The question of the day is, “What’s the difference between MMO and MMORPG games?”. The answer to this question is also a surprisingly simple one. An MMORPG can be a MMO but not all MMO games are MMORPGs. Consider the acronyms of them both. MMORPG stands for a Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. MMO simply stands for, however, Massively Multiple Online Game. This shows that an MMORPG is simply an extension and niched down form of MMO game – simple right. However, each of the different forms of gaming actually has a few, more distinct things that can be used to identify their differences.
Video of the top 15 MMO games
What’s an MMORPG?
As mentioned above, there are a few things that really make the world of an MMORPG stand out from a standard MMO game. The first thing that separates them from the MMO gaming experience can be found in the very definition of the MMORPG game. By definition, an MMORPG is a game found in a PSW or persistent state world where a seemingly infinite number of people (typically in the thousands or millions) can focus on developing their characters or environment. Things are constantly changing in the MMORPG environment.
An RPG (part of the name of MMORPG) is a game where players take on the role of a character in a fictional/virtual setting. Even though players can assume the role of a player in a MMO, not all MMOs fall into the category of MMORPG.
Take, for instance, the MMO “Audition”, a game where players take on the avatar of a character who competes against other characters in dance-offs to see who the best dancer is. Audition wouldn’t be considered a MMORPG because there isn’t really a fictional setting that characters play in – the game aims to look like the real world.
On the other hand, we have World of Warcraft, which is a genuine MMORPG where players act as the main character and build and fight to get resources. Players are told to think of strategies as well as look for the best time to take over new territories. Players can fight alongside other people to kill enemies or fight solo against others in a pvp (player versus player) arena. Since players have to assume the role of fictional characters and the game takes place in a fictional world, this would be considered an MMORPG.
The focus of an MMORPG
There can be objectives in MMORPG’s but the entirety of the gameplay is based on interactions that players have with one another. Players are regularly able to customize their characters which is one of the things that adds to the never-ending environment of the standard MMORPG gameplay. Playing one of these games is almost like setting up your own little life online. Players are able to either conquer dungeons and become warriors or, even build up their own small business (aka shops) which add to the design and “realness” of the gaming environment.
Let’s also not forget that, much like the real-world, they have a functioning economy with their own currency where people can use that very same earned currency to buy the things they need such as battle items. Stamina, XP, etc.
What is an MMO game?
An MMO is the base of the MMORPG and is, for all intents and purposes, a game that focuses on strategy and typically involves millions of people who battle against one another for some type of gain. Most games nowadays (thanks to the internet) are a form of MMO game – MMORPG’s are basically a type of MMO game in the RPG (or Role-Playing game genre). As mentioned MMO games are the forefather of all other video games.
All MMOs have chat rooms so players can communicate with other players. If a game doesn’t have a way to communicate with pther players it can’t really be considered an MMO – MMOs are social.
For example, below are other branches of MMO gaming:
MMOSG – Sports games
MMOR – Racing games like Trackmania
MMOPG – Casual games like Sims online
MMORG/MMODG – Music/Rhythm games like Just Dance 2014
MMOSG – Social games like Active World and There
Conclusion
So, is there a difference between MMO and MMORPG? No. They are the exact same thing except that MMORPG’s are just a more niched down version of MMO. Not all MMOs are MMORPGs because they may not take place in a fantasy setting and have a player take the role of a fictional character but all MMORPGs are MMOs. For more, check out the resources listed below.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_game
https://plarium.com/en/blog/difference-between-mmo-and-mmorpgs/
https://www.igi-global.com/article/martian-boneyards-scientific-inquiry-mmo/62856