Online Gaming History: The Sierra Network (ImagiNation) TV Ad - early 90's

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.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• TSN
• The
• Sierra
• Network
• Online
• Nineties
• Imagination
• Ken
• Williams
• Roberta
• 90's
• Leisure
• Suit
• Larry
• Computer
• Games
• INN
• Game

[pyrrho314]

no, it can't have been 1991. I went to work there in 1992 and wrote stratego shown in there (and also finished/published boogers)... so it must have been more like... 1993 I'm guessing, mabye even 1994 because of the golf game being in there.

[omgomg53]

thanks for the correction! how long did you work there? I loved stratego, by the way!

[ehurtley]

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.)

[debrakaye1]

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.

[3ldmey]

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 :D

[3ldmey]

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 :P

Thanks for posting.

[katrar]

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.

[VGCodeMaster]

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 =)

[chron1978]

I spent hundreds of hours on this and never paid a dime.. i came from a poor family and carded all my accounts.

[johnakles]

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.

[Azorino]

INN was great. and so was Boogers!

[krazycalvin]

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.