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{{Short description|Defunct American publisher of video games (1981–2001)}}
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'''Kesmai''' was a pioneering [[video game developer|game developer]] and online [[game publisher]], founded in 1981<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/kesmai-corporation | title=Kesmai Corporation}}</ref> by [[Kelton Flinn]] and [[John R. Taylor III|John Taylor]]. The company was best known for the combat [[flight sim]] ''[[Air Warrior]]'' on the [[GEnie]] online service, one of the first graphical [[MMOG]]s, launched in 1987. They also developed an ASCII-based [[MUD]], ''[[Island of Kesmai]]'', which ran on [[CompuServe]].
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
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'''Kesmai''' was a pioneering [[video game developer|game developer]] and online [[Video game publisher|game publisher]], founded in 1981<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamestorm.com/company/press/1996_09_13.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990203200500/http://gamestorm.com/company/press/1996_09_13.html|title=News Corp.'S Kesmai Spins Off Publishing Division -- Launches New Ggames Service, Aries Online Games|website=gamestorm.com|archivedate=February 3, 1999|date=September 16, 1996|accessdate=May 1, 2022}}</ref> by [[Kelton Flinn]] and [[John R. Taylor III|John Taylor]]. The company was best known for the combat [[flight sim]] ''[[Air Warrior (video game)|Air Warrior]]'' on the [[GEnie]] online service, one of the first graphical [[MMOG]]s, launched in 1987. They also developed an ASCII-based [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]], ''[[Island of Kesmai]]'', and [[4X|empire building]] game, ''[[MegaWars III]]'', which ran on [[CompuServe]], and later, [[GEnie]].


The company was acquired by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp.]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news | title = NEWS CORP. BUYS KESMAI | work = [[USA Today]] | date = April 27, 1994 | author = Pattie Joy }}</ref><ref name="theage">{{cite news | title = News buys top US online games maker | work = [[The Age]] | date = April 27, 1994 | author = Ben Potter }}</ref> The company continued to develop massively multiplayer games such as ''Air Warrior 2'' and ''[[Legends of Kesmai]]''. They distributed their games through [[AOL]] and eventually a new gaming service formed with three other publishers, [[GameStorm]].<ref>{{cite news | title = GAMERS GANGING UP: Four online companies team in GameStorm | date = November 24, 1997 | author = John Voland | work = [[Daily Variety]] }}</ref>
The company was acquired by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp.]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news | title = NEWS CORP. BUYS KESMAI | work = [[USA Today]] | date = April 27, 1994 | author = Pattie Joy }}</ref><ref name="theage">{{cite news | title = News buys top US online games maker | work = [[The Age]] | date = April 27, 1994 | author = Ben Potter }}</ref> The company continued to develop massively multiplayer games such as ''Air Warrior 2'' and ''[[Legends of Kesmai]]''. They distributed their games through [[AOL]] and eventually a new gaming service formed with three other publishers, [[GameStorm]].<ref>{{cite news | title = GAMERS GANGING UP: Four online companies team in GameStorm | date = November 24, 1997 | author = John Voland | work = [[Daily Variety]] }}</ref>


AOL purchased [[CompuServe]] in 1997 and retooled its AOL Games Channel in a way that placed Kesmai unfavorably compared to its own games division, WordPlay. Kesmai sued AOL for monopolistic practices.<ref>{{cite news | title = Gamer Firm Kesmai Sues America Online | date = September 30, 1997 | author= Craig Menefee | work = Newsbytes }}</ref> The suit was settled out of court with undisclosed terms.<ref>{{cite news | title = Kesmai, America Online Settle Lawsuit | date = July 7, 1998 | author = Bob Woods | work = Newsbytes }}</ref>
AOL purchased [[CompuServe]] in 1997 and retooled its AOL Games Channel in a way that placed Kesmai unfavorably compared to its own games division, WorldPlay.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Christian |last=Svensson |title=Joyriding |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=40|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=April 1998|page=30}}</ref> Kesmai sued AOL for monopolistic practices.<ref>{{cite news | title = Gamer Firm Kesmai Sues America Online | date = September 30, 1997 | author= Craig Menefee | work = Newsbytes }}</ref> The suit was settled out of court with undisclosed terms.<ref>{{cite news | title = Kesmai, America Online Settle Lawsuit | date = July 7, 1998 | author = Bob Woods | work = Newsbytes }}</ref>


In 1999, the company was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|sold]] to [[Electronic Arts]], and the company's studios were subsequently closed in 2001. Upon closure a number of the Kesmai staff went to work for [[Lodestone Games]], also located in [[Charlottesville]], [[Virginia]]; while others remained in the former Kesmai offices but became part of [[EA.com]] and later Maxis East.
In 1999, the company was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|sold]] to [[Electronic Arts]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Electronic+Arts+Announces+Agreement+to+Acquire+News+Corp.+Online+Game...-a057743298|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145345/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Electronic+Arts+Announces+Agreement+to+Acquire+News+Corp.+Online+Game...-a057743298|title=Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai|website=[[Business Wire]]|archivedate=April 2, 2015|date=November 22, 1999|accessdate=September 3, 2021|via=[[The Free Dictionary]]}}</ref> and the company's studios were subsequently closed in 2001. Upon closure a number of the Kesmai staff went to work for [[Lodestone Games]], also located in [[Charlottesville]], [[Virginia]]; while others remained in the former Kesmai offices but became part of [[EA.com]] and later Maxis East.


Flinn selected the name ''Kesmai'' from a set of names that were output by a random name generator that he wrote for in-game use.
Flinn selected the name ''Kesmai'' from a set of names that were output by a random name generator that he wrote for in-game use.
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|-
|-
|1982
|1982
|''MegaWars''
|''[[MegaWars]]''
|Terminal
|Terminal
| rowspan="10" |
| rowspan="10" |
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|-
|-
|1988
|1988
| rowspan="5" |''[[Air Warrior]]''
| rowspan="5" |''[[Air Warrior (video game)|Air Warrior]]''
|Terminal
|Terminal
|-
|-
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| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
|-
|-
|1999
|2000
|''Fierce Harmony''
|''[[Fierce Harmony]]''
|[[Microsoft Windows]]
|[[Microsoft Windows]]
|}
|}
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{{Electronic Arts}}
{{Electronic Arts}}
{{MUDs|state}}
{{MUDs|state}}
{{Authority control}}




[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:MUD organizations]]
[[Category:MUD organizations]]
[[Category:Companies based in Virginia]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Virginia]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts subsidiaries]]




{{-}}
{{US-videogame-company-stub}}
{{US-videogame-company-stub}}
{{ElectronicArts-stub}}
{{ElectronicArts-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:28, 7 January 2024

Kesmai was a pioneering game developer and online game publisher, founded in 1981[1] by Kelton Flinn and John Taylor. The company was best known for the combat flight sim Air Warrior on the GEnie online service, one of the first graphical MMOGs, launched in 1987. They also developed an ASCII-based MUD, Island of Kesmai, and empire building game, MegaWars III, which ran on CompuServe, and later, GEnie.

The company was acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in 1994.[2][3] The company continued to develop massively multiplayer games such as Air Warrior 2 and Legends of Kesmai. They distributed their games through AOL and eventually a new gaming service formed with three other publishers, GameStorm.[4]

AOL purchased CompuServe in 1997 and retooled its AOL Games Channel in a way that placed Kesmai unfavorably compared to its own games division, WorldPlay.[5] Kesmai sued AOL for monopolistic practices.[6] The suit was settled out of court with undisclosed terms.[7]

In 1999, the company was sold to Electronic Arts,[8] and the company's studios were subsequently closed in 2001. Upon closure a number of the Kesmai staff went to work for Lodestone Games, also located in Charlottesville, Virginia; while others remained in the former Kesmai offices but became part of EA.com and later Maxis East.

Flinn selected the name Kesmai from a set of names that were output by a random name generator that he wrote for in-game use.

Games

[edit]
Year Title Platform(s) Notes
Developed titles
1982 MegaWars Terminal
1984 MegaWars III Terminal
1988 Air Warrior Terminal
1990 Amiga
1991 Atari ST
1992 CDTV
1992 DOS
1996 MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris Microsoft Windows
1997 Air Warrior II Microsoft Windows
Air Warrior III Microsoft Windows
CatchWord Microsoft Windows Assisted Ant Software
Legends of Kesmai Microsoft Windows
1998 Aliens Online Microsoft Windows Assisted Mythic Entertainment
Published titles
1998 Starship Troopers: Battlespace Microsoft Windows
1999 Fierce Harmony Microsoft Windows

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "News Corp.'S Kesmai Spins Off Publishing Division -- Launches New Ggames Service, Aries Online Games". gamestorm.com. September 16, 1996. Archived from the original on February 3, 1999. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Pattie Joy (April 27, 1994). "NEWS CORP. BUYS KESMAI". USA Today.
  3. ^ Ben Potter (April 27, 1994). "News buys top US online games maker". The Age.
  4. ^ John Voland (November 24, 1997). "GAMERS GANGING UP: Four online companies team in GameStorm". Daily Variety.
  5. ^ Svensson, Christian (April 1998). "Joyriding". Next Generation. No. 40. Imagine Media. p. 30.
  6. ^ Craig Menefee (September 30, 1997). "Gamer Firm Kesmai Sues America Online". Newsbytes.
  7. ^ Bob Woods (July 7, 1998). "Kesmai, America Online Settle Lawsuit". Newsbytes.
  8. ^ "Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai". Business Wire. November 22, 1999. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2021 – via The Free Dictionary.


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