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