MMOG: Prison Server

September 2, 2006 on 8:14 pm | In MMO (Live), Playstyles

I received an email from the Spain-based MMORPG Prison Server yesterday. I had never heard of the game before, and there seems to be some interesting elements.

An extract of the email:

We are pleased to announce the pre-launch website of PrisonServer: The
Online Prison. An online, persistent and multiplayer RPG game made in
Spainthat is about to open its localized English PrisonServers. The game
is already running since 2003 in Spanish language, receiving updates and
patches since then, while building a groovy Spanish community.

The URL is http://www.prisonserver.co.uk (where you can find a little
bitmore about the game).

Our main entrance is http://www.prisonserver.com (from there you select
your language, and you can see our full, Spanish site in action). Please
note that the Spanish and English server are completely set apart
systems,game accounts, etc. We'll allow English only on prisonserver.co.uk.

The game has the least descriptive and inspiring description I've ever read. It's making me wonder how much has been lost in translation:

PrisonServer is a PC online game for Windows. It's a persistent world, multiplayer online game. The game is played exclusively over the Internet with other real players from all over the world. Combines classic online RPG gameplay and unique feaures. You have to survive and make your way from just a rookie to gang leader or boss, meet new friends and get a life while becoming stronger to gain real respect. Players unite, collaborate & fight creating their own gangs and ranks within the prison confinements

Clicking a few links, here's what it seems to be:

• Theme: Modern-day Prison. Start as a newbie, become a gang leader, make friends, the usual vague promise of becoming a leader among people.
• Graphics: Pretty dated. Lots of corridors, which makes sense given the theme but makes it no more impressive than a console shooter from that era. This isn't helped by the screenshot library, which shows a bunch of people standing around.
• Movement: 3D Click to move, like Shadowbane or the defunct Wish.
• Combat: Seems to be like every diku-inspired game: click action buttons, roll automated dice, watch calculated actions.
• Character Customization: XP, levels, gear. You've been there.
• Standard PvP rules: Optional on Normal servers but open (with safe areas) on PvP servers.

The game has been around since 2003. According to the main page, they have 8,283 "Prisoners". Since just underneath that number they say "50 Last Accounts created from", followed by a list of countries, I'm guessing "Prisoners" means Accounts. So, just over 8k accounts. Doesn't seem like a smash.

Is it worth checking out? Probably if you're the type who wants to say they've played every game with "MMO" somewhere in its description. I personally found the theme interesting, and plan to check out the game itself, even after having watched a not-so-impressive video. But I'm not expecting much. Not sure from where I'll download the 300mb client, but it's currently available at:

• The main site
• Gamershell
• GameZone

The account creation page asks very few questions. They don't even seem to ask for a Credit Card #, so don't seem concerned about the under-18 year old crowd. Their current free-to-play promo lasts for one month though so who knows what'll change in October.