History of KDW

*Originally Posted by Legend Kirby on this page (Don't let him know) xP*

Kirby's Dream World is an online virtual community created in an MMORPG
style--although, it didn't always used to be that way. Contrary to what
some may believe, KDW's roots go farther back from it's release in 2006,
 and has undergone many changes over the years. This is the full history
 of Kirby's Dream World.

**2005**

The initial concept of Kirby's Dream World can be seen as far back as
the summer of 2005, and was created by two who now go by the names of
"Legend," and "Rufus." One day, as a random side project, Rufus and
Legend decided to start a brand new gaming forum. It was summer, school
was out, and Rufus had never owned his own website before, so they both
got to work. While Legend had worked on, and owned other gaming forums
in the past, they were all based on a specific game or fanbase, and
Rufus wanted to do something different. So, he chose the theme of Kirby.

Within a few hours the RPG forum "Kirby Land" was created. Both Legend
and Rufus were fans of the series, and they both knew there were many
other fans out there as well, but it was also very clear that Kirby Land
 would have to do something different to stand out--so that's what they
did. Rather than creating a simple gaming forum where fans could discuss
 the series, Kirby Land became a role playing based forum, complete with
 a battle system mod, a level up system, and role play forums where
members could come up with their own stories, and simply have fun.

For awhile, Kirby Land did have an active community. Somehow word caught
 on, and soon the site was filled with kids who not only loved to
discuss the Kirby series, but take part in the RPG elements as well.
Members were coming up with stories, Rufus started a "News Room" to
report on different events on the site, and discussion of the Kirby
series was on the rise. Kirby Land just sort of became a "hit." While
the community was small, those who were a part of it loved it, and they
alone kept it alive--at least, for awhile.

Kirby Land's popularity didn't last long, and before the summer of 2005
was over, the forum was as well. The Kirby series hadn't seen any
mainline games in quite some time, and people began moving on. While the
 RPG kept them coming back for more at first, things did slow down, and
ultimately the forum died. It wouldn't be until another year that it
would shine it's light again.

May 2006

Almost a year later the concept of Kirby's Land would rise again. This
time Legend and fellow friends Dr.Killjoy and Vile decided to take a go
at it, but in a slightly different way. Legend still liked the idea of
having a Kirby RPG forum, and as fellow fans themselves, Dr.Killjoy and
Vile agreed to help. Rather than going back to the old Kirby Land forum,
 the three created a brand new one, and this time they took a different
route.

Rather than being a simple forum with Kirby discussion forums, and RPG
forums, the new Kirby fan site became a "chose your own adventure" type
forum. While the RPG boards were still there, a multitude of areas were
added, a story was implemented, and areas were accessed by choosing
where you wanted to go within your current area. Dialogue options were
added for "story events," the RPG battle and level up system were
improved, NPCs could be fought, and live chat rooms were added as well.
Just about everything the three could think of adding went into this
forum, and they were almost ready to release it to the public; then,
things changed.

While in the process of finding a graphic designer to help with the
site, Dr.Killjoy had to temporarily leave to go on vacation with his
family. He was going to be gone for a week or two, and until he got back
 the other two could only do so much--so, the project was put on hold.

June 2006

In June 2006, it happened. Despite the project being, work on it
continued but in a completely new way. While Legend loved the idea of a
massive RP community filled with Kirby fans, he couldn't help but feel
it could be much more. Around that time Nintendo's Official Nintendo's
Nsider Forums were filled with posts about a "Mario MMORPG"which he and
Vile had actually played. While the game was small, being only a few
areas with some enemies to kill, Legend liked the idea of it bringing
Mario fans together, and he wondered why no one had tried it with
Kirby--then, it hit him. He could do it.

After downloading the software and setting up the server, Legend and
Vile began working on what would become the prototype of Kirby's Dream
World. They got themselves to be familiar with the engine, and began
working on concepts for the game. While the prototype was simply the
engine at its default, with a few rooms and enemies to kill, both Legend
 and Vile could see the potential in it, and could only wonder what the
future would hold. Then, things changed. While Vile was there from the
start, life happened and he had to pull out from the project on the
second day of the reboot.

Left alone, Legend continued working on what would at first be known as
"Kirby Online." During the second day, the first in game town was
created, a few field areas were added in, and other basic features such
as enemies, currency, and shops were inserted into the world. Legend and
 Vile had a lot of ideas for this world, but with so much to do, some of
 them seemed like a far of dream. Then entered Rufus.

By the end of the second day "Cappy Town" was "finished." Enemies roamed
 the outskirts, both shops were up and running, the inns were open for
business, and paths were set up to take players to future locations. It
wasn't much, but it was a start, and enough of one for Rufus to get
involved with the project. Joining in at the end of the second day,
Rufus created KDW's first "hidden world," an area he called "Duck Land."
 This area was hidden behind the counter in the "Newbie Shop" and could
be accessed by passing through a specific point, and walking into a
hidden warp spot. At first it was more of a joke, but over the years it
would come to evolve into one of KDW's most well known and popular
areas. Starting on the third day.

The very next morning KDW went live for the first time. A forum topic
was created on Nintendo Nsider, and before too long many fans showed up
eager to beta test the new "game." From the get go it was clear that
"Kirby Online" was not made to be a true Kirby game, but rather a
virtual community where fans could meet up and hang out, and people
liked it. During that time there wasn't much to do besides explore some
areas, including a cave and a forest, but people had fun just being with
 others--while others wanted to get directly involved. Soon what was
once known as Kirby Online was renamed to "Kirby's Dream World," and the
 Dream aspect kicked into full gear.

During that summer hundreds of people joined the game, and Dream World
rapidly grew. Those who proved themselves gained positions on the staff
team, and the community itself was given the ability to submit their own
 content for the game and help expand on its world. While the staff was
hard at work on developing new areas, monsters, puzzles, and equipment,
members continued to interact with each other and the world, and the
news of KDW spread. In a short amount of time, hundreds of areas were
created, hundreds of pieces of equipment, and hundreds of NPCs. Whenever
 someone wanted something, it was created, and with each new member the
community grew stronger. Kirby's Dream World had completed its goal, and
 became a virtual world for Kirby fans and gamers alike.

After his long vacation had ended, Dr.Killjoy reentered the picture and
regained his position as one of the head staff members, and improved on
one of KDW's weakest areas--the weapon system. Working more on
equipment, and systems (and later on a new island), Dr.Killjoy continued
 to fulfill his role as a GM, and even headed KDW's first Halloween
event--the massive Murder Mansion. Along with other staff members such
as HeyThereJake, DarthMatt, Trix, DarthNick, JetKirby, Cross, King,
LetsAParty, KirbyOfGames, Zelda407, (later on Lugialv101, Invincibob,
and GlacialLeaf), and many others, he continued to lead the game along
with Legend and Rufus. While Vile did return from time to time, he took a
 backseat and watched as the world developed each time he logged in.

Over the next few years, KDW would continue to expand. Every staff
member had the freedom to create their own worlds and stories within it,
 and the game's members continued to have an impact on it as well. What
once started out as a small town, had evolved into a massive world with
thousands of areas created from the "dreams" of its community. KDW
continued to be a hangout spot for those who enjoyed the games, but it
also became a place where friends could meet and have fun doing just
about anything they could think of. With its open ended nature, KDW was
like a playground to those who played it, and some developed a special
place in their heart for it. A lot of great memories were made, life
long friendships were formed, and people's lives were changed. Although
members and staff members came and gone, the ones who left never forgot
it.