When MMORPGs run into the hardships that come with developing games, the lights eventually go out for even the most beloved titles. Whether due to dwindling player bases, rising server costs, or simply a publisher shifting focus to new projects, we’ve seen more than a handful of games shuttered, many of which felt like they were gone too soon. However, emulation projects—fan-run versions of these games—pose a question: should all shut down MMORPGs be given a second life through emulation?
City of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Wildstar, these are just some of the games that were lost at some point in the ongoing war against profitability in MMORPGs. Recent developments, like the Marvel Heroes emulation project-- a game that holds a near and dear place in my heart, underscore the potential of these community-led efforts. Marvel Heroes Omega, which officially shut down in 2017, left a hole in the hearts of its fans, and essentially led me away from an emerging hero guides channel to my first article lambasting Gazillions shutdown.
Emulation to the Rescue?
Now, with this emulation, players have a chance to once again don the roles of their favorite superheroes, and maybe more importantly, feel the nostalgia of playing their favorite characters in an online world that at least attempted to appease the Marvel fanbase. This isn't an isolated case, as Star Wars Galaxies Legends has successfully kept its game alive long after its official servers were taken offline (likely with the help of the NGE). The community-driven effort didn’t just preserve the game; it also continued its development, introducing new features and engaging the passionate players that made the original SWG so unique.
There’s also hope for many emulated games to actually reach the pinnacle of their project and be noticed by the development studios or publishers themselves. City of Heroes Homecoming, which eventually secured a license from NCSoft to officially run and develop the game, is a project that should stand as a testament as a best possible outcome when it comes to emulation. Their success story illustrates that with enough passion and dedication the love of some games can outlast corporate decisions. The renewed prosperity of City of Heroes: Homecoming is also in large part due to the fan made spiritual successors that are still having difficulties convincing players they are spiritually success-ing.
Code, Code, Pass?
While we have several success stories, this does raise broader questions. Should all MMORPGs that shut down follow a similar path? Developers are starting to feel like hoarders of their code. Sure, we have some intellectual properties that can’t be handed away freely, but games like City of Heroes and Wildstar, or even Vanguard: Saga of Heroes could have all been magnanimously gifted to fan made emulation projects who loved these games so much they would pay to run the servers, and take no money to profit from their efforts.
Proponents would argue that instead of letting a game fade into obscurity, it's better to pass the torch to fans who can keep it alive and even innovate. However, emulation isn't a perfect solution. Legal hurdles, copyright issues, and technical challenges can start to pile, and in no way am I condoning the appropriation of intellectual properties that players do not own (though it’s obvious it’s happening anyway). Still, in a world where so many beloved online universes are at risk of being forgotten, emulation offers a glimmer of hope. Where do you stand on dead MMORPG’s being revived as emulated games?
