About Massively Multiplayer Online Games
What are massively multiplayer online games?
Massively multiplayer online games are games that tend to be traditionally PC games. So people who play personal computer games are somewhat familiar with this game type. Really what it is, compared to a console game such as a Playstation or an Xbox 360, massively multiplayer online games are games that have thousands, hundreds of thousands, and some games having millions of players playing at the same time. In a single player game, the different characters you see on the screen are computer controlled. They are artificial intelligence, and there is no one who is behind that character. Where as in a massively multiplayer game, everyone you see in a game is controlled by someone at a computer. So you can interact with them, make friendships with them, and go adventure with them.
What do the abbreviations MMOG and MMORPG stand for in online games?
MMOG stands for massively multiplayer online game. That could be anything that is massively multiplayer. It could be a puzzle game, it could be poker, it could be any game that has thousands of players playing at the same time. An MMORPG is a subset of an MMOG. It is a game that is a role-playing game. These games tend to be fantasy themed where you assume the role of a character in that game. You adventure with friends. You develop your character by getting new gear, new clothes, and things like that. An MMORPH is a subset of MMOG.
How are players represented in massively multiplayer online games?
In massively multiplayer online games, players are represented as avatars, and what an avatar is, is a character that you create in the game. So imagine in a fantasy game you create a barbarian, the barbarian has got tattoos on his body, and he's real big and muscular. And, when you play in the game you have a role, and that is defined by that character. So, that barbarian may be someone who rushes into the fight first, and he takes a lot of damage. Where in another situation, you could create a dwarf, and the dwarf is real small, and he's really crafty at making things. So the avatar that you create in a MMORPG, defines the role that you are going to play in that game.
How have massively multiplayer online games evolved?
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) have evolved from games that were called "Multi User Dungeons" or as the gamers refer to them as "MUDS." The idea behind that was that it was a completely text-based game. So, on your computer screen it would give you a description of what you're seeing in a room. For example, you're in a dark, damp room and there's a table in the center of the room and a door to the north. So, players would play that game by typing "N" to go north and that would take them to the next room. "Ultima Online" which came out was a massively multiplayer online role playing game, but it introduced graphics to the industry and it played exactly the same way except now instead of reading what was in the room, you could actually see what was in the room. Ultima Online was a 2D game so that it was all hand drawn art. EverQuest came along and actually introduced 3D graphics. So now, when you are playing the same type of game play experience, you are actually in the room. You could move your head around in the game and you had a sense of depth and perception.
Why are massively multiplayer online games so popular?
Massive multiplayer online games are very popular because of the social aspect of it. The whole point of the game is to get in the game, and make friends. You know, people go and they live their normal day job, they go to work, they're a lawyer or a student, and they get into this massively multiplayer online world where now they've created a different persona. They're able to hang out with people that could be across the coast, it could be across the country, but they all have something in common, and what they have in common is the game that they're playing. So that, in essence, makes it a very social environment, where people can share what's going on in their real life while they share what's going on in the virtual world.
How long do massively multiplayer online games remain active?
Massively multiplayer online games have a very long life span. Even though beginning games have still not closed, so we're talking over ten years, games have been running. Games that have thousands of players still from ten years ago are still running. And the longer that the game lasts, the more involved the community gets. So when the game first comes out, the developers, the people that are making the game, are very critical for what they present to the players. But the longer that lifespan goes on, the more involved the actual players get with the game, and they start kind of nurturing the game. So there haven't been any that have shut down, but only time will tell.
Why do most massively multiplayer online games charge a monthly fee?
What will MMOGs be like in the future?
MMOGs and the future have an interesting twist. What we've found on the internet is that many of the players and people that just go to the internet in general, have become very used to making a customized experience. When you look at things like MySpace and YouTube, the internet is becoming more of a tool for players and people just to create their own things. So in the past, MMORPGs have been very focused on what we as developers provide to the players , where I think in the future, we will become more of a tool that will allow the players to create the game that they want to play.
