The 4th Coming

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The 4th Coming

Developer(s)	Vircom Interactive (1999-2006) Dialsoft (2006-present)^[1]^[2]
Latest version	1.60
Release date(s)	(PC) / / May 14, 1999
Genre(s)	Action role-playing game
Mode(s)	multiplayer
Rating(s)	Mature 17+
Platform(s)	Windows
Input	Keyboard, Mouse

The 4th Coming, also known in French as La Quatrième Prophétie, is an online role-playing game originally produced by Vircom Interactive for Windows-based operating systems. There was a Vircom server set up for testing the game before releasing licenses for it. There are no known release notes prior to version 1.0 even though there were versions prior to it. The 4th Coming licenses were later offered to ISP countries as a service for their users, but licenses are now sold to anyone who pays for one. The 4th Coming was later purchased by Dialsoft whom now grants server licenses, and continued under the unofficial name of T4C V2.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The game takes place in the fair world of Althea. Althea spans three islands: Arakas, Raven's Dust, and Stoneheim. In these islands, there is much commotion about the various evil deeds being commited. Beginning on Arakas island, players are eventually given the choice to choose their alignment-- good or evil. At the end of the long path through the game lies the ultimate evil entity, Makrsh P'tangh, the corrupt elven king.

Spoilers end here.

1 Gameplay
2 Controversy
3 Vircom Interactive
4 Dialsoft
5 Pre-1.50 Servers
6 1.50 Servers
7 1.60 Servers
8 External Links
9 References

[edit] Gameplay

Much like Diablo (computer game), players travel through the world unlocking quests, battling monsters in real-time, making allies, etc. The stat point system allows for people to create their characters as they wish as it is arguably very versatile. By being able to choose their alignment, players are able to experience two sides of the storyline. The game also contains many different visuals, a very advanced chat system where you can even make your own rooms, the game has huge areas, and contains a wide variety of weapons and spells. Vircom stated that a goal of theirs was to put players in fights full of monsters, and make it so that the players can come out victorious on most occasions. The game contains creative and catchy songs created by musician Erik Ashley^[3].

A screenshot of a seraph in-game

[edit] Controversy

During the lifespan of The 4th Coming, there's been various issues that could be considered controversial. Since The 4th Coming servers are ran by companies other than Vircom, there can be reliability issues. For instance, the server Xavus, which was effectively able to stay online even after having been illegal for a year until Dialsoft acquired the game.

The 4th Coming server files were leaked out to the public along with the Game Master manuals, all of which were said to originate from Kingdom Connection's test server, Pardox, after having been hacked. Dialsoft has, since acquisition of The 4th Coming, been strict and taken legal pursuits against those without proper licensing of their product.

The 4th Coming was stuck at 1.25 for a number of years without any updates. Many players left the community, as things were getting stale. The only thing that 1.25 really brought was the editor tool which allowed each server to create its own content. This is quite a problem, as now that Dialsoft owns The 4th Coming, they are finding it troublesome to add their own unique story and content in future versions.

Due to licenses costing quite a bit of money, and requiring renewal yearly, many servers have had to shut down completely. Those that did shut down usually allowed for transfers to other servers, though usually only partial transfers.

[edit] Vircom Interactive

Vircom Interactive, a subdivision of Vircom (specializing in e-mail protection, and previously having hands in on Major BBS), was a company that worked on online games that include, but are not limited to: Swords of Chaos, The 4th Coming, The 4th Prophecy, and Black Moon Chronicles: Winds of War. The 4th Prophecy^[4] was a customized version of The 4th Coming that Vircom ran for a couple of years until 2002. Unfortunately, due to its lack of success, it was shut down.

Then, Vircom began working on another game with much hype surrounded by it called Black Moon Chronicles: Winds of War. It is probable that it used the base engine from The 4th Coming, but it quite different. The graphics were hand-drawn, with a designated class system, and many more advanced features. It is rumored that the production of The 4th Coming version 1.25 was to make more money to support their new project. It's also rumoured that Vircom hired new developers to work on their Black Moon Chronicles: Winds of War project, and wanted to get them accustomed to the engine it was to use, so they created 1.25. That could explain why critics complain that 1.25 is the worst The 4th Coming expansion ever.

A map of Althea

Vircom Interactive's parent company went into debt, and as a result, both companies had to be shut down. Black Moon Chronicles: Winds of War was shut down shortly after due to claimed server hardware problems, though many have been led to believe that was a lie. From this point, neither Black Moon Chronicles: Winds of War nor The 4th Coming would see any new additions by Vircom even though licenses were still being sold.

Chances of any new online games developed are very low seeing as how François Bourdeau (Previously Director of Marketing) stated, when asked about Vircom's future in online gaming, the following:

Vircom does not plan to make any more video games in the future. Since 2002, we have focused on email security software development and we are quite succesful at it. Things are going well, but we do not have any expertise in online gaming anymore. I consider it highly improbable that Vircom will ever make games again.

[edit] Dialsoft

A wallpaper of the newly added yeti monster

Marc Frega (owner of Dialsoft) acquired The 4th Coming from email and messaging company Vircom on July 3, 2006^[5]^[6]. Dialsoft is now in charge of licensing the servers, and continues and expanding the game with their V2 Project available to all servers who are willing to pay for it.