MMORPGs (online RPGs) - What is it?

We are talking about Free Online RPGs (MMORPGs) - but what it really is?

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a genre of computer role-playing games where a large number of players can interact with each other in a virtual world. Like in all other RPGs you're taking a role of a fictional character and take control of his/her actions. What distinguish MMORPGs from the rest of the genre is the number of players and the fact that in online RPG the world is persistent - that is: it exists and evolves when a player is away from the game.

The mayority of online RPGs use fantasy theme (similiar to medieval one but with some kind of magic included and a constant threat from various monsters), some use different themes – sci-fi, crime fiction, cartoon or novel-based worlds and many others. All of those have usually one thing in common: our virtual alter ego is killing monsters and solving questes in order to earn experience and become stronger. All of them have some kind of economy implemented as well – players can trade between each other or with NPCs (non player characters) using virtual currency.

First real worldwide MMORPG was Meridian 59, and one of the best known games of this genre, Ultima Online, followed right after. One of the countries, where online RPGs were (and still are) the most popular is Korea – many well known online worlds were created there before they got known to the wider (Western) audience.

Now MMORPGs are really popular throughout the world and became a big industry – online RPGs worldwide revenue exceeded a billion USD in 2006 and it's still rapidly increasing. For many players online RPGs are a source of entertainment, place to meet new friends or even a source of income.

Some MMORPGs you can find on the web require you to pay monthly subscription fee (like World of Warcraft), playing others require buying a CD/DVD. And there are others that interest us the most – completely free online RPGs. There are many to be found and some can even compete with those big games you have to pay for.

How can those MMORPGs stay free?

Some implement „item malls” when you can buy virtual items for real currency or paid subscriptions that aren't neccesary but makes your life easier in game, other (browser based RPGs mostly) place ads on their sites and get paid for it, and the rest are made by passionates, wanting nothing more than seeing their virtual world populated by players.

There are many free online RPGs on the web, in my next posts I'll try to show you some of the best MMORPGs I know and show you the diversity and greatness of RPG world. See you soon.