| For most of the 20th century, life used to be rather | | | | you approximately by skill, either one on one or in |
| simple for most people. There was school, college, | | | | teams of up to 4 on 4, or play others in |
| work, retirement. Along with that you had hobbies | | | | pre-arranged teams. As in FPS games, there are also |
| like cars, bowling, or gardening. The former was more | | | | clans in Warcraft, which in this case are even |
| or a less of a chore, the latter the fun stuff you did | | | | explicitly supported by Battlenet. This and the very |
| in your free time, usually together with local friends | | | | immediate visibility of someone's skill level (basically, |
| from the same neighborhood. This was basically the | | | | his win/loss ratio) gives rise to much competition |
| same as a thousand years ago. For a few lucky | | | | between dedicated players for the top ladder |
| people the two areas overlapped and they could do | | | | (ranking) spots. Unlike geographically uniform games |
| the stuff that they liked as their main job.Now, in the | | | | like Counter-Strike with tens of thousands of |
| last 10 years of the 20th century, as well as in the | | | | servers, Warcraft has just a handful of large servers, |
| first few years of the 21st, this has been changing | | | | each for a certain area of the world (e.g. Americas, |
| rather dramatically. The reason is the rapid technical | | | | Europe, Asia). Interestingly enough, most strategy |
| progress, both in the wide area network and | | | | games are dominated by Asian, especially South |
| computing power areas. Contemporary hardware can | | | | Korean, players, where online multiplayer games have |
| animate very detailed and realistic graphics fluently, | | | | been a very major part of the culture for years |
| and transfer data on the movements and actions of | | | | already. The professional South Korean Starcraft and |
| hundreds of objects and characters around the world | | | | Warcraft tournaments are major events with |
| in milliseconds (although, unfortunately, the speed of | | | | hundreds of thousands of live spectators, played on |
| light still remains a limiting factor). This has led to an | | | | an extremely competitive level, and broadcasted on |
| explosion in the availability and quality of online | | | | TV, and the top players have practically celebrity |
| games, with the newest generation like | | | | status and incomes in the six-figure range and |
| Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft becoming a | | | | higher.Since the popular strategy games are usually |
| phenomenon no longer limited to any particular social | | | | also just round-based, there is not very much room |
| class, but rather an all-encompassing cultural element | | | | for social interaction apart from an occasional chat. |
| in the industrial countries.Increasingly, parents find | | | | Strategy players are probably a bit older than FPS |
| that their children spend a lot of time playing some of | | | | players on average, mostly between 16 and 35 in the |
| those games, and more and more people come in | | | | Western societies.Massively Multiplayer Online Role |
| contact with them. This leads to people wanting | | | | Playing Games MMORPGs are the final and by far the |
| objective information, which is in practice not easy to | | | | most complex group in our classification. They are |
| obtain. Most articles about these games are either | | | | something like little worlds within themselves, often |
| written by rather clueless journalists who have never | | | | resembling scaled-down copies of the real world, yet |
| or hardly played the games in question and therefore | | | | different as well. The two leading MMORPGs as of |
| mainly focus on scandalous negative side effects, or | | | | the time of writing are probably World of Warcraft |
| by enthusiastic fans who dive deep into the | | | | (WoW) and Final Fantasy XI (FFXI) , each with |
| technicalities and don't mention the real world | | | | millions of active players worldwide. The distinctive |
| consequences much. This article tries to bridge the | | | | difference between MMORPGs and the other kinds |
| gap - it describes the currently most important types | | | | of online multiplayer games is that RPGs are not |
| of online games and looks in detail at the social | | | | round-based, and do not have a time limit or any |
| relationships behind them. The authors have been | | | | specific goal to achieve. They are just there to be |
| longterm players for years and therefore hope that | | | | explored along (or sometimes against) other players. |
| they can address the issue in considerably greater | | | | The key concept is that each player chooses a single |
| depth and detail than most journalists (however, you | | | | virtual avatar which is at first rather weak (low-level) |
| won't find detailed technical facts here since it is not | | | | and starts in some safe basic area of his choice. The |
| in scope of this article).There are basically three main | | | | current MMORPGs all offer a rich palette of races and |
| types of multiplayer online games:First-person | | | | locations to start with. Usually, to be able to explore |
| shooters (FPS) where the player sees everything | | | | the world, the character must be made stronger, |
| through a (usually temporary, just for the online | | | | which is typically achieved by killing some kind of |
| session or less) character's eyes and his gun's barrel. | | | | virtual monsters repeatedly, at low levels usually |
| This category still remains predominant in total | | | | alone, later in a group. You can also do "quests" - |
| worldwide player numbers (according to Valve, | | | | tasks given to you by an in-game character - for |
| Counterstrike is currently still the most popular online | | | | various rewards and with various degrees of |
| multiplayer game). Some of the other examples | | | | difficulty.Current MMORPGs are very large and highly |
| include Quake, Unreal Tournament, and | | | | complex. Even fully exploring their worlds can take |
| Doom3.Strategy games are the the second main | | | | years, and trying out all the playstyles and options is |
| category. Usually similar to FPS games in the round | | | | almost impossible. There are lots of different |
| session-based style of play, in these games the | | | | strategies for doing quests and winning difficult |
| player usually does not have any single entity, but | | | | battles, and organizational and managemental skills |
| rather commands a number of troops of some kind | | | | become essential in major conflicts where sometimes |
| against other human opponents. There are also | | | | hundreds of people are involved at once. Those |
| various options where one can both play with other | | | | large-scale groups already resemble something like |
| humans against the computer etc. Games of this kind | | | | real-world armies, with a defined command structure |
| include Starcraft, Warcraft III, Age of Empires and | | | | and squads with some special tasks each. This is |
| many others.The last group, the MMORPG (Massively | | | | something entirely new - nothing of comparable scale |
| Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), is the area | | | | and complexity has been there until just several |
| which popularity has really exploded in the last few | | | | years ago - and the scale is likely to become ever |
| years. Here, the player obtains a permanent | | | | greater.An impressive fact is the extreme |
| character (or entity) or several which can evolve and | | | | internationality of MMORPGs. A little less obvious with |
| be equipped with various gear, and undertakes | | | | WoW, since it is also Battlenet-based and uses the |
| adventures in a large world full with other players. | | | | regional server concept, it is highly apparent with Final |
| This is probably the most promising group since it | | | | Fantasy XI, which does not distinguish any regions - |
| resembles the real world most, and it has also been | | | | each of its servers has people from the entire Earth. |
| the fastest developing recently. The currently most | | | | Most players come from Japan (where the game |
| prominent games in this category are World of | | | | originates from), many from the US and Europe, but |
| Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI, Guild Wars, Everquest II | | | | it is possible to meet people from too many |
| and Lineage II.FPSIn first-person shooter games, the | | | | countries to list here, almost every corner of the |
| basic principle is simple. Shoot or be shot, kill or be | | | | world being represented. An interesting side effect is |
| killed. Starting with the original Castle of Wolfenstein | | | | that one comes in contact with numerous cultures |
| and Doom, these games have developed to a level | | | | and customs and many different languages. Some |
| of frightening realism mainly for men living out their | | | | anecdotal stories from the authors' own experience |
| ancient predatory and fighting instincts (according to | | | | include a maid coming in to clean an Egyptian player's |
| some surveys, there are about 10 times as many | | | | room at the wrong time, relaxed Moroccan players |
| male as female players in average FPS games). One | | | | sipping on a water pipe in an Internet cafe while |
| of the recent milestones in this category, Doom 3 is | | | | playing, and a Canadian PhD student surveying the |
| a game which is psychologically scary even to adult | | | | attitudes of gamers for her thesis work.Another |
| men with the highly detailed and realistic monsters | | | | positive thing about MMORPGs is that they |
| suddenly attacking from dark corners. However, once | | | | encourage making friends and teamplay very much. It |
| these games take to the online multiplayer stage, | | | | may be possible to do a lot alone (although not in all |
| their focus shifts a little. The goal is no longer to | | | | RPGs), but a well-matched group can do much more. |
| scare the pants off the lone player in his dark room, | | | | Therefore, social skills like making contacts and |
| but rather to provide a fun platform for competition | | | | keeping them are substantial in MMORPGs. Since the |
| between many players of different skill. The most | | | | player is hidden behind his avatar, the threshold to |
| popular online game in this category is still without | | | | approach someone you don't know is a lot lower |
| doubt Counter-Strike - a game which has received | | | | than in real life, which makes them a good playground |
| much negative fame because of various school | | | | for shy people. The authors know of several real-life |
| shootings done by Counter-Strike players, yet still | | | | relationships that initially started with the players liking |
| remains a highly captivating pastime for millions | | | | each other in the game and then finding out they |
| worldwide. It is a fan modification of Half-Life, a | | | | liked each other in real life as well. Of course, the |
| Valve game, and a team game in its core: one team | | | | chance for a mess-up is much higher here as well - |
| is the "terrorists", the other the "counter-terrorists", | | | | after all in real life it's unlikely you date someone who |
| and the play is round-based: at the start of a round, | | | | looks cute for a while, only to find out he's a chain |
| each team member receives an identical (except for | | | | smoking guy in his 30s. However, still, interestingly |
| clothing) avatar, picks some weapons, and the the | | | | enough, MMORPGs are relatively much more popular |
| two teams clash in combat until either a bomb is | | | | with women when compared to FPS or strategy |
| placed or everyone of one team is dead (there are | | | | games. That is probably because there's a lot of |
| also variations like "capture the flag" etc).There are | | | | social interaction within them - you make friends who |
| numerous reasons for the massive popularity of | | | | you see and adventure together a lot, and there's a |
| Counter-Strike. The game rounds are short-term in | | | | lot of talking and personal information being |
| nature and don't require much time. It is | | | | exchanged - something almost entirely missing from |
| comparatively realistic - weapons existing in reality like | | | | most other multiplayer games.The clan idea from FPS |
| the M-16 or AK-47 are used in the game, and even | | | | and strategy games is even much more emphasized |
| one shot may be enough to kill. Also, it is easily | | | | in MMORPGs. Guilds in WoW and linkshells in FFXI are |
| accessible - almost everyone can install and run a | | | | major social entities, with their members meeting |
| Counter-Strike server, and there are many thousands | | | | each other daily for years. The real-life meetings of |
| of them in the world online at any given time. | | | | large guilds or linkshells are worldwide events, with |
| Although the basic game does not lead to social | | | | people coming together from many different places. |
| interaction deeper than a quick chat, the grouping of | | | | Linkshell friendships sometimes last for years. On the |
| people around some specific favorite servers and the | | | | downside, this means that one can get hurt as well in |
| wish to play better, which inevitably requires solid | | | | the game - a fact that many people unfamiliar with |
| teamplay, has led to the phenomenon of so-called | | | | the whole phenomenon often fail to understand. "It's |
| "clans", or dedicated player groups, which usually have | | | | just a game", they say. On the one hand, they're |
| their own server where they train. A competitive clan | | | | right. Yet on the other hand, if it is possible to make |
| will usually have requirements for people wanting to | | | | new friends through these games, who become |
| join - a certain skill level, or some minimum playtime - | | | | real-life friends as well, one should realize that it is |
| and most serious clan players play at least several | | | | quite possible to get friendships broken by them as |
| hours a day. Dedicated clans will also sometimes | | | | well, for instance when being disappointed by people |
| meet in real life to discuss strategies and generally | | | | one had trusted. This is also something almost unique |
| have fun, which is not much different from most | | | | to MMORPGs - there has never been so much reality |
| other groups of people with similar hobbies, like e.g. | | | | in a virtual world before. Talking of that, one should |
| stamp collectors or RC model builders. Since many | | | | mention another peculiar aspect of those games - |
| servers are regional, mostly there are same-country | | | | the equipment hunting. As the avatars are the same |
| and often even same-neighborhood people on the | | | | (or similar) for everyone, the gear or equipment that |
| same server, which of course makes meeting in real | | | | a player has basically measures his social status, much |
| life easier as well.The picture is roughly comparable in | | | | like a car or money in real life. Players with very rare, |
| the other FPS multiplayer games like Quake 4 and | | | | "godly" gear, are admired and envied by many people |
| Unreal Tournament, with the main difference | | | | with regular equipment. Since that is something most |
| between that the latter are less realistic and include | | | | people like, and, as mentioned, the thresholds for |
| sci-fi weapons like laser guns and such. They are also | | | | doing things are so much lower than in real life, many |
| typically much faster, with frantic movement (means, | | | | nasty things have been done in order to obtain gear. |
| being hard to target) being highly important to | | | | Again, here the RPGs are almost like a mirror of real |
| survival, which is a concept rather different to | | | | life, condensing down the more hidden similar issues |
| Counter-Strike where sometimes the top scorers | | | | there to a more compact and visible form. In a way, |
| just sit in one place with a sniper rifle. However, a | | | | it is a pretty interesting experience and can teach |
| thing common to all FPS, mouse control is highly | | | | one a lot about people. It just becomes clear much |
| essential. Skilled FPS players develop extremely good | | | | faster who is worth what. A related trait of these |
| mouse control (conventional mice no longer being | | | | games is the emerging RMT (Real Money Trade) |
| good enough for them led to the development of a | | | | industry, which basically thrives on selling virtual game |
| whole new segment of gaming mice) and have | | | | money and items for real money, and for some |
| reaction times below 0.1 seconds. The numerous | | | | games has reached revenues comparable to the per |
| stress peaks and drops, lack of time between | | | | capita gross national products of European countries. |
| rounds, and the frantic gameplay often leads to | | | | Here one can see the blurring of the distinction |
| additional addictions, though - many of the hardcore | | | | between work and playing - many people don't play |
| FPS players are chain smokers, fast-food eaters, | | | | for fun anymore. They earn money by "camping" |
| coffee addicts, or all of it combined. There are | | | | (sitting at the same spot all day) special monsters |
| worldwide tournaments held for most of the | | | | and selling the dropped items. It turns out it is |
| established FPS, and the current champions are | | | | possible to earn sizable amounts with that - more |
| mostly from Europe or the US.Strategy gamesThe | | | | than a regular hard job in some countries would |
| picture is a bit different with strategy games. Usually | | | | pay.To summarize, online multiplayer games are a |
| they are less frantic and leave much more room for | | | | very large and ever increasing phenomenon. Very |
| logical thinking (of course, the classic board games like | | | | addictive, and easily able to occupy a player for |
| chess or Go also have major online playing facilities | | | | years, they are perhaps becoming the major modern |
| nowadays, but they cannot really be called multiplayer | | | | escape-from-reality tool of the next generation. |
| games since there is little to none team aspect, it's | | | | Certainly, they have their drawbacks, and not too |
| just one-on-one most of the time). A typical example | | | | few. However, if seen as an alternative to TV, |
| is Warcraft III, which is the most recent in the | | | | MMORPGs are definitely more worthwhile, in the |
| Warcraft realtime strategy game series by Blizzard. It | | | | authors' humble opinion.The authors are experienced |
| is played on the so-called Battlenet, a major online | | | | gamers and alongside with their work as co-founders |
| gaming hub by Blizzard, which also serves other | | | | of a web design and development company ( still |
| strategy games like StarCraft. In Warcraft III it is | | | | enjoy an occasional round of play. |
| possible to play both random opponents matched to | | | | |