Publications : Digital 2007: Cathy's Seminar

Online Gaming - MMORPG

MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) is a genre of online computer role-playing games (RPGs) in which a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual world. As in all RPGs, players assume the role of a fictional character (most commonly in a fantasy setting) and take control over many of that character's actions. MMORPGs are distinguished from single-player or small multi-player RPGs by the number of players, and by the game's persistent world, usually hosted by the game's publisher, which continues to exist and evolve while the player is away from the game.

History

The term "MMORPG" emerged in 1996 after Trip Hawkins frequently made use of the term "massively multiplayer" when explaining early graphical products to the media. Although MMORPGs as defined today have only existed since the early 1990s, their history begins as early as the late 1970s.

The first gameworlds

MUD (Multi-User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension) , the world's oldest multi-user roleplaying game

The beginning of the MMORPG genre can be traced to text-based with the first being developed by Richard Bartle and Roy Trub
shaw in 1978. By typing commands into a parser, players would enter a dungeon, fight monsters, gain experience, and acquire loot.

Early commercial development

In 1991, the first graphical MMORPG was Neverwinter Nights on AOL. In addition to being the first graphics base MMORPG, the game also marked the first appearance of online Clans and Player versus player combat in multiplayer RPGS. It cost $6.00 per hour to play.

The Realm Online, originally known as simply The Realm, was one of the first MMORPGs for public. It was launched on December 31, 1996 for Windows personal computers. Methods of social interaction include chat channels, "room" chats (limited to the players shown on a screen), private messages, and an in-game mail service.

Commercial MMORPG on the Internet

Access to the Internet, forming a global player base, caused game companies to grow in popularity and accumulate truly massive numbers. With this global access to paying customers, there also came a surge in profitability for game companies.

Ultima Online is a popular graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), released on September 25, 1997, by Origin Systems.
The success of Ultima Online opened the door for the creation of many new massively multiplayer games. Ultima Online is a third-person/isometric fantasy role-playing game set in the Ultima universe. It is online-only and played by thousands of simultaneous users (who pay a monthly fee) on various game servers, also known as shards. It is known for its extensive timing-based player versus player combat system. Over a million paid accounts have been created in the game. To maintain order in the online community, there are Game Masters who resolve player disputes, police the shard for terms of service violations, and correct glitches in the game.

EverQuest (EQ) is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that was released on March 16, 1999. It was developed by Verant Interactive and published by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE). SOE currently runs and distributes EverQuest. The game's sequel, EverQuest II, was released in 2004.

To play, one must initially pay for the game software and then pay a recurring monthly fee; a free trial is also available for those who wish to experience the game before paying.

Second-generation Commercial MMORPGs

In 2002, Final Fantasy XI was released, which hoped to bring in fans of the extremely popular (but mostly single-player) Final Fantasy series, which was particularly popular in Japan. Like the previous Final Fantasy games, this one was playable on a console, using a handheld controller, though it bore little resemblance to gameplay in prior Final Fantasy titles. Though

not the first MMORPG played on a console, it was the first to allow console and PC users to play together.

Modern MMORPGs

At present, World of Warcraft is one of the most played games in North America, and the most played MMORPG worldwide, with a total of over 8 million customers. With the release of these newer games, subscriptions began to decline for many older MMORPGs, The current MMORPG market has World of Warcraft share being greater than 50% of the overall market. Players control a character avatar within a persistent gameworld, exploring the landscape, fighting monsters, and performing quests on behalf of computer-controlled characters. The game rewards success through money, items, and experience, which in turn allow players to improve in skill and power.

In addition, players may opt to take part in battles against other players, including both duels and fights against player characters allied with an enemy faction.

The majority of the quests d uring the early and middle stages of gameplay can be completed without the help of other players, particularly if the player is a higher level than what the quest suggests. Other portions of the game, such as dungeons, are designed to require other players to work together for success. Dungeons are designed for parties ranging from two to five players, up to significantly more difficult "raids" (a term originating from EverQuest gameplay) requiring up to a maximum of 40 players. The highest level, most complex dungeons, and encounters are designed to take raiding guilds months of playtime and many attempts before they succeed.

Free Online Games

MapleStory is a free, 2D, side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game developed by the Korean company. Although playing the game is free, many player appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million players in all of its versions. MapleStory Global, for players mainly outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over one million players. In the game, players defend the "Maple World" from monsters and develop their character's skills and abilities, as in typical role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading, and playing mini games. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also band in a guild to interact more easily with each other.