Wolfenstein 3D - 18 Years Old, and Now an Online Game

"Wolfenstein 3D Game"
Hypergames

That's a playable online version of the old Wolfenstein 3D 1st-person shooter.

It's been a while since Wolfenstein was at the cutting edge of virtual-reality games, so here's some background:

"Wolfenstein 3D"
3D Realms
("Due to the game content, this game may not be ordered by residents of Germany.")

"The story: You're William J. 'B.J.' Blazkowicz, the Allies' bad boy of espionage and a terminal action seeker. Your mission was to infiltrate the Nazi fortress Castle Hollehammer and find the plans for Operation Eisenfaust, the Nazi's blueprint for building the perfect army. Rumors are that deep within the castle the diabolical Dr. Schabbs has perfected a technique for building a fierce army from the bodies of the dead. It's so far removed from reality that it would seem silly if it wasn't so sick. But what if it were true?

"As an escaped prisoner in a Nazi war prison, you will move smoothly through a 3D world full of amazing detail and animation Unlike other 3D games, you'll run through a sensational and realistic 3-D environment, with intelligent moving guards and opponents.

"WINNER OF 3 SHAREWARE INDUSTRY AWARDS, INCLUDING PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD!

"Wolfenstein 3-D has won these RETAIL industry awards in 1992:..."

The original release, according to 3D Realms, was May 5, 1992. That'll be 18 years back, this year.

In terms of graphics, it's no Myst: and I'm quite sure that there have been more sophisticated games made since 1992. But at the time, Castle Wolfenstein was hot stuff. And, for me, still fun to play.

Finally, the matter of the game not being available to people in Germany. Chancellor Hitler's term in office made a deep and lasting impression on quite a large number of people, Germans included. The German government, for good or ill, has decided to place limits on what sort of references to the Nazi period can be made.

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A tip of the hat to irish_brigid, for the heads-up on the online game.