spent together came back to me at once. Each screenshot passed through my mind as a short movie one after another. So I could not help picking up my cell phone and dialling the familiar number, but nobody answered… The room became so quiet that I could even hear the voices and laughs in my memory.

Well, the past has gone! We can not go back!

This is a virtual world but it is filled with our true feelings. Looking back on 2009, let's see who have had to tear themselves apart from each other?

The Matrix Online

1st. August 2009, Sony Online Entertainment closed the server of The Matrix Online. It's been four years since the game officially released on March 22nd, 2005. In contrast with the popular movie, The Matrix, this online game could not even attract enough people to pay their servers. An epic movie doesn't necessarily make for an epic game and this is just another axample of this statment.

The Matrix Online - Trailer

Let's turn time back to see what happend

Official Announcement:

The Matrix Online Servers are now officially closed.
The forums will remain accessible for you to post any screen shots or memories, but will be locked within the next week or so.
Thanks to everyone who participated till the end.

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A Letter from A Member Of Development Team:

In May 2004, I embarked upon a journey. I decided to take the red pill in a big way—I became the online community lead for The Matrix Online. Later that year, many of you joined me as you jacked in for the first time. It was a brand new world—a vision of online games that didn't involve elves, spaceships, or dragons. We became part of the Matrix storyline; living our own adventures in the world painted by the movies.
It seems not so long ago I was jumping into Mara Central and going toe-to-toe with other devs at E3 2004. I had no idea this journey would take me to a whole different company, managing a major revision of the game, and my first producing gig. "Long, strange trip" doesn't describe the half of it.
Now we've seen how far the rabbit hole goes and it's time to wake up from that dream (or go back to sleep, depending how you look at it). On July 31, 2009, we will be jacking out for the last time. It's a bittersweet moment for everyone involved with the game; as a player or as a developer.
It has been a good run. Where many games have fizzled out before or shortly after launch, by August we will have lived on in our home at SOE for more than 4 years. To this day, I have never worked with a community as dedicated as The Matrix Online community.
I'll be at Fan Faire this year showing The Agency and hanging out with any redpills making the trip. The past couple years have been a blast, so I hope to see some of you there again.
The team will also be whipping up an end-of-the-world event. It won't be quite the same as having over 100 developers in the game as Agents like when we ended beta, but we have 4 years of tricks up our sleeve. It'll be a chance to revisit all the things that make MxO the memorable experience it is. And how could we pull the plug without crushing everyone's RSI just one more time?
I have a lot of fond memories from my years working on MxO. We've had a good time in the Machines' little playground and will be sad to see it end. I hope everyone enjoys the last few months of playing The Matrix Online.
See you on the other side.

Quote from Daniel "Walrus" Myers.

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A Player's Words:

While I can't say I was a hardcore MXO player like you guys, I have to say I really loved the game, and think the community is great.
I just wanted to say GG to all of you, and thanks for the good times.

Quote from saavedra

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MMOsite 2009 Wrap-Up