So, the billion-dollar question of the day is “How do MMORPGs work?”. To answer that question we must first ask ourselves, what is an MMORPG? An MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Pretty straightforward right? It’s a branch of the MMO gaming genre – the genre that basically covers all Massively Multiplayer Online games. To answer the question of how to play an MMORPG we’ll have to delve a bit deeper into what exactly they are and how to play them.
How to play a MMORPG?
Playing MMORPGs is actually pretty straightforward. While you can’t generalize the gameplay you can come to a singular conclusion on how most RPG games are played. You go through the game and progress by leveling your player up (depending on the type of game you have you’ll find that your player will become more specialized in whatever field they’re participating in). You also interact with other players in the game and go on missions, loot, rob, etc. In some games, you’re even able to build your own army, village, etc. and trade in currencies that are native to the land that you’re in.
While the gameplay behind MMORPGs can’t be generalized they can be summed up to having a few characteristics (each of which will be discussed below).
Differentiating features of an MMORPG
To find out if a game is an MMORPG it must have the following characteristics:
- Theme: Most MMORPGs are designed using some form of fantasy theme – which usually mimics that of the popular game Dungeons and Dragons.
- Progression: The main goal in the vast majority of MMORPGs is to level a player’s character up. Typically you’ll find that players in these games have some form of specialty that can be enhanced or improved upon by gaining experience points or XP for short. You can gain experience points by battling with monsters and finishing quests that you get from other, nonplayable characters. You can also progress in a vast majority of MMORPGs by accumulating a number of different combat items – the funny thing about doing it this way is that you accumulate these items via combat.
- Social Interaction: The sole idea behind creating a platform for various players to play with one another is to allow for social interaction. Without that purpose, these games would have no need for online connectivity. Some MMORPGs also allow for a level of teamwork that you won’t find on other platforms. To accomplish the tasks that require teamwork players will have to assign roles (and then subsequently accomplish those goals).
- Role-Playing: Considering that this genre is used to describe almost all online role-playing games it makes sense that players have the option of role-playing in the actual game. In most games, there are forums and things of that nature that detail just exactly how the player should go about doing this. In addition to this players are also able to do things like purchase material that fit a certain role that the player is trying to play (such as warriors garbs) and learning to speak and behave like that warrior.
- Culture: As with any type of game MMORPGs have developed their own form of culture or subculture if you will. This includes developing things like slang (such as the word grind which describes grueling work), as well as a variety of unspoken rules that every player in that specific universe follows.
- System Architecture: The vast majority of MMORPGs use a client-server system design. This design allows the system to produce a virtual world that runs constantly and allows players to constantly connect to the system via a certain type of software. While the software will give players access to the initial world, there are also add-on packages that can be purchased to give players added benefits other than those received from gameplay.
A lot of MMORPGs actually employ some form of continuous revenue profit model (such as the freemium or subscription models) to allow companies to continuously profit from the gameplay and keep everything running smoothly.
To find the difference between MMORPGS and MMOG’s click here
20 Notable MMORPG’s
- Everquest: Everquest was one of the world’s first 3D MMORPGs, allowing players to explore a world titled Norrath and hunt monsters alongside other players.
- Ultima Online: One of the first ever MMORPGs released, Ultima Online is a game set in the Ultima-verse (universe) and has a player versus player (pvp), time-based fighting system.
- Phantasy Star Online: Up to 4 players can get together on this anime-style games and fight enemies / complete quests in this real-time action Role Playing Combat game.
- World of Warcraft: World of Warcraft was created by Blizzard Entertainment and is considered on the on most successful (and enjoyable) MMORPG’s ver. This game takes place in a world titled Warcraft where players are allowed to make their own character as well as work together to complete quests.
- Runescape: Runescape was a free-to-play, browser ready game that was considered a very popular MMORPG. In this game players are to travel through the world of Gielinor with the goals in mind of defeating monsters, battling other players, and mining resources.
- EVE online: In Eve Online players are given the ability to control spaceships and travel the galaxy while also choosing professions such mining, combat, exploration etc.
- Guild WarS 2: Guild Wars is a game that has a storyline that adjusts as players make decisions in the game. The game takes place in a world titled Tyria and players are required to complete quests to move forward in the game.
- Lord of the Rings Online: Lord of the Rings online takes place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world Middle-Earth. In the game players are allowed to quest, explore, and mingle with other players.
- Final Fantasy XIV: This game, also known as Final Fantasy Online, was released initially in 2010 and is known for its PVE (Player Versus Enemy) style of play as well its vigorous class system which allows for a variety of player styles. The game takes place in the fantastical world of Eorzea, where players are allowed to slay monsters either in groups or by themselves.
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: In the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, players can choose whether they want to join either The Republic or Sith and finish missions so they can level their player up.
- Neverwinter: Neverwinter is based on Forgotten Realms in Dungeons and Dragons. In game players are allowed to choose from 8 different character classes where they are allowed to complete quests and form groups.
- Albion Online: Albion Online is a free-to-play MMORPG that takes place in a fantastical world where an individual’s strengths and weaknesses are decided based on the equipment they use.
- The Elder Scrolls Online: This MMORPG, first released in the year 2014, was initially released on PC, then moved to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and a number of other consoles in later years. The game takes place in the fantastical world of Eorzea, a place where individuals are allowed to slay monsters alongside others.
- ArcheAge: While ArcheAge can be played like the traditional MMO players also have the option of simply going out to sea and ignoring gameplay altogether. There are tons of things to see on the wide open sea such as sea creatures, pirates, whirlpools, and storms. If you venture far enough you may even be able to see the legendary Kraken, a beast that takes an entire group of 40+ players, connons blazing, and ten galleon-sized ships to even scratch it.
ArcheAge is free to play but has a premium subscription option that has a number of perks, which includes the ability to own your own plot of land. There is also a separate game called ArcheAge unchained that gives players all the perks made available with a subscription for a one-time payment.
- Tera: Tera is one of the oldest MMO games out there, but it continues to deliver new content throughout the year. They have delivered more and more new content in recent years also, which has resulted in Skywatch: Aerial Island, which was released on October 15. This new update introduced brand new dungeons, quests, gear, and cards that can be collected and grant bonuses to players. These updates prove that the MMO still has tricks up their sleeve.
- Secret World Legends: Secret world legends asks the questions that we all likely wonder such as “What if legends, conspiracies, and myths weren’t fictional after all?”. This is an action-MMO that takes place in the modern-world, the only exception is that this world is filled with ghosts, cults, zombies, eldritch nightmares, and demons.
This game represents what MMOs could have been, but sadly aren’t. Secret World Legends is a game where quests are more than just sources of experience and loot, force players to engage their brains, and attempted to tell stories that were compelling. A quest in this game can be either something that requires you to behead a monster or a puzzle that requires you search through websites for answers.
- Wizard101: I know you remember this game (too many commercials were on television for you to not know what this). If you’re a person who would like to lose themselves in deep battle and a nuanced storyline, then this is the game for you. In game players are students of the Ravenwood school for Magical Arts and have the option of choosing between Myth, Life, Balance, Death, Fire, Storm or ice – once chosen players are allowed to learn about and develop their magical abilities.
- Rift: With the making of Rift came a new wave of MMO’s that have been shown to be more resilient than most others. The original strengths of the game still hold up and there are now spontaneous events that allow large groups of players to come together to ward off invasion.
And there are still updates being made to the game, with seasonality, they’ve added things such as a mummified corgi companion, or the Fae Yule for the holiday season.
- Blade and Soul: The Korean Fantasy martial arts MMORPG Blade and Soul is incredibly interesting. With one of the world’s most intricate game designs, the game ten compelling classes and four highly unique races. It doesn’t matter if you choose the mystical Lyn, the versatile Jin, or the mighty Gon, the combat system of the game is always enjoyable. The game includes combo chains and rapid counters, and it doesn’t matter if one teams up with friends or scraps one on one with other.
- Black Desert Online: Black Desert Online’s graphics were completely redone in 2018 to give it a better design. While it is slightly lacking in dialogue, the game does have some of the best character creators in the world and a world design that is simply impeccable.
Don’t get too comfortable though because the game still has plenty of grinding and fighting in it – if you want an MMO that is relaxing then this may not be the game for you. Since this isn’t an average MMO, it may take a bit of time to get used to the new systems, especially with how diplomacy, resources, combat, and trade work.
Conclusion
That’s pretty much it. These games are very straightforward and actually cover a wide variety of subtopics – each of which has been discussed in other articles found on the site. For more information don’t forget to check out the resources listed below.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game#Themes