‘MMOs’, does it sound geeky to you? Well read on to make yourself acquainted with the term. Massively Multiplayer Online Games (commonly called MMO) is a genre of video game which connects millions of players simultaneously. Played and enjoyed from kids to even their mothers. MMO games aren’t made to be age specific, developers actually have to flock their minds to create a game which could shake minds of both adults as well as kids.
The key to MMOs is how interesting and user interactive games they create, bigger the user base more the game is played. Gamers get addicted to such games just because they see millions of other players competing for the same goal. The charm of the MMOs lies in the secrecy of the virtual world they play in. Now keeping the charm factor aside MMOs sure do need to be worked out well. Players create and develop their created characters with unusual powers to clear the obstacles coming around. So they must be made exactly as per the specifications needed.
If you search for MMORPG on Google, DING! you are left with 34.2 million results. Filter it and it still comes out to have hundreds of MMOs, some free and many paid. So here is where GameGuru does the work for you, a perfect compilation of top MMOs on the Internet based on the factors like userbase, most played, and good gameplay.
* World Of Warcraft:
Been there, played there. Azeroth has gripped the minds of users all over the world. With the user base of more than 10 million WOW is supposed to have the biggest known user database amongst all the MMOs. Well all this started of when Blizzard launched their popular series of Warcraft. Now Blizzard knows how to hold the market for a while. A casual question to gamers as a marketing gimmick “What if Warcraft III was a MMO?” created what we know one of the world’s most biggest known MMO “World Of Warcraft” (WOW). Why this game became popular? Well, players just needed to play their favourite Warcraft character like Paladin, Rouge, Jaina….. with other players all around the world. Blizzard gave gamers what they promised and so have such a vast subscribed user base which clearly shouts OWNAGE!!!. This game was released in the time when Sony’s Everquest was making boom in the market.
* Sony’s Everquest II:
Sony could proudly say that, they were the pioneers of MMOs with Everquest. But sooner after the release of WOW Sony’s market started collapsing and as a successor to Everquest, Sony launched Everquest II which was set 500 years post Everquest. The game gives you an option to choose your game character from 16 races and 24 classes. The game has a brilliant gameplay and can be said to have playable graphics amongst all the MMOs. The game is not much different from Everquest but still lacks the touch of perfection.
* Lord Of The Rings Online (LOTRO):
Well winning the Gamespy’s Game of The Year 2007 PC MMO, this game can’t be left out. The game has really tough graphics compared to other MMOs, and has a great fantasy world. Choose from elf, human, dwarf or hobbit you will come across all the characters Tolkein mentioned in this book. But this time it’s not just about Frodo and Mary, the game goes beyond. You have to surpass the danger the duo left behind in the eve of destroying the Ring. Don’t worry you have the legendary heroes to help you. Best said ‘Legendary MMO’, this game is a must play for those LOTR fans. The game has an excellent plot to quench your MMO thirst and sure enough your might get lost in this world for a while.
* Lineage II:
If your the type of gamer who loves epic tales which aren’t yet discovered, then this game is perfect for you. Lineage gives you a chance to play in the medieval time wherein the fantasy world of Aden and Elmore is waiting to play evil, with monsters and war to be fought and won. Conquering castles and playing good is all it takes to be the warrior in this game. Managing your avatar whenever you want is one of the few features which other games don’t provide. With those static races, Kamael is the added race to choose from. The game keeps you hooked with the war struck land.
* Runescape:
With the flexibility to hunt, kill or trade, this game even without high graphics is still good to play. Combats, killing beasts or even killing enemies with ultra magic spells this game does try to give you something different. For players with the taste of craftsmanship, you can build arrows, run an iron furnace and help other players to fight the battle. There are loads of quests to be completed and each corner of the world has a small quest to finish. For my mother’s computer and her intelligence this game is good but if you expect more as a hardcore game don’t disappoint yourself.
* Final Fantasy XI:
The award winning game of the most famous series ‘The Final Fantasy’, this game has been in everyone’s mind for years. Looking at the present statistics this game sure will last long. The game has integrated PS2 and Windows users and now Xbox 360 users to play on together. With a feature called ‘World Transfer’ you can transfer you character with its inventory and statistics from one world to another. Now that interesting because you might get bored playing in the same world again and again. A game which goes beyond your imagination and has an unpredictable path can be called ‘Final Fantasy’.
The story of MMOs doesn’t end here. With gaming literacy going up and more and more broadband penetration in all the parts of the world MMOs are in here for long time. Besides all these well established MMOs sooner the market would be flushing with some more. Though they won’t touch the 10 million mark but can at least create a buzz with their own new game features thus breaking the “benchmark” of MMOs. Here are a few to keep track on for future online gaming experience.
* Huxley:
Better call it MMOFPS than just MMORPG. Soon to hit the market this MMOFPS, has gained good attention because of its unusual and unique gameplay and how different it looks from other MMOs and FPSs. The game, called “Unreal Tournament meets Counter-Strike” has crazy hairdos, extreme armour suit which gives it a ‘game of the future’ look and not to forget the big weapons to blast you off. The one thing that makes this game in the GameGuru list is the vehicle modification which makes it a complete Advanced FPS just like G.R.A.W. . Not many details about this game are released as such. But hey this game is sure going to have a huge user database aiming to the popularity it is gaining even before the release.
* Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning:
Sure I have been playing Command and Conquer for years now and Warhammer hasn’t made me as such a big fan of it. But wait this is about MMOs and Warhammer looks just brilliant with those graphics. Even being a typical MMORPG game which continues like attack-defend, the war in this game will be a treat for your eyes. Not much disclosed as far now but this game would be worth a play for gamers who play MMORPG games and really understand graphics in its true potential.
* Tabula Rasa:
The gameplay looks brilliant and with strategical minds, this game better be called ‘MindMMO’. The game has been developed to even affect the minute mistake of yours. Choosing weapons, firing time and mission twists with alternate endings make it real interesting. The missions are laid in such manner that you need to be skilful to complete those with real valour. The game is made as such no user can master it in one go. You better be intelligent than professional gamer to play this game.
There are loads of other which run the race to end the list of MMOs. Coming to the point MMO games are coming, creating new world to explore, not with an intention to beat the Azeroth world rather to create decent profit from this market. The idea remains the same ‘Guys just peep in here there, is a world other than WOW’. So what is the lifespan of this game? Well this question can only be answered by gamers like you.
–Vidyesh Modey