Element: Xenon (Xe)

Game: Domain Knights 3 Classic

Domain Knights Introduction

Domain Knights v3 (DK3) is a multiplayer hacking simulator. You can play this game - for free - in just about any Internet browser. No extra software is needed.

Domain Knights is a complex game, and has taken over four and a half years of work to reach this point. Domain Knights started as more of a proof-of-concept for AltF8 and his friend, SubCypher. AltF8 wanted to create a game to develop and hone his ASP-platform programming skills. What better way then to create an entire game from the ground up? So, Domain Knights v1.0 was born. Codenamed "Angeldust", it was a big project. Eventually, after only a few months, a playable version was ready. While this never reached the public, it did spark a real sense of accomplishment for Jaian.

So, the decision was made to take this project to the next level. The code was reworked for about a year and released to a small group of friends under the name Domain Knights v2.0. This version was lightyears ahead of v1.0 in both design and functionality. Unlike v1.0, it was playable to the public - whomever decided to drop by thanks to a lucky Google search. DK2 was (at the time) Jaian's crowning acheivement. It consisted of about 30,000 lines of code spread over more than sixty programs. As more and more people played DK2, it became apparent that the game was quite popular among our small group. Over the next three years we tweaked and polished DK2, eventually arriving at version 2.4. This marked the final release of Domain Knights v2.

After three years of working with the v2.x code, AltF8 became frustrated with the "spit and chicken wire" makeup of the codebase. It was the product of three years of twisting, taping, reworking, and general finagling. Editing the code to make changes requested by players became a nightmare. It was time for a change. AltF8 and SubCypher began discussing the next version of DK. It was soon decided that DK3 would be a ground-up rewrite of the game. The entire codebase for DK2 would be scrapped. All new ideas and methods would be developed.

Slowly, word of the next version of DK, codenamed "Xenon", was let out to the forums. Interest was sparked almost instantaneously. People wanted the new game right away. It was a painful experience to let the people know that a public release of the game was probably two years away. AltF8 hunkered down, and for a year spent every free moment hand writing code. Soon, DK3 was born.

DK3 was, again, a complete rewrite of the code. Not one single line was carried over from DK2. This meant that there was plenty of opportunity for improvements and new ideas, features, and options. A special group of forum members was recruited and promoted to Power Users. This group was given exclusive access to information regarding the new version, and was asked to offer their input to the way the game should be developed. Their insight proved to be critical in making the game what it is today. This elite group was made up of people who had been there since DK2 was first released, so they had the greatest knowledge of how the game felt. We can't thank the Power Users enough for their input.

The Power Users were soon told that they would have the first look at the new version (which was kept under tight wraps for 95% of the development time) via screenshots. Then, they would be the first to play the game under a Closed Alpha test run. This test proved to be one of the best ideas Jaian had. During those few months, the game improved dramatically with most improvements coming from the Power User group. Once the major bugs were eliminated from the Alpha code, we moved to a public beta. This is where we are today, and we hope that you join us.

Here are some of the features you'll find in the current version.

  • Platform-independent interface - Play on any computer that has an internet connection and a browser. Jaian highly recommends the latest version of Mozilla Firefox. This free, open source browser is better than anything we've seen in the browser world to date. Give it a try.
  • Strategy - It's up to you to determine exactly how to set up your online presence, your domain, to suit your goals. Do you concentrate on defense so you can safely research your way to power? Or, do you gamble with your safety and play as an aggressive hacker that takes whatever risk is necessary to decimate your opponents? It's all up to you.
  • Complex, in-depth gameplay - Domain Knights is made up of more than 40 individual programs totalling over 40,000 lines of hand-written code. Within that, you'll find options and features too numerous to list here. DK3's new modular hardware system is a major shift in design from DK2's "buy it and toss it" hardware style. You can purchase, use and then resell your hardware. Software is more streamlined, and you can upload it with a single click - making software administration a breeze.
  • Xenon Skin Engine (XSE) - The XSE was one of the first features planned for DK3. This CSS/DHTML driven system allows you to customize the look of your own personal interface. The entire look of the game can be altered with Global Skins, which can then be further tweaked to give you a completely custom look.
  • In-game messaging system - Send and receive emails within the game. The system includes support for individual folders, so you can accurately sort your information. In DK3, your hack reports are saved automatically via this system. This is a major improvement from DK2, where you were shown the report only once!
  • Character development - No longer are you just a lump of hardware and a domain. You'll now be a character in the game, with your own stats and skills. Gain experience through hacking and programming to level up. As you gain levels, you'll be granted access to more powerful equipment from the store.
  • Anti-Cheat System - The scourge of all online multiplayer games, cheating, has been severly hampered by a custom system to help eliminate cheating. We've seen certain cheats used in past versions of DK, and those have been wiped out with the ACS.
  • Many, many more features are in the game! Head out and play!

Play Now!

Get Firefox Mozilla Firefox is the official browser of Domain Knights.