Bots!!
An MMO where robots battle computer viruses in three modes.
Bots!! was a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) developed by Nimonix and published by Acclaim Games in North America as the company's launch title and most popular game. The game featured a theme of robots fighting against computer viruses, with players choosing from one of three basic BOTS and leveling up through gameplay and purchasing items with virtual credits called gigas. A Korean version existed and was nearly identical, receiving new updates earlier than the American version.
- Developer
- Nimonix (developed), Acclaim Games (published in North America)
- Release Date
- 2007 (North America)
- Peak Players
- Unsubstantiated; claims of 1 million in May 2007 are likely exaggerated
Quick Facts
- Title
- Bots!!
- Developer
- N-Log Soft
- Publisher
- Acclaim Games
- Genre
- MMO, Fighting
- Released
- WW · November 2006
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- PC Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game featured a transformation system where a player's bar filled after thirty seconds, allowing them to become a larger robot based on their armor. Purchased transformation packs enabled more powerful forms with special attacks. Skills, both passive and active, could be equipped before matches but were destroyed after limited use. A virtual currency called 'coins' could be bought with real money for premium items, which caused controversy in PVP and Base Battle modes due to the advantage they provided. The game used nProtect GameGuard anti-cheat software, which was criticized as invasive and left residual files even after uninstallation.
Reader's Guide
Bots!! holds significance as Acclaim Games' launch title and most popular MMO, reaching 1 million players within its first year. Its three distinct game modes—Sector Battle, Player versus Player, and Base Battle—offered varied gameplay, while the transformation system and skill mechanics added depth. The game's reliance on premium items purchasable with real money (coins) sparked debate about fairness in competitive modes. The aggressive nProtect GameGuard anti-cheat system, though intended to protect the game, was itself controversial and ultimately failed to prevent rampant cheating, which contributed to player attrition. The servers were shut down on August 27, 2010, following Acclaim's purchase by Playdom and Disney's subsequent acquisition of Playdom for $763 million. Players who had bought coins within the last 30 days received full refunds. The Korean version, BOUT!!, continued to receive updates earlier than the American version, highlighting regional differences in the game's lifecycle.
Did You Know?
- Boss viruses in Sector Battle were named after real-world malware such as Melissa and Code Red.
- Players who dealt the most damage to a boss might receive no item drop, while a player who contributed little could get the reward.
- The anti-cheat software nProtect GameGuard left residual files on the system even after uninstalling the game.
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