Online Gaming History: The Sierra Network (ImagiNation) TV Ad – early 90′s
Posted: July 6th, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Online Social Site | Tags: 90's, Early, Gaming, History, ImagiNation, Network, online, Sierra | 25 Comments »
First launched in 1989, The Sierra Network (TSN) or the ImagiNation Network (INN) was a graphics-heavy online gaming network that was truly ahead of its time. Unfortunately for TSN, maybe TOO ahead of its time; after all, these were the days of 2400 baud modems and 286 and 386 PC’s. (Before everyone was surfing the world wide web!) Created by legendary computer game company Sierra Online, known for King’s Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, Space Quest and dozens of other bestselling games.
Great commercials. I was a member for the entire life of the service (was even one of the invited beta testers,) and loved it. Stratego, Red Baron, and the RPGs were my faves.
I recently discovered a revival! They have re-implemented the server-side code enough to play some of the basic games, plus Yserbius. (You have to run it on modern hardware in an emulator for ‘net access, though.)
I loved INN!!!! I played way too much. Made lots of friends. Had lots of fun. I remember everyone in my family and everyone I knew thought I was crazy being online so much. Now everyone I know is online more than I am. I sure do miss playing games, role playing and chatting with everyone.
Wow, I LIVED in that place when I was 14 lol. I remember making friends, joining a clan and having my Boogers skill slider on max
OMG this vid brought back so many memories. It was 1994 when I joined INN, I was a kid and I remember making friends there, I remember having my “boogers” skill slider at max
Thanks for posting.
Ah the memories. I was a TSN/INN addict from 1993-1996. It really was the primordial beginnings of online gaming culture the way we know it today.
I remember having this on a 3.5 floppy disk back when I was little, I think I did try it online but I am not sure. I remember how crazy awesome it looked to me though. Sadly stuff like this will not happen today, sure, the games all exist, but the way this and the WOW service which i think compuserve had? were special… unique…. fun. now we all log on to our invisible internet and click up a web browser. It’s a little sad… I wish I could go back in time and have money lol =)
I spent hundreds of hours on this and never paid a dime.. i came from a poor family and carded all my accounts.
Ahhh… Back in the good ol days where we didn’t have 10 y/o kids screaming into a mic because they got fragged in Halo… I miss it.
INN was great. and so was Boogers!
man… granny is pretty savvy with the computer. its 2009 and we have simpler computers and i have a hard time teaching my grandma what to do… she does like playing bridge now though… if you have to teach an old person how to use a mouse and one program find out their favorite card game… they will figure that out quick.
My first online gaming was in INN. It was so fun, I remember playing red baron and the games in MedievaLand all the time.
5 HOURS FREE?!
you should have seen the virtual environment AOL canned, thinking adults wouldn’t play ORPG, and internal politics.
CyberPark, it was sweet. Even the current MMORPG servers are not capable of what our was, though the client graphics are of course better than we could do then. However, CyberPark did use 3D.
yes, they were nationwide, but they didn’t do the ad I mean, until about 93.
I worked for TSN/INN/WorldPlay… we got up to about 2000+ simultaneous users. Bought and ruined by AOL unfortunately. Our newer server software is still used by EA games.
If you’re interested, there is an INN revival. Google “INN Revival” and you will find instructions to download DOS Box and the INN software and you too can get back on INN and play for free. really great for the fans of the RPG, spades and cribbage are still played regularly
The funny part of INN was, I don’t remember there ever being more than 50 people logged on at once.
It was very innovative at it’s time and used it’s own ad to push “you can be whoever you want without anyone knowing.”
Now of course, all those games can be played anywhere on the internet for free basically…
However the RPGs were early precursors to games like Everquest and WOW.
I was a member of this- I remember the Sysops being very nice and friendly to new members.
haha yeah!
I agree with all of you. It really was ahead of its time. Everyone who played on there made gaming what it is today. I dont care what anyone says, I would kill everyone on Red Baron today!
If you used to play this and want to play again contact me through here.
No, it was up nationwide by 1991, cause thats when I checked in from Ohio, was a sysop there till it closed down when AOL took over. What a mistake that was, should have sold out to Gates years earlier when they had the opportunity.
I WANT THAT MOUSE IN 01:29!!!
Wow, I actually remember this.
Too bad Jones in the Fastlane wasn’t online.
lol