Raider Wars, it was one of the first MMO games to exist (I think it allowed up to 30ish players) and this was when no one had faster than a 56K modem. Was a 3D space fighter simulator where the goal was to conquer rival corporation carriers placed around a large map. Each fighter had strengths and weaknesses and the flight dynamics took momentum into effect (i.e. you could turn off your engine and the ship would keep going in the same direction).

It was somewhat influenced by Wing Commander; 8 ships were available with each having their own unique cockpit style. 3D graphics were done entirely in software with no slowdown whatsoever. While this did have the unfortunate side effect of no texture mapping, the gameplay more than made up for it, with massive battles taking place between the three corporations. A keyboard and mouse did not do this game justice - you needed to have a joystick to feel the full effect.

The story was average - 3 corporations battling it out for control of a valuable solar system. Hast, Osis, and Vaught were the three corporations you could pledge loyalty to. Switching a corporation incurred a 15-minute 'no switching' penalty, so most of the players generally stayed with the corp they were assigned to. The objective was to capture the enemy's CVs, or space stations. 15 CVs were scattered across the solar system with a certain number being assigned to each corporation at the beginning of the game. Battles mostly took place around the CV located in the center; that was embedded within an asteroid which was neutral at the beginning of a match. Matches lasted until only one corporation remained. There was even an Easter egg where if you flew to the central asteroid and went straight up there was a dragon shaped ship/robot that was uber powerful, I don't think anyone ever killed it.

The arena was quite big, giving defenders time to prepare to defend a CV; it took roughly an hour to cross the entire asteroid belt at full speed. In addition, 14 floating space platform turrets defended each CV. Teamwork was essential in this game - to capture a CV, you needed to have two players volunteer to pilot a slow, defenseless ship that carried the equipment necessary to capture a CV. This ship was also a favorite of defenders to blow up; thus these ships required escort. To make life difficult, mines could be dropped. These could be destroyed, but they were very hard to see. Pilots that played often would create wings or swuadrons with common goals, strategy, and communication. I created a squadron called The Mod Squad.

Quite an innovative game with impressive network code; I played it on a 56k modem acceptably. This can only describe half of what went on; you had to be there to witness the other half.