Editing World Opponent Network

{{use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{short description|Former online video game service}}
{{Infobox software
| name           = World Opponent Network
| logo           = WON_logo.gif
| logo alt       = Logo for the World Opponent Network
| other_names    = Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS)
| developer      = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| released       = {{ubl|SIGS: {{Start date and age|1996}}{{r|casino}}|WON: {{Start date and age|1998|04|13}}{{r|won launch gs}}}}
| discontinued   = yes
| genre          = {{ubl|[[Online service|Online video game service]]|[[Electronic authentication|User authentication]]|[[Multiplayer online game|Multiplayer]]|[[Matchmaking (video games)|Matchmaking]]|[[Online chat|Chat]]|[[Downloadable content]]}}
| license        = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website        = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090323080047/http://www.won.net/ won.net]
}}

[[File:SIGS_logo_1997.gif|thumb|alt=Second logo for the Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS logo with text underneath)|Second SIGS logo]]

The '''World Opponent Network''' ('''WON''' or '''WON.net''') was an online video game service, originally developed by [[Sierra On-Line]] as the '''Sierra Internet Gaming System''' ('''SIGS'''). SIGS-based and WON-based servers operated from 1996 until 2008.{{r|casino}}{{r|sierra 2008 eol}}

WON was used by games such as ''[[Homeworld]]'', ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'', ''[[Outpost 2]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Armada]]'', ''[[Soldier of Fortune (video game)|Soldier of Fortune]]'' and ''[[Dark Reign 2]]'', the free games ''[[Silencer (video game)|Silencer]]''  and ''[[Attack Retrieve Capture|ARC]]'', as well as the [[Hoyle's Official Book of Games|Hoyle series]] of casino, card and board games.

== Early development ==

[[File:SIGS_logo_1996.gif|frameless|upright=0.3318|alt=First logo for the Sierra Internet Gaming System|First SIGS logo]]

SIGS began life as a [[prototype]] [[video game]], ''Stock Market Challenge'', in 1995.{{r|smc faq}}{{r|smc eol}} SIGS then moved onto [[beta testing]] integration into retail Sierra titles with ''Hoyle Blackjack'' in 1996.{{r|blackjack beta}} Before Christmas 1996, SIGS was built into 7 titles: ''Hoyle Blackjack'', ''Hoyle Casino'', ''[[Front Page Sports: Football Pro '97]]'', ''[[Front Page Sports: Trophy Bass 2]]'', ''[[MissionForce: CyberStorm]]'', ''[[Power Chess]]'', and ''[[The Time Warp of Dr. Brain]]''.{{r|casino}}{{r|fb97}}{{r|fb97 faq}}{{r|tbass2}}{{r|tbass2 tech}}{{r|cstorm}}{{r|cstorm patch11}}{{r|pchess}}{{r|sigs 1997feb05}}

== History ==
SIGS operated from late 1996 through November 1997 and was built into about 20 Sierra titles by this time.{{r|sigs end 1997}} On November 18, 1997, after Sierra was acquired by [[CUC International]], CUC announced that they will rebrand SIGS as WON as of December 1, 1997.{{r|won announced gs}} On December 8, 1997, the [[open beta]] of the new WON website was launched.{{r|won beta}}{{r|won beta gs}} WON left beta and was officially launched on April 13, 1998.{{r|unreal agreement}}{{r|won launch gs}}

In an apparent effort to boost WON awareness with off-the-shelf customers, Sierra released ''On-Line Games: Collection Series'' late in 1997 that contained 12 online titles (9 [[List of WON-Enabled games|WON-enabled games]], 2 WON.net [[browser game|browser-based games]], plus ''[[The Realm Online|The Realm]]'').{{r|onlinegames}}

WON touted its success when it announced 750,000 members on September 2, 1998.{{r|750k cdmag}} Just 6 months later in March 1999, WON claimed to have doubled their membership to 1.5 million, along with now attracting 1% of the WWW audience for February 1999, placing them in the top 500 websites and top 10 gaming sites.{{r|1pct cdmag}}

[[File:World_Opponent_Net_Counter-Strike_Server_Browser.jpg|thumb|alt=A screenshot of the WON.net interface and available servers in the game ''Counter-Strike''|WON.net interface in ''Counter-Strike'']]

WON attracted a few partnerships with significant third parties to become a multi-developer/multi-publisher service. On May 27, 1997, Sierra announced an agreement with [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] to publish and distribute ''Half-Life'', which would bring it to WON when finally released in November 1998.{{r|hl agreement}} On May 27, 1998, WON announced an agreement with [[GT Interactive]] and [[Epic MegaGames]] to bring ''[[Unreal (1998 video game)|Unreal]]'' to WON.{{r|unreal agreement}} On September 7, 1999, WON.net announced an agreement with [[Activision]] to bring a few of its multiplayer titles, including ''Soldier of Fortune'', to WON.net.{{r|activision agreement}}{{r|activision agreement cdmag}}

In August 1999, after Sierra was acquired by [[Havas]], Havas made WON.net its own entity.{{r|won entity}} In September 1999, WON.net announced plans to enter Europe.{{r|eu announce}}{{r|eu announce gs}} WON.net launched in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom on February 17, 2000.{{r|eu launch gs}}

On March 29, 2000, Havas acquired PrizeCentral.com and merged it with WON.net, announced the creation of a new site to be called Flipside.com, and basically brought an end to the WON.net website as it was known.{{r|prizecentral}}{{r|flipside facts}} Regardless, WON.net continued on in various forms (primarily for WON-enabled games minus the Hoyle titles) including becoming action.WON.net for a period.{{r|won action}} Even as main pages continued to shift for WON-enabled games, many of the WON multiplayer servers continued to run{{--}}even adding a few new titles. The last WON-enabled title launched (not multiplayer but has an online element to it) was ''[[Caesar IV]]'' in September 2006.{{r|caesar4 review gs}}

Meanwhile, in 2001, Valve (which had a publishing and distribution agreement with Sierra) was secretly working on their own competing service, [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. Sierra and [[Vivendi Universal]] (the current owner of Sierra and WON.net) did not learn of this until March 2002 when Valve announced Steam's beta release at [[Game Developers Conference|GDC 2002]]. This only added to the current rift between Sierra and Valve.{{r|valve v vivendi}} Shortly after the release of Steam beta, all of Valve's WON-enabled titles (''Half-Life'' and its [[mod (computer gaming)|mods]]) were [[patch (computing)|patched]] to run on Steam instead. Valve shut down the last of its WON servers on July 31, 2004.{{r|valve eol gs}}{{r|valve eol}}

Also in 2001, [[Raven Software]] took their popular title, ''Soldier of Fortune'', off of WON.net and over to [[GameSpy]] instead.{{r|sof eol}}{{r|sof patch107f}}

Many of Sierra's long-running titles were shut down on August 16, 2007.{{r|sierra 2007 eol}} The last of Sierra's and Activision's WON servers (now in the hands of Activision and Vivendi Games) were shut down on November 1, 2008.{{r|sierra 2008 eol}}

== Legacy ==
While some of the WON-enabled titles moved to other online platforms after WON (see the list of WON-enabled games below), most of the 100 or so titles (depending on how you count expansions and Hoyle titles) have been offline since their official WON servers were shut down. A few independent efforts, however, have been made to bring some of the abandoned titles back online.

=== WON2 ===
WON2 (formerly No-WON and PlanetWON2.com) is a [[free software|non-commercial]] but [[closed-source]] project started by the Steamless CS Project Team in 2003.{{r|steamless about}} WON2 supports, primarily, pre-Steam versions of ''Half-Life'' and its mods.{{r|won2 jaskiewicz}}{{r|won2 3dgamers}} WON2 was born out of a dislike for how games were running on Steam versus WON.{{r|won2 ucg}} Even though the project began with a "Steamless" port of ''Counter-Strike'' 1.6, it appears to have lasted this long because Steam forces ''Counter-Strike'' players to run version 1.6 when many fans felt that version 1.5 was better.{{r|valve eol gs}}{{r|won2 heutte}} For example, of the 60 [https://won2.net/Browse-Servers/ current servers online] (April 2023), 56 of them are running ''Counter-Strike'' 1.5 (3 running ''Half-Life'' and 1 running ''Team Fortress'').

While WON2 has a stated goal of also "focusing on other former WON games" (besides ''Half-Life'') the only other game known to have received some attention by the project team is ''Silencer'', but it was never launched.{{r|steamless about}} WON2 claims to have reached its peak popularity between 2005 and 2010 with more than 1,000 servers and up to 10,000 players at a time.{{r|steamless about}} As of April 2023, WON2 is still operational with around 400 hundred players during peak hours, and the majority of the servers hosted in China.{{r|won2 stats}} While most of the WON2 and Steamless CS Project websites are still active, the forum for the project has been down since at least August 2016.{{r|steamless forum 2016}}

A side project to WON2 is called "Counter-Strike Beta 6.1" which uses WON2 assets to run even earlier versions of ''Counter-Strike''.{{r|csbeta about}} As of April 2023, 11 servers for beta 6.1 and 1 server for beta 5.2 were online.{{r|csbeta servers}}

=== NeuWon and NuWON ===
NuWON.Net (formerly NeuWon.com, 2014-2018) is another non-commercial but closed-source project meant to revive WON multiplayer gaming. The goal of NuWON is to support all former WON titles and not just the ''Half-Life'' family. In 2014, NeuWon sprung from a 2012 WON project on [[Google Code]] by a member of same team that created WON2, the Steamless CS Project Team.{{r|neuwon gcode}}{{r|neuwon new moddb}} NeuWon officially launched on March 13, 2016.{{r|neuwon launch moddb}}{{r|neuwon launch}} By May 2021, NuWON had listed 21 supported games (not counting ''Half-Life'' mods) plus an additional 8 that needed testing.{{r|nuwon games}} Though NuWON's site was temporarily unavailable starting in 2022, it has since reappeared as of April 9, 2025.<ref>https://nuwon.net/infusions/news/news.php?readmore=26</ref>

=== NeoEE ===
NeoEE sprung from the same 2012 WON project on Google Code that NeuWon did.{{r|neuwon gcode}} NeoEE released a server with a fully-working lobby in 2013.{{r|neoee about}} NeoEE supports ''[[Empire Earth (video game)|Empire Earth]]'' and its expansion, ''[[Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest|The Art of Conquest]]'' (AOC).

== See also ==
* [[List of WON-Enabled games]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="smc faq">{{cite web
| title        = SMC Help - FAQ
| website      = Stock Market Challenge
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://smc.sierra.com/faq.htm
| access-date  = 2023-04-13
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19970205131020/http://smc.sierra.com/faq.htm
| archive-date = 1997-02-05
| quote        = On 9/9/95, the system went through a major upgrade.
}}</ref>
<ref name="smc eol">{{cite web
| title        = Stock Market Challenge Says Goodbye.
| website      = Stock Market Challenge
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://smc.sierra.com/
| access-date  = 2023-04-13
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19970413223357/http://smc.sierra.com/
| archive-date = 1997-04-13
| quote        = ...thank you for participating in the Sierra Internet Gaming System beta evaluation of Stock Market Challenge.
}}</ref>

<ref name="blackjack beta">{{cite web
| date         = 1996-10-04
| title        = BETA Test Announcement
| website      = Stock Market Challenge
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://sigs.sierra.com/
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19970129060821/http://sigs.sierra.com/
| archive-date = 1997-01-29
| quote        = To find out more about the Hoyle Internet Blackjack BETA test, press here
}}</ref>

<ref name="casino">{{cite web
| title        = Sierra's Hoyle Series - Casino
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Family
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/hoyle/casino.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961220004020/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/hoyle/casino.html
| archive-date = 1996-12-20
| quote        = (SIGS Logo) Play Blackjack and Poker over The Internet!
}}</ref>

<ref name="fb97">{{cite web
| title        = Front Page Sports: Football Pro '97
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Sports
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/fb97/
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961219232916/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/fb97/
| archive-date = 1996-12-19
| quote        = Modem, network, and Internet play...
}}</ref>
<ref name="fb97 faq">{{cite web
| title        = FPS: Football Pro '97 Frequently Asked Questions
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Sports
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/fb97/fbfaq.txt
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961219234317/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/fb97/fbfaq.txt
| archive-date = 1996-12-19
| quote        = SIGS is currently the only method you can use to play on the internet. The problems you are encountering are currently being addressed as SIGS is still in a beta state.
}}</ref>

<ref name="tbass2">{{cite web
| title        = Front Page Sports: Trophy Bass 2
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Sports
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/tbass2/
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961219235231/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/tbass2/
| archive-date = 1996-12-19
| quote        = Win 95 Multiplayer options over Internet, modem-to-modem, or LAN.
}}</ref>
<ref name="tbass2 tech">{{cite web
| date         = 1996-11-22
| title        = TROPHY BASS 2 Technical Info
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Sports
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/tbass2/tech.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961220003816/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/tbass2/tech.html
| archive-date = 1996-12-20
| quote        = Internet (SIGS) Games
}}</ref>

<ref name="cstorm">{{cite web
| date         = 1996-12-21
| title        = Patches and Utilities
| website      = Sierra Support
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://sierra.com/support/technical/patches.html#C
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19980214120559/http://sierra.com/support/technical/patches.html#C
| archive-date = 1998-02-14
| quote        = cstorm11.exe ... posted on 12/21/96
}}</ref>
<ref name="cstorm patch11">{{cite AV media notes
| date         = 1996-12-17
| title        = MissionForce: CyberStorm v1.1 Patch
| type         = patch notes
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| version      = 1.10a
| at           = PATCH.TXT
| url          = https://archive.org/details/CSTORM11_EXE
| quote        = You may now play games over the Sierra Internet Gaming System (SIGS).
}}</ref>

<ref name="pchess">{{cite web
| title        = Power Chess
| website      = Sierra Entertainment: Strategy
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/powerchess/
| access-date  = 2023-04-05
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19961219235419/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/powerchess/
| archive-date = 1996-12-19
| quote        = If you have any trouble playing Power Chess over the Internet, check our S.I.G.S. page for a quick fix.
}}</ref>

<ref name="sigs 1997feb05">{{cite web
| title        = SIGS Home Page
| website      = Sierra
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://smc.sierra.com/bjintercept.htm
| access-date  = 2023-04-06
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19970205130911/http://smc.sierra.com/bjintercept.htm
| archive-date = 1997-02-05
| quote        = Copyright ©1996 Sierra On-Line, Inc.
}}</ref>

<ref name="sigs end 1997">{{cite web
| date         = 1997
| title        = Games
| website      = Sierra Internet Gaming System
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| url          = http://sigs.sierra.com/games.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-24
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19980224103950/http://sigs.sierra.com/games.html
| archive-date = 1998-02-24
| quote        = ...we'll add even more titles before the end of 1997...
}}</ref>

<ref name="won announced gs">{{cite news
| last         = Feldman
| first        = Curt
| date         = 1997-11-18
| title        = World Opponent Network Launch Upcoming
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/18_wonnet/index.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19980119062808/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/18_wonnet/index.html
| archive-date = 1998-01-19
}}</ref>
<ref name="won beta">{{cite press release
| date         = 1997-12-08
| title        = CUC International Inc. Announces All-Encompasing (sic) Internet Gaming Site
| publisher    = [[CUC International]]
| location     = Stamford, CT
| url          = http://www.won.net/info/press/won.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000818045051/http://www.won.net/info/press/won.html
| archive-date = 2000-08-18
}}</ref>
<ref name="won beta gs">{{cite news
| last         = Jebens
| first        = Harley
| date         = 1997-12-08
| title        = WON Is Open for Business
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/08_won/index.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19980119060405/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/08_won/index.html
| archive-date = 1998-01-19
}}</ref>
<ref name="won launch gs">{{cite news
| last         = <!--By Staff-->
| date         = 1998-04-13
| title        = World Opponent Network Launches
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_04/13_won/index.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19990219104546/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_04/13_won/index.html
| archive-date = 1999-02-19
}}</ref>

<ref name="onlinegames">{{cite news
| last         = Ocampo
| first        = Jason
| date         = 1997
| title        = Twelve games all playable on WON
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/094/online_games_collection.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030704204716/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/094/online_games_collection.html
| archive-date = 2003-07-04
}}</ref>


<ref name="hl agreement">{{cite press release
| date         = 1997-05-27 <!--date found on parent page-->
| title        = Sierra secures exclusive publishing and distribution rights for Half-Life, the hot upcoming action game from Valve.
| publisher    = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| location     = Bellevue, WA
| url          = http://sierra.com/info/press/0056.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19980214051042/http://sierra.com/info/press/0056.html
| archive-date = 1998-02-14
}}</ref>

<ref name="unreal agreement">{{cite press release
| date         = 1998-05-27
| title        = WON Gets Unreal!: The World Opponent Network Announces First Major Third Party Game Agreement With GT Interactive and Epic MegaGames to Bring Unreal to WON
| publisher    = WON
| location     = Bellevue, WA
| agency       = Business Wire
| url          = http://www.won.net/info/press/unreal.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000818045027/http://www.won.net/info/press/unreal.html
| archive-date = 2000-08-18
}}</ref>

<ref name="activision agreement">{{cite press release
| date         = 1999-09-07
| title        = WON.net and Activision Partner to Bring Improved Online Gameplay, Content, Community to Consumers
| publisher    = [[Activision]]
| location     = Bellevue, WA
| url          = http://www.won.net/info/press/activision.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000818044314/http://www.won.net/info/press/activision.html
| archive-date = 2000-08-18
}}</ref>
<ref name="activision agreement cdmag">{{cite news
| last         = Abner
| first        = William
| date         = 1999-09-07
| title        = Nine Activision games to use WON.net tools
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/137/won.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20050206083517/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/137/won.html
| archive-date = 2005-02-06
}}</ref>


<ref name="750k cdmag">{{cite news
| last         = Ocampo
| first        = Jason
| date         = 1998-09-02
| title        = Cendant's gaming site now has 750,000 members
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/039/won_touts_membership.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030130180907/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/039/won_touts_membership.html
| archive-date = 2003-01-30
}}</ref>
<ref name="1pct cdmag">{{cite news
| last         = Fudge
| first        = James
| date         = 1999-03-25
| title        = One Percent of U.S World Wide Web Audience Visited WON.NET In February
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/018/146/won_600k.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030130162757/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/018/146/won_600k.html
| archive-date = 2003-01-30
}}</ref>


<ref name="won entity">{{cite news
| last         = Fudge
| first        = James
| date         = 1999-09-24
| title        = WON.net Becomes Own Entity
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/026/won.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030130162239/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/026/won.html
| archive-date = 2003-01-30
}}</ref>

<ref name="eu announce">{{cite press release
| date         = 1999-09-10
| title        = WON.net Prepares to Launch First European Portal
| publisher    = WON.net
| location     = Bellevue, WA
| url          = http://www.won.net/info/press/eurowon.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000818044244/http://www.won.net/info/press/eurowon.html
| archive-date = 2000-08-18
}}</ref>
<ref name="eu announce gs">{{cite news
| last         = Mullen
| first        = Micheal
| date         = 1999-09-10
| title        = Under WON Europe
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_09/10_pc_won/index.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000128083849/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_09/10_pc_won/index.html
| archive-date = 2000-01-28
}}</ref>
<ref name="eu launch gs">{{cite news
| last         = Kasavin
| first        = Greg
| date         = 2000-02-17
| title        = Won.net Launches in Europe
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = http://headline.gamespot.com/news/00_02/17_pc_won/index.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20000521080132/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/00_02/17_pc_won/index.html
| archive-date = 2000-05-21
}}</ref>

<ref name="prizecentral">{{cite news
| last         = Fudge
| first        = James
| date         = 2000-03-29
| title        = Havas Interactive Acquires PrizeCentral.com
| work         = [[cdmag.com]]
| url          = http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/032/havas.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20030525160748/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/032/havas.html
| archive-date = 2003-05-25
}}</ref>
<ref name="flipside facts">{{cite web
| title        = Flipside Facts at a Glance
| website      = Flipside
| publisher    = flipside.com
| url          = http://flipside.com/corp/aboutus/facts.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20001017124307/http://flipside.com/corp/aboutus/facts.html
| archive-date = 2000-10-17
}}</ref>

<ref name="won action">{{cite web
| title        = Games of WON.net
| website      = action.WON.net
| url          = http://action.won.net/main.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20001018182328/http://action.won.net/main.html
| archive-date = 2000-10-18
| quote        = Yep, it's a new look for WON.net ... we're your choice for contests, news, and portals to the best in multiplayer excitement — powered by flipside! ... Can't find the game you're looking for? Feel like you're lost in an old friend's new neighborhood? Favorites like Hoyle, Quick Games and Bezerk are also powered by flipside. 
}}</ref>

<ref name="caesar4 review gs">{{cite web
| last         = Ocampo
| first        = Jason
| date         = 2006-10-05
| title        = Caesar IV Review
| website      = [[GameSpot]]
| url          = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/caesar-iv-review/1900-6159378/
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
| quote        = Caesar IV also manages to incorporate an online element into a traditionally single-player genre.
}}</ref>

<ref name="valve v vivendi">{{cite news
| last         = Feldman
| first        = Curt
| date         = 2004-12-15
| title        = Valve vs. Vivendi Universal dogfight heats up in US District Court
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-vs-vivendi-universal-dogfight-heats-up-in-us-district-court/1100-6107712/
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
}}</ref>

<ref name="valve eol">{{cite news
| author       = cliffe
| date         = 2004-07-15
| title        = WON Shutdown Timing
| work         = [[Steam (service)|Steam News]]
| url          = http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=news
| access-date  = 2023-04-07
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20040725085742/http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=news
| archive-date = 2004-07-25
| quote        = Starting July 26th the shutdown of the WON authentication servers will begin. This process will be completed on July 31st.
}}</ref>
<ref name="valve eol gs">{{cite news
| last         = Golze
| first        = Benjamin
| date         = 2004-07-15
| title        = Valve to shut down WON servers
| work         = [[GameSpot]]
| location     = US
| url          = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-to-shut-down-won-servers/1100-6102754/
| access-date  = 2023-04-25
}}</ref>

<ref name="sof eol">{{cite web
| last         = godh
| date         = 2001-07-08
| title        = SoF 1.07f (Fixed) Patch has been released!
| website      = [[GameFront]]
| url          = https://www.gamefront.com/games/soldier-of-fortune/article/sof-1-07f-fixed-patch-has-been-released
| access-date  = 2023-04-07
| quote        = As of August 2001, WON no longer hosts Soldier of Fortune multiplayer gaming.
}}</ref>
<ref name="sof patch107f">{{cite web
| date         = 2001-07-08
| title        = Soldier of Fortune retail patch v1.07f
| website      = 3D Gamers
| url          = http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/994612377/
| access-date  = 2023-04-07
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20010712192002/http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/994612377/
| archive-date = 2001-07-12
| quote        = * Removed WON, * Added GameSpy
}}</ref>

<ref name="sierra 2007 eol">{{cite news
| author       = Sierra Entertainment
| author-link  = Sierra Entertainment
| date         = 2007-07-16
| title        = Notice of Multiplayer Functionality Termination for 20 Sierra Entertainment Heritage Titles
| work         = [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra News]]
| location     = Los Angeles, CA
| url          = http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=news
| access-date  = 2023-04-07
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20040725085742/http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=news
| archive-date = 2004-07-25
| quote        = The sites and multiplayer functionality for the following products will terminate as of August 16, 2007...
}}</ref>

<ref name="sierra 2008 eol">{{cite web
| author       = Eric@Sierra
| date         = 2008-11-01
| title        = Announcement: Sierra Game Servers Closing Down
| website      = Vivendi Games Forums
| publisher    = [[VU Games]]
| url          = http://forums.vgames.com/ann.jspa?annID=332
| access-date  = 2023-04-07
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081009093704/http://forums.vgames.com/ann.jspa?annID=332
| archive-date = 2008-10-09
| quote        = The following game servers will be shut down as of 11/01/08...
}}</ref>

<ref name="won2 3dgamers">{{cite news
| last         = Frans
| date         = 2005-08-04
| title        = Half-Life unofficial retail patch v1.1.1.1
| work         = [[IGN|3D Gamers]]
| url          = http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/1096482423/
| access-date  = 2023-04-26
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20051121020301/http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/1096482423/
| archive-date = 2005-11-21
}}</ref>
<ref name="won2 jaskiewicz">{{cite thesis
| last         = Jaśkiewicz
| first        = Grzegorz
| date         = 2015
| title        = Programowanie w logice jako narzędzie planowania zachowań botów w grach FPS
| trans-title  = Logic programming as a tool for planning bot behavior in FPS games
| degree       = Doctorate
| language     = pl
| publisher    = Warsaw University of Technology
| chapter      = 1.2.3. Charakterystyka gry Counter-Strike
| trans-chapter= 1.2.3. Characteristics of the Counter-Strike game
| page         = 20
| url          = https://archive.org/details/jaskiewicz-doktorat/page/20?q=WON2
| quote        = W początkowych wersjach gry ''Counter-Strike'' rolę tej usługi pełniła sieć o nazwie WON. ... Po przejęciu roli sieci kojarzącej graczy przez wspomnianą wcześniej platformę Steam sieć WON została wyłączona, co pozostawiło wczesne wersje gry ''Counter-Strike'' bez usługi tego rodzaju. Odpowiedzią społeczności gry na to zdarzenie było stworzenie otwartego zamiennika sieci WON, o nazwie WON2, znanej też pod nazwa ''Steamless''.
| trans-quote  = In the early versions of ''Counter-Strike'', this service was a network called WON. ... After the aforementioned Steam platform took over the role of the matchmaking network, the WON network was disabled, leaving early versions of ''Counter-Strike'' without such a service. The game community's response to this event was to create an open source replacement for the WON network, called WON2, also known as ''Steamless''.
}}</ref>
<ref name="won2 ucg">{{cite magazine
| last         = 稀饭
| date         = 2016-08-01
| title        = Biàngé Zhèntòng
| script-title = zh:变革阵痛
| trans-title  = Pains of Change
| magazine         = Ultra Console Game
| script-work  = zh:游戏机实用技术
| language     = zh-hans
| location     = China
| issue        = 399
| page         = 91
| url          = https://archive.org/details/UCG-2016/%E6%B8%B8%E6%88%8F%E6%9C%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%8A%80%E6%9C%AF%20399%202016.8A/page/91
| script-quote = zh:但是在最初期的时候，Steam的联机服务质量并没有达到WON的高度，许多习惯了WON流畅速度的《CS》玩家大为不满。他们甚至私下制作了补丁，让零售版的《半条命》和《反了恐精英》能够继续连接到WON的替代者no-WON(也被称为WON2)上，继续过往的联机体验。
| trans-quote  = But in the very early days, the quality of Steam's online service did not reach the height of WON, and many ''CS'' players who were used to the smooth speed of WON were very dissatisfied. They even made a private patch so that the retail versions of ''Half-Life'' and ''Counter-Strike'' can continue to connect to WON's replacement, no-WON (also known as WON2), and continue the past online experience.
}}</ref>
<ref name="won2 heutte">{{cite book
| last         = Heutte
| first        = Jean
| date         = 2019-11-06
| title        = Les fondements de l'éducation positive: Perspective psychosociale et systémique de l'apprentissage
| trans-title  = The foundations of positive parenting : A psychosocial and systemic perspective on learning
| language     = fr
| publisher    = Dunod
| location     = Malakoff, France
| chapter      = 3.4.2 Le ''modding'' et le ''learning game'' 2.0
| trans-chapter= 3.4.2 ''Modding'' and the ''learning game'' 2.0
| pages        = 55, 62
| isbn         = 9782100804986
| url          = https://books.google.com/books?id=M0C7DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22won2%22+%22counter-strike%22&pg=PT62
| quote        = Niveau 0 : les ''modders'' s'organisent de façon totalement indépendante des modes de productions officiels (ils peuvent être tolérés par l'éditeur ou prendre le risque d'être poursuivi en justice par l'éditeur), comme par exemple dans le cas de ''Counter-Strike'', avec le service WON2<sup>37</sup>. 37. Les parties multijoueurs de ''Counter-Strike'' sur Internet fonctionnaient à l'origine avec le service ''World Opponent Network'' (WON), qui a été fermé en 2004 avec l'arrivée de la version 1.6 du jeu, forçant les joueurs à passer sur la plateforme Steam21. Toutefois, une importante quantité de joueurs de ''Counter-Strike'' 1.5 ayant refusé le passage à la distribution Steam qu'a subi ''Counter-Strike'' avec sa version 1.6, sont restés fidèles à leur version, et face à cette obligation qui impliquait de nombreuses communications publicitaires, quelques joueurs ont créé leur propre service, appelé « WON2 » et on invité les autres à les suivre.
| trans-quote  = Level 0: ''modders'' organize themselves completely independently of official production methods (they can be tolerated by the publisher or take the risk of being sued by the publisher), as for example in the case of ''Counter-Strike'', with the WON2<sup>37</sup> service. 37. ''Counter-Strike'' multiplayer games on the Internet originally worked with the ''World Opponent Network'' (WON) service, which was shut down in 2004 with the arrival of version 1.6 of the game, forcing players to switch to the Steam platform. However, a large number of ''Counter-Strike'' 1.5 players who refused the switch to Steam distribution that ''Counter-Strike'' forced with its version 1.6, remained faithful to their version, and faced with this obligation which involved numerous advertising communications, some players created their own service, called “WON2” and invited others to follow them.
}}</ref>
<ref name="won2 stats">{{cite web
| title        = Statistics
| website      = WON2.net
| publisher    = Steamless CS Project Team
| url          = https://won2.net/Network-Statistics/
| access-date  = 2023-04-26
| quote        = 14h; Servers: 60; Players: 406
}}</ref>
<ref name="steamless about">{{cite web
| title        = About
| website      = Steamless CS Project
| publisher    = Steamless CS Project Team
| url          = https://v5.steamlessproject.nl/index.php?page=about
| access-date  = 2023-04-26
}}</ref>
<ref name="steamless forum 2016">{{cite web
| title        = Information
| website      = Steamless CS Project Forums
| publisher    = Steamless CS Project Team
| url          = https://forums.steamlessproject.nl/
| access-date  = 2023-04-26
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160821153502/https://forums.steamlessproject.nl/
| archive-date = 2016-08-21
| quote        = Steamless CS Project Forums is currently under maintenance.
}}</ref>
<ref name="csbeta about">{{cite web
| title        = FAQs: And what we are all about
| website      = Counter-Strike Beta 6.1
| url          = http://eisbaer.essentrix.net/about.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-26
}}</ref>
<ref name="csbeta servers">{{cite web
| title        = Servers: Technical assistance and setup
| website      = Counter-Strike Beta 6.1
| url          = http://eisbaer.essentrix.net/servers.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
}}</ref>

<ref name="neuwon gcode">{{cite web
| title        = world-opponent-network
| website      = Google Code Archive
| url          = https://code.google.com/archive/p/world-opponent-network/
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
}}</ref>
<ref name="neuwon new moddb">{{cite news
| last         = snapshot
| date         = 2015-04-25
| title        = NeuWON - Almost there
| work         = [[Mod DB]]
| url          = https://www.moddb.com/news/neuwon-almost-there
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
}}</ref>
<ref name="neuwon launch moddb">{{cite news
| last         = snapshot
| date         = 2016-03-16
| title        = Official Launch of NeuWON!
| work         = [[Mod DB]]
| url          = https://www.moddb.com/news/official-launch-of-neuwon
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
}}</ref>
<ref name="neuwon launch">{{cite news
| last         = ben
| date         = 2016-03-13
| title        = Official Launch For NeuWON!
| work         = NeuWon.NET
| url          = http://neuwon.com/news.php?readmore=9
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160329051940/http://neuwon.com/news.php?readmore=9
| archive-date = 2016-03-29
}}</ref>
<ref name="nuwon games">{{cite web
| title        = Supported Games
| website      = NuWON
| url          = https://nuwon.net/viewpage.php?page_id=4
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20210507225240/https://nuwon.net/viewpage.php?page_id=4
| archive-date = 2021-05-07
}}</ref>

<ref name="neoee about">{{cite web
| title        = About NeoEE
| website      = NeoEE
| url          = https://www.neoee.net/about
| access-date  = 2023-04-27
}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web
| title        = Meet The Team
| website      = Sierra Internet Gaming System
| publisher    = Sierra On-Line
| url          = http://smc.sierra.com/team.html
| access-date  = 2023-04-24
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/19990218194038/http://smc.sierra.com/team.html
| archive-date = 1999-02-18
}}
* [https://won2.net WON2] - Pre-Steam ''Half-Life'' and its mods (namely ''Counter-Strike'' 1.5)
* [http://eisbaer.essentrix.net/ Counter-Strike Beta 6.1] - ''Counter-Strike'' beta 6.1 and earlier
* [https://www.neoee.net/ NeoEE] - ''Empire Earth'' and its AOC expansion

{{Online video game networks}}

[[Category:Multiplayer video game services]]
[[Category:Online video game networks]]
[[Category:Sierra Entertainment]]