What Is a MMORPG?

You may not know it but you may already be participating in MMORPG by playing EverQuest or World of Warcraft. What the gaming jargon actually means is Massive (or massively) multiplayer online role-playing game, wherein a large number of gamers play online, connected through a server. These games are called massive online because in one server, there can be up to 5000 gamers connected and that is only one server.

But where do the gamers play? What do they play? Well, that depends on the type of MMORPG but the usual theme are fantasy themes, either of a medieval world, a sci-fi world where dragons, robots, intergalactic travel and monsters exist or normal, real life human world. The gamers are usually represented by a computer generated character that the player chooses before he or she actually participates in the game. These characters are usually called as avatars. These avatars, depending on the game, can be humans, elves, robots, etcetera and the player can choose their stats. This means that you can choose how strong your character will be, how much magic he or she can perform and what type of character will he be if placed in a guild. Usually, if you chose an extremely strong character, then the pay off will be lesser intelligence or agility. It really is basically with the decision of the player on how to balance things off.

After choosing a character, the game begins. Your ultimate goal is to gain as much experience points as you can so as to make your avatar stronger and allow it to be more able to go and finish quests. Aside form this, you will also have to earn virtual money in your online world to buy nourishment, healing potions and items that your character will use as you go through your quests.

Aside of the playability of MMORPG’s, the most important feature of this type of game is the fact that you play it online with other players. Social interactions occur depending on the communications allowed by the game. But more commonly players can chat up and introduce themselves to each other. They can chat with everyone able to see their message or to specific players only. Some games will also allow you to build guilds or groups with other players so you can go through quests together and experience points together.

When you are in a formal online group, you will usually have a specialized role. Like some players will be the ranged attackers and some will be the melee ones that can absorb the attacks of the enemies. One or two will be healers, restoring health to those melee “tankers.” There will also be some players that will provide the immobilization of the enemy either by “trapping” them or “stunning” them making the enemy lose control even for a few seconds.

Due to these features, massive (or massively) multiplayer online role-playing gaming can become very addicting to some players, some even forking a monthly subscription of $10 per month.