View source for Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

{{short description|Video game genre}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Video RPG}}
A '''massively multiplayer online role-playing game''' ('''MMORPG''') is a [[video game]] that combines aspects of a [[role-playing video game]] and a [[massively multiplayer online game]].

As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a [[Player character|character]] (often in a [[fantasy world]] or [[science-fiction]] world) and takes control over many of that character's actions. MMORPGs are distinguished from [[Online game|single-player]] or small [[Multiplayer online game|multi-player]] online RPGs by the number of players able to interact together, and by the game's [[persistent world]] (usually hosted by the game's [[video game publisher|publisher]]), which continues to exist and evolve while the player is [[offline]] and away from the game.

MMORPGs are played throughout the world. Global revenues for MMORPGs exceeded half a billion dollars in 2005,<ref name="revenue">{{cite web |url=http://www.parksassociates.com/press/press_releases/2005/gaming-1.html |title=Online Gaming Revenues to Triple by 2009 |access-date=2007-05-02 |author=Parks Associates |year=2005 |archive-date=2010-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221041159/http://parksassociates.com/press/press_releases/2005/gaming-1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[western world]]'s revenues exceeded a billion dollars in 2006.<ref>{{cite book | last = Harding-Rolls | first = Piers | title = Western World MMOG Market: 2006 Review and Forecasts to 2011 | year = 2006 | url = http://www.screendigest.com/reports/07westworldmmog/NSMH-6ZFF9N/sample.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070604202713/http://www.screendigest.com/reports/07westworldmmog/NSMH-6ZFF9N/sample.pdf | archive-date = 2007-06-04 | access-date = 2007-05-17 | publisher = Screen Digest | location = London, UK}}</ref> In 2008, the spending on subscription MMORPGs by consumers in North America and Europe grew to $1.4 billion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harding-Rolls |first=Piers |title=Subscription MMOGs: Life Beyond World of Warcraft |year=2009 |url=http://www.screendigest.com/press/releases/pdf/PR-LifeBeyondWorldOfWarcraft-240309.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229033421/http://www.screendigest.com/press/releases/pdf/PR-LifeBeyondWorldOfWarcraft-240309.pdf |archive-date=2009-12-29 |access-date=2009-03-30 |publisher=Screen Digest |location=London, UK |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', a popular MMORPG, had over 10 million subscribers as of November 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reilly|first=Luke|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/20/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-back-over-10-million|title=World of Warcraft Subscriptions Back Over 10 Million|website=IGN|date=2014-11-19|access-date=2015-02-09}}</ref> ''World of Warcraft''{{'}}s total revenue was $1.04 billion US dollars in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tassi|first1=Paul|title='World of Warcraft' Still A $1B Powerhouse|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/07/19/world-of-warcraft-still-a-1b-powerhouse-even-as-subscription-mmos-decline/|work=Forbes|access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref> ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]'', released in 2011, became the world's "fastest-growing subscription MMO in history" after gaining more than 1 million players within the first three days of its launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=635238 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830041409/http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=635238 |title=Star Wars: The Old Republic Jumps to Light Speed (NASDAQ:EA) |publisher=Investor.ea.com |date=2011-12-23 |access-date=2012-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/27/star-wars-the-old-republic-sales-record_n_1171028.html|title=Star Wars: The Old Republic Is 'Fastest-Growing MMO Ever' With 1m Users|work=Huffington Post|first=Michael|last=Rundle|date=2011-12-27}}</ref>
<!--Please do not squeeze in a mention of your favorite MMORPG in this section. If it is a notable product or part of history, please add it to a later, appropriate section-->

==Common features==
Although modern MMORPGs sometimes differ dramatically from their predecessors, many of them share the same basic characteristics. These include several common features:
*persistent game environment
*some form of level progression
*social interaction within the game
*in-game culture
*membership in a group
*character customization.

===Themes===
The majority of popular MMORPGs are based on traditional [[fantasy]] themes, often occurring in an in-game universe comparable to that of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. Some employ hybrid themes that either merge or replace fantasy elements with those of [[science fiction]], [[sword and sorcery]], or [[crime fiction]]. Others draw thematic material from [[American comic books]], the [[occult]], and other [[genre]]s. These elements are often developed using similar tasks and scenarios involving [[quest (gaming)|quests]], [[Mob (computer gaming)|monsters]], and [[looting (gaming)|loot]].

===Progression===
In nearly all MMORPGs, the development of the [[player character|player's character]] is the primary goal. Nearly all MMORPGs feature a character progression system, in which players earn [[experience points]] for their actions and use those points to reach character "levels", which makes them better at whatever they do.<ref name="DOG1">{{cite book|last1=Mulligan|first1=Jessica|last2=Patrovsky|first2=Bridgette| year = 2003 | title = Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide | publisher = New Riders | isbn = 1-59273-000-0 | pages = 474, 477| quote = [pp. 474] '''experience points''' A point value that is accumulated by gameplay activity such as '''leveling''' and is used as a measure of a character's power. Popularized by the classic dice version of TSR's ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' back in the 1970s and carried over to online gaming by designers. [pp. 477] '''level''' A rank or rating of a character's power. [...] '''leveling''' Activity in-game devoted to increasing a character's experience, level, and/or skills. Leveling usually consists of killing '''mobs'''.}}</ref> Traditionally, combat with monsters and completing quests for [[non-player character]]s, either alone or in groups, are the primary ways to earn experience points. The accumulation of wealth (including combat-useful items) is also a way to progress in many MMORPGs. This is traditionally best accomplished via combat. The cycle produced by these conditions, combat leading to new items allowing for more combat with no change in gameplay, is sometimes pejoratively referred to as the [[Grinding (video gaming)|level treadmill]], or "grinding". The role-playing game ''[[Progress Quest]]'' was created as a parody of this trend. ''[[Eve Online]]'', a space-based MMORPG, uses an alternative method of progression where users train skills in real-time rather than using experience points as a measure of progression.

In some MMORPGs, there is no limit to a player's level, allowing the grinding experience to continue indefinitely. MMORPGs that use this model often glorify top ranked players by displaying their avatars on the game's website or posting their stats on a high score screen. Another common practice is to enforce a maximum reachable level for all players, often referred to as a level cap. Once reached, the definition of a player's progression changes. Instead of being awarded primarily with experience for completing quests and dungeons, the player's motivation to continue playing will be replaced with collecting money and equipment.

Often, the widened range of equipment available at the maximum level will have increased aesthetic value to distinguish high ranking players in game between lower ranked players. Colloquially known as endgame gear, this set of empowered weapons and armor adds a competitive edge to both scripted boss encounters as well as player vs player combat. Player motivation to outperform others is fueled by acquiring such items and is a significant determining factor in their success or failure in combat-related situations.

===Social interaction===
{{Main|Social interaction via MMORPGs}}

MMORPGs almost always have tools to facilitate communication between players. Many MMORPGs offer support for in-game [[clan (computer gaming)|guilds or clans]], though these will usually form whether the game supports them or not.

In addition, most MMOGs require some degree of teamwork in parts of the game. These tasks usually require players to take on roles in the group, such as protecting other players from damage (called tanking), "healing" damage done to other players or damaging enemies.

MMORPGs generally have Game Moderators or [[Game master|Game Masters]] (frequently referred to as GMs or "mods"), who may be paid employees or unpaid volunteers who attempt to supervise the world. Some GMs may have additional access to features and information related to the game that are not available to other players and roles.<ref>Nicholas, Munn J. "The Reality of Friendship Within Immersive Virtual Worlds." Springer Science+Business Media (2011): 1-10. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.</ref>

Relationships formed in MMORPGs can often be just as intense as relationships formed between friends or partners met outside the game, and often involve elements of collaboration and trust between players.<ref name="Yee_PDF">{{cite book|last=R.Schroeder & A. Axelsson|others=Nicholas Yee|title=Avatars at Work and Play: Collaboration and Interaction in Shared Virtual Environments|publisher=Springer-Verlag|location=London|date=2006|pages=187–207|chapter=The Psychology of MMORPGs: Emotional Investment, Motivations, Relationship Formation, and Problematic Usage|isbn=1-4020-3883-6|url=http://www.nickyee.com/pubs/Yee%20-%20MMORPG%20Psychology%20(2006).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514060222/http://www.nickyee.com/pubs/Yee%20-%20MMORPG%20Psychology%20%282006%29.pdf|archive-date=2006-05-14|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- alternate version/source of this journal:http://vhil.stanford.edu/pubs/2006/yee-psychology-mmorpg.pdf -->

===Roleplaying===
Most MMORPGs provide different types of classes that players can choose. Among those classes, a small portion of players choose to [[roleplay]] their characters, and there are rules that provide functionality and content to those who do. Community resources such as forums and guides exist in support of this play style.

For example, if a player wants to play a priest role in his MMORPG world, that player might buy a [[cope]] from a shop and learn priestly skills, proceeding to speak, act, and interact with others as their character would. This may or may not include pursuing other goals such as wealth or experience. Guilds or similar groups with a focus on roleplaying may develop extended in-depth narratives using the setting and resources similar to those in the game world.<ref name=":0" />

===Culture===
<!--This use of this image has no rationale on the image's page. Please read [[Wikipedia:NFCC#10c]] [[Image:Modified WoW User Interface.jpg|thumb|256px|A level 70 (currently the highest level attainable) character from ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', with a heavily modified user interface.]]-->

Over time, the MMORPG community has developed a sub-culture with its own slang and metaphors, as well as an unwritten list of social rules and taboos. Players will often complain about '[[Grinding (video games)|grind]]' (a slang term for any repetitive, time-consuming activity in an MMORPG), or talk about [[Game balance#Buffs and nerfs|'buffs' and 'nerfs']] (respectively an upgrade or downgrade of a particular game mechanic).

As with all such cultures, social rules exist for such things as invitations to join an adventuring party, the proper [[Raid (video games)#Rewards|division of treasure]], and how a player is expected to behave while grouped with other players.<ref name=":0" />

== Infrastructure and Monetization ==

===System architecture===
Most MMORPGs are deployed using a [[client–server]] [[system architecture]]. The server software generates a [[Persistent world|persistent]] instance of the [[virtual world]] that runs continuously, and players connect to it via a client software. The client software may provide access to the entire playing world, or further 'expansions' may be required to be purchased to allow access to certain areas of the game. ''[[EverQuest]]'' and ''[[Guild Wars]]'' are two examples of games that use such a format. Players generally must purchase the client software for a one-time fee, although an increasing trend is for MMORPGs to work using pre-existing "thin" clients, such as a web browser.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

Depending on the number of players and the system architecture, an MMORPG might be run on multiple separate servers, each representing an independent world, where players from one server cannot interact with those from another; ''World of Warcraft'' is a prominent example, with each separate server housing several thousand players. In many MMORPGs the number of players in one world is often limited to around a few thousand, but a notable example of the opposite is ''[[EVE Online]]'', which accommodates several hundred thousand players on the same server, with over 60,000 playing simultaneously (June 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=This Weekend: The Alliance Tournament Finals! |url=http://www.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&bid=771 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218091807/http://www.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&bid=771 |archive-date=2015-02-18 |access-date=2010-09-01}}</ref>) at certain times. Some games allow characters to appear on any world, but not simultaneously (such as ''Seal Online: Evolution'' or Kolossium competition in ''[[Dofus]]''); others limit each character to the world in which it was created. ''World of Warcraft'' has experimented with "cross-realm" (i.e. cross-server) interaction in player vs player "battlegrounds", using server clusters or "battlegroups" to co-ordinate players looking to participate in structured player vs player content such as the Warsong Gulch or Alterac Valley battlegrounds.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 April 2008 |title=World of Warcraft Europe -> Info -> Basics -> Battlegroups |url=http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/basics/battlegroups.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405235302/http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/basics/battlegroups.html |archive-date=5 April 2008}}</ref> Additionally, patch 3.3, released on December 8, 2009, introduced a cross-realm "looking for group" system to help players form groups for instanced content (though not for open-world questing) from a larger pool of characters than their home server can necessarily provide.<ref>{{cite web |title=World of Warcraft |url=http://www.wow-europe.com/en/patchnotes/}}</ref>

=== Business models ===
{{See also|List of massively multiplayer online role-playing games}}

MMORPGs today use a wide range of business models, from free of charge, free with [[microtransactions]], advertise funded, to various kinds of payment plans. Some MMORPGs require payment or a monthly subscription to play. By definition, "[[massively multiplayer]]" games are always online, and most require some sort of continuous revenue (such as monthly subscriptions and advertisements) for maintenance and development purposes. Some games, such as ''Guild Wars'', have disposed of the 'monthly fee' model entirely, and recover costs directly through sales of the software and associated expansion packs. Still others adopt a micropayment model where the core content is free, but players are given the option to purchase additional content, such as equipment, aesthetic items, or pets. Games that make use of this model often have originated in Korea, such as ''[[Flyff]]'' and ''[[MapleStory]]''. This business model is alternately called "[[pay for perks]]" or "[[freemium]]", and games using it often describe themselves with the term "[[free-to-play]]".

*[[Free-to-play]] (F2P) means that there is no cost to purchase the software and there is no subscription charge. Variably applies to traditionally bought and forever available games (see Buy-to-play below). Most newer MMOs that fall under this category now includes microtransactions however, which causes them to overlap with the [[Freemium]] model.
*[[Freemium]] (a [[portmanteau]] of ''free-to-play'' and ''premium'') means that the majority or all of the game's content is available for free but players can pay for extra content, character customization, added perks or faster advancement into the game via microtransactions. Freemium thus overlaps with both the free-to-play and pay-to-play models.
*Buy-to-play (B2P) means that the MMO can only be played by purchasing the game, but there is no subsequent subscription fee for playing the game. These games may or may not include additional microtransactions, or may sell additional content in the form of expansions instead of asking for an ongoing subscription fee.
*[[Pay-to-play#Online gaming|Pay-to-play]] (P2P) means that the MMO requires a monthly subscription fee or other ongoing fee in order to continue playing the game. It may also require an up-front purchase of the game in addition to the monthly subscription fee, though many of these up-front purchases include a month of game time. This was once the most common way for MMOs to finance themselves, but has fallen out of favor in recent years as an increasing number of games have switched to other business models due to difficulty in retaining a stable playerbase.

==History==
[[File:MUD1 screenshot.gif|thumb|right|350px|''[[MUD1]]'', an early multi-user game]]
{{Main|History of massively multiplayer online games}}

MMORPG is a term coined by [[Richard Garriott]] to refer to massive multiplayer online role-playing games and their social communities.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Jøn |first=A. Asbjørn |date=2010 |title=The Development of MMORPG Culture and The Guild |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283281457 |journal=Australian Folklore: A Yearly Journal of Folklore Studies |volume=25 |pages=97–112}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Safko |first1=Lon |last2=Brake |first2=David |title=The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success |publisher=Wiley |year=2009 |isbn=9780470411551 |quote=Richard Garriott first coined the term ''MMORPG'' in 1997. |url=https://archive.org/details/socialmediabible00safk}}</ref> Previous to this and related coinages, these games were generally called [[graphical MUD]]s; the history of MMORPGs traces back directly through the [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]] genre.<ref>{{cite book |last=Castronova |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Castronova |title=Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games
|publisher=University Of Chicago Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-226-09626-2 |pages=10, 291 |quote=(page 10): The ancestors of MMORPGS were text-based multiuser domains (MUDs) [...]<br>(page 291): Indeed, MUDs generate perhaps the one historical connection between game-based VR and the traditional program [...]
|url=https://archive.org/details/syntheticworlds00edwa/page/10}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bainbridge |first=William Sims |author-link=William Sims Bainbridge |title=Berkshire Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction |publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group | year = 2004 |isbn=0-9743091-2-5 |volume=2 |page=474 |quote=Developers had long considered writing a graphical MUD. [...] the last major 2D virtual environment in the West marked the true beginning of the fifth age of MUDs: Origin Systems' 1997 Ultima Online (UO).}}</ref> Through this connection, MMORPGs can be seen to have roots in the earliest multi-user games such as ''[[Mazewar]]'' (1974) and ''[[MUD1]]'' (1978). 1985 saw the release of a [[roguelike]] (pseudo-graphical) MUD called ''[[Island of Kesmai]]'' on [[CompuServe]]<ref name="DOG2">{{cite book |last1=Mulligan |first1=Jessica |last2=Patrovsky |first2=Bridgette |title=Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvuUPxXyB7AC |publisher=New Riders |year=2003 |oclc=54116655 |isbn=9781592730001 |page=447 |quote= Year 1985 [...] "''My memory says that ''Island of Kesmai'' went live on CompuServe on December 15, 1985, after a very long internal test. The price was actually $6 an hour for 300 baud, $12 for 1200 baud. Serious players paid the bucks.''" '''—[[Kelton Flinn]]'''}}</ref> and [[LucasArts|Lucasfilm]]'s graphical MUD [[Habitat (video game)|Habitat]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bringing Habitat Back to Life |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/bringing-habitat-back-to-life.html |website=pastemagazine.com |date=3 February 2016 |access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref> The first fully graphical multi-user RPG was ''[[Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'', which was delivered through [[America Online]] in 1991 and was personally championed by AOL President [[Steve Case]].<ref name="kostertimeline">{{cite web |last=Koster |first=Raph | author-link=Raph Koster |url=http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/mudtimeline.shtml |title=Online World Timeline |website = Raph Koster's Website |date=2002-02-20 |access-date=2010-04-24}}</ref> Other early proprietary graphical online RPGs include three on [[The Sierra Network]]: ''[[The Shadow of Yserbius]]'' in 1992, ''The Fates of Twinion'' in 1993, and ''[[The Ruins of Cawdor]]'' in 1995. Another milestone came in 1995 as [[National Science Foundation Network|NSFNET]] restrictions were lifted, opening the Internet up for game developers, which allowed for the first truly "massively"-scoped titles. Finally, MMORPGs as defined today began with ''[[Meridian 59]]'' in 1996, innovative both in its scope and in offering first-person 3D graphics, with ''[[The Realm Online]]'' appearing nearly simultaneously.<ref name="kostertimeline" /> ''[[Ultima Online]]'', released in 1997, is often credited with first popularizing the genre,<ref name="kostertimeline" /> though more mainstream attention was garnered by 1999's ''[[EverQuest]]'' and ''[[Asheron's Call]]'' in the West<ref name="kostertimeline" /> and 1996's ''[[Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds]]'' in South Korea.

The financial success of these early titles has ensured competition in the genre since that time. MMORPG titles now exist on [[video game console|consoles]] and in new settings. In 2008, the market for MMORPGs had [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' dominating as the largest MMORPG,<ref>{{cite web |last =Snow |first =Blake |title =World of Warcraft addicts 10 million subscribers |publisher =GamePro.com |date =2008-01-23 |url =http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=157968 |access-date =2008-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128195245/http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=157968 |archive-date=2008-01-28}}</ref> alongside other titles such as ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' and ''[[Guild Wars 2]]'', though an additional market exists for [[free-to-play]] MMORPGs, which are supported by advertising and purchases of in-game items. This free-to-play model is particularly common in [[South Korea]] such as ''[[MapleStory]]'', ''[[Rohan: Blood Feud]]'', ''[[Atlantica Online]]'' and ''[[Lost Ark (video game)|Lost Ark]]''. Also, there are some free-to-play games, such as ''[[RuneScape]]'' and ''[[Tibia (computer game)|Tibia]]'', where the game is free, but one would have to pay monthly to play the game with more features. ''[[Guild Wars]]'' and its sequel avoid some degree of competition with other MMORPGs by only requiring the initial purchase of the game to play.

==Development==
The cost of developing a competitive commercial MMORPG title often exceeded $10 million in 2003.<ref name="devcost">Adam Carpenter (2003), Applying Risk-Based Analysis to Play Balance RPGs, Gamasutra, [https://web.archive.org/web/20071220041413/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2843/applying_risk_analysis_to_.php gamasutra.com]</ref> These projects require multiple disciplines within game design and development such as 3D modeling, 2D art, animation, user interfaces, client/server engineering, database architecture, and network infrastructure.<ref>Jon Radoff (2007), "Anatomy of an MMORPG," '' PlayerVox,'' [http://radoff.com/blog/2008/08/22/anatomy-of-an-mmorpg/ radoff.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213053756/http://radoff.com/blog/2008/08/22/anatomy-of-an-mmorpg/ |date=2009-12-13 }}</ref>

The front-end (or client) component of a commercial, modern MMORPG features 3D graphics. As with other modern 3D games, the front-end requires expertise with implementing [[3D engine]]s, real-time [[shader]] techniques and physics simulation. The actual visual content (areas, creatures, characters, weapons, spaceships and so forth) is developed by artists who typically begin with two-dimensional concept art, and later convert these concepts into animated 3D scenes, models and texture maps.<ref name="3d game design">Frank Luna (2006), "3D Game Programming with DirectX 9.0c, a Shader Approach," Worldware Publishing, {{ISBN|1-59822-016-0}}</ref>

Developing an MMOG server requires expertise with client/server architecture, network protocols, security, and database design. MMORPGs include reliable systems for a number of vital tasks. The server must be able to handle and verify a large number of connections, prevent [[cheating in online games|cheating]], and apply changes (bug fixes or added content) to the game. A system for recording the games data at regular intervals, without stopping the game, is also important.<ref name="game server">Jay Lee (2003), Gamasutra, Relational Database Guidelines for MMOGs, [https://web.archive.org/web/20030923080605/http://www.gamasutra.com/resource_guide/20030916/lee_01.shtml gamasutra.com]</ref>

Maintenance requires sufficient [[server (computing)|server]]s and [[bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]], and a dedicated support staff. Insufficient resources for maintenance lead to [[Lag (video games)|lag]] and frustration for the players, and can severely damage the reputation of a game, especially at launch. Care must also be taken to ensure that player population remains at an acceptable level by adding or removing servers. [[Peer-to-peer]] MMORPGs could theoretically work cheaply and efficiently in regulating server load, but practical issues such as asymmetrical network bandwidth, CPU-hungry rendering engines, unreliability of individual nodes, and inherent lack of security (opening fertile new grounds for cheating) can make them a difficult proposition. The hosted infrastructure for a commercial-grade MMORPG requires the deployment of hundreds (or even thousands) of servers. Developing an affordable infrastructure for an [[online game]] requires developers to scale large numbers of players with less hardware and network investment.<ref name="architecture">GDC Proceedings 2005, Online Game Architecture: Back-End Strategies, [https://web.archive.org/web/20050312060631/http://www.gamasutra.com/gdc2005/features/20050310/esbensen_01.shtml gamasutra.com]</ref>

In addition, the development team will need to have expertise with the fundamentals of game design: world-building, lore and game mechanics,<ref name="game fundamentals">Chris Crawford (2003), Chris Crawford on Game Design, New Riders Games, {{ISBN|0-13-146099-4}}</ref> as well as what makes games fun.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Koster | first = Raph | author-link = Raph Koster
 | title = A Theory of Fun for Game Design
 | publisher = Paraglyph Press
 | year = 2005
 | isbn = 1-932111-97-2
}}</ref>

===Non-corporate development===
[[File:Ryzom screenshot 4.png|thumb|An event in the MMORPG ''[[Ryzom]]'', an [[open-source software|open source]] and [[free content]] game (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/ryzom-free-software |title=Ryzom is free software! What can we do from here? |publisher=Fsf.org |date=2010-05-04 |access-date=2015-07-21}}</ref><ref>[https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/21906 Massively Multiplayer Game Ryzom Released as Free Culture and Free Software] on creativecommons.org, Chris Webber, (May 6, 2010)</ref>]]
Though the vast majority of MMORPGs are produced by companies, many small teams of programmers and artists have contributed to the genre. As shown above, the average MMORPG development project requires enormous investments of time and money, and running the game can be a long-term commitment. As a result, non-corporate (or independent, or "[[indie games|indie]]") development of MMORPGs is less common compared to other genres. Still, many independent MMORPGs do exist, representing a wide spectrum of genres, gameplay types, and revenue systems.

<!-- DO NOT ADD your favorite amateur development effort here without discussing it on the Talk page first. If you add something without discussing it first, it will be reverted, no questions asked. Note that the games listed here are in production, not BETA, and have Wikipedia pages – if your page cannot survive on Wikipedia, it is unlikely that it will stay on this page either. Click the "Discuss this page" link to start a discussion on why you think your game should be added. -->
Some independent MMORPG projects are completely [[Open-source software|open source]], while others feature proprietary content made with an open-source game engine. The [[WorldForge]] project has been active since 1998 and formed a community of independent developers who are working on creating framework for a number of open-source MMORPGs. The [[Multiverse Foundation]] has also created a platform specifically for independent MMOG developers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multiversemmo.com/viewpage.php?page_id=4|title=About Multiverse|access-date=12 April 2014|publisher=[[Multiverse]]|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224173901/http://www.multiversemmo.com/viewpage.php?page_id=4|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Trends==
As there are a number of wildly different titles within the genre, and since the genre develops so rapidly, it is difficult to definitively state that the genre is heading in one direction or another. Still, there are a few obvious developments. One of these developments is the [[raid (gaming)|raid]] group quest, or "raid",<ref name="raid trend">{{cite web|url= http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/1028|title= Casual Play: Raiding Needs to Die|access-date= 2007-05-02|author= Wilson, Steve|date= December 14, 2006|archive-date= 2021-04-24|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210424141735/https://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/1028|url-status= dead}}</ref> which is an adventure designed for large groups of players (often twenty or more).

===Instance dungeons===
[[Instance dungeons]], sometimes shortened to "instances", are game areas that are "copied" for individual players or groups, which keeps those in the instance separated from the rest of the game world. This reduces competition, and also reducing the amount of data that needs to be sent to and from the server, reducing lag. ''[[The Realm Online]]'' was the first MMORPG to begin to use a rudimentary form of this technique and ''[[Anarchy Online]]'' would develop it further, using instances as a key element of gameplay. Since then, instancing has become increasingly common. The "raids", as mentioned above, often involve instance dungeons. Examples of games which feature instances are ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'', ''[[EverQuest]]'', ''[[EverQuest II]]'', ''[[Aion: The Tower of Eternity|Aion]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'', ''[[Guild Wars (series)|Guild Wars]]'', ''[[Rift (video game)|Rift]]'', ''[[RuneScape]]'', ''[[Star Trek Online]], [[Star Wars: The Old Republic]],'' and ''[[DC Universe Online]]''.

===Player-created content===
Increased amounts of "[[User-generated content|player-created content]]" is another trend.<ref name="player content trend">Jon Radoff (March 20, 2007), Gamasutra, Five Prescriptions for Viral Games, [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/five-prescriptions-for-viral-games gamasutra.com]</ref>

===Use of licenses===
The use of [[intellectual property license|intellectual property licensing]] common in other video game genres has also appeared in MMORPGs. 2007 saw the release of ''The Lord of the Rings Online'', based on [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]]. Other licensed MMORPGs include ''[[The Matrix Online]]'', based on the ''Matrix'' trilogy of films, ''[[Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning]]'', based on [[Games Workshop]]'s [[Warhammer Fantasy Battle|table top game]], ''[[Star Wars Galaxies]]'', ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]'', ''[[Champions Online]]'' and ''[[Age of Conan]]''.

Additionally, several licenses from television have been optioned for MMORPGs, for example ''Star Trek Online'' and ''[[Stargate Worlds]]'' (which was later canceled).

===Console-based MMORPGs===
The first console-based MMORPG was ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' for the [[Dreamcast]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/04/console-mmos-a-brief-history-of-one-mans-couch-laden-adventures/|title=Console MMOs: a brief history of one man's couch-laden adventures|date=18 April 2007|access-date=2016-09-22}}</ref> The first console-based open-world MMORPG was ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]].
''[[EverQuest Online Adventures]]'', also on the PlayStation 2, was the first console MMORPG in North America.
Although console-based MMORPGs are considered more difficult to produce,<ref name="no console mmo">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18768 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080610091742/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18768 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 June 2008 | title = Analysis: Why Aren't There More Console MMOs?}}</ref> the platform is gaining more attention.

===Browser-based MMORPGs===
With the popularization of Facebook and microtransactions came a wave of Flash and HTML5 based MMORPGs that use the free to play model. They require no download outside of a browser and usually have heavily integrated social media sharing features.

===Smartphone-based MMORPGs===
[[Smartphone]]s with their [[GPS]] capabilities (amongst others) enable [[augmented reality]] in games such as ''[[Ingress (video game)|Ingress]]'' and ''[[Pokémon Go]]''. The games are enhanced by location and distance based tracking, bench marking goals or facilitating trade between players.

==In society and culture==

===Psychological effects===
{{importance section|date=April 2014}}
Since the interactions between MMORPG players are real, even if the environments are virtual, [[psychologist]]s and [[sociologist]]s are able to use MMORPGs as tools for academic research. [[Sherry Turkle]] has found that many people have expanded their emotional range by exploring the many different roles (including gender identities) that MMORPGs allow a person to explore.<ref name="turkle">{{cite book
 | last = Turkle
 | first = Sherry
 | author-link = Sherry Turkle
 | title = Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet
 | publisher = Simon & Schuster
 | date = 1997-09-04
 | isbn = 0-684-83348-4
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/lifeonscreen00sher
 }}</ref>

[[Nick Yee]] has surveyed more than 35,000 MMORPG players over the past several years, focusing on psychological and sociological aspects of these games. Recent findings included that 15% of players become a guild-leader at one time or another, but most generally find the job tough and thankless;<ref name="yee1">{{cite web |url= http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/001516.php|title= Life as a Guild Leader|access-date = 2007-05-16 |author = Yee, Nick|author-link= Nick Yee|date=2006-03-20 |work= The Daedalus Project}}</ref> and that players spend a considerable amount of time (often a third of their total time investment) doing things that are external to gameplay but part of the [[metagame]].<ref name="yee2">{{cite web |url= http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/001535.php|title= Time Spent in the Meta-Game|access-date = 2007-05-16 |author = Yee, Nick|author-link= Nick Yee|date=2006-08-29 |work= The Daedalus Project}}</ref>

Many players report that the emotions they feel while playing an MMORPG are very strong, to the extent that 8.7% of male and 23.2% of female players in a statistical study have had an online wedding.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/000467.php|title= An Ethnography of MMORPG Weddings|access-date = 2007-05-16 |author = Yee, Nick|author-link= Nick Yee|date=2006-08-29 |work= The Daedalus Project}}</ref> Other researchers have found that the enjoyment of a game is directly related to the social organization of a game, ranging from brief encounters between players to highly organized play in structured groups.<ref name="nardi harris">Nardi, Harris (2006), Strangers and Friends: Collaborative Play in World of Warcraft, Proceedings of the 2006 20th anniversary conference on Computer supported cooperative work</ref>

In a 2008 study by Zaheer Hussain and [[Mark D. Griffiths]], it was found that just over one in five gamers (21%) said they preferred socializing online to offline. Significantly more male gamers than female gamers said that they found it easier to converse online than offline. It was also found that 57% of gamers had created a character of the opposite gender, and it is suggested that the online female persona has a number of positive social attributes.<ref name="hussain zaheer">Hussain, Zaheer (2008), Gender Swapping and Socializing in Cyberspace: An Exploratory Study</ref>

A German fMRT-study conducted by researchers of the Central Institute of Mental Health points towards impairments in social, emotional and physical aspects of the self-concept and a higher degree in avatar identification in addicted MMORPG players, compared to non-addicted and naive (nonexperienced) people.<ref name="tagrid lemenager">Leménager, Tagrid; Gwodz, Alexander; Richter, Anne; Reinhard, Iris; Kämmerer, Nina; Sell, Madlen; Mann, Karl (2013): "Self-Concept Deficits in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games Addiction". European Addiction Research 19: 227-234.</ref> These findings generally support Davis' cognitive behavioral model of Internet addiction, which postulates that dysfunctional self-related cognitions represent central factors contributing towards the development and maintenance of MMORPG addiction.<ref name="davis">Davis, RA (2001): A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use. Computers in Human Behavior 17: 187-195.</ref> The high degree of avatar identification found by Leménager et al. in the addicted group of this study indicates that MMORPG playing may represent an attempt to compensate for impairments in self-concept. Psychotherapeutic interventions should therefore focus on the development of coping strategies for real-life situations in which addicted players tend to experience themselves as incompetent and inferior.<ref name="tagrid lemenager"/>

[[Richard Bartle]], author of ''[[Designing Virtual Worlds]]'', classified multiplayer RPG-players into four primary psychological groups. His classifications were then expanded upon by Erwin Andreasen, who developed the concept into the thirty-question [[Bartle Test]] that helps players determine which category they are associated with. With over 650,000 test responses as of 2011, this is perhaps the largest ongoing survey of multiplayer game players.<ref name="bartletest">{{cite web | title = Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology | url = http://www.gamerdna.com/quizzes/bartle-test-of-gamer-psychology | access-date = 2011-01-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090202202428/http://www.gamerdna.com/quizzes/bartle-test-of-gamer-psychology | archive-date = 2009-02-02 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Based on Bartle and Yee's research, Jon Radoff has published an updated model of player [[motivation]] that focuses on immersion, competition, cooperation and achievement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radoff.com/blog/2011/05/19/game-player-motivations/ |title=Game Player Motivations |access-date=2011-05-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521045620/http://radoff.com/blog/2011/05/19/game-player-motivations/ |archive-date=2011-05-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Radoff |first=Jon |date=April 2011 |title=Game On: Energize Your Business with Social Games |publisher=Wiley |isbn= 978-0-470-93626-9}}</ref> These elements may be found not only in MMORPGs, but many other types of games and within the emerging field of [[gamification]].

There have been numerous discussions and evaluations by various scholarly institutions regarding the long-term effects of video game overuse. Many news agencies have criticized video games as promoting violent tendencies in its player base and encouraging anti-social behaviors. Ultimately this  culminated in the [[World Health Organization]] classifying the overuse of video games as "Technological Addiction" in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Parrott|first1=Scott|last2=Rogers|first2=Ryan|last3=Towery|first3=Nathan A.|last4=Hakim|first4=Samuel D.|date=2020-12-01|title=Gaming Disorder: News Media Framing of Video Game Addiction as a Mental Illness|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08838151.2020.1844887|journal=Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media|language=en|volume=64|issue=5|pages=815–835|doi=10.1080/08838151.2020.1844887|s2cid=229395882|issn=0883-8151|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Disease research ===
In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', a temporary design glitch attracted the attention of psychologists and epidemiologists across North America, when the "[[Corrupted Blood incident|Corrupted Blood]]" disease of a monster began to spread unintentionally—and uncontrollably—into the wider game world. The [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|Centers for Disease Control]] intended to use the incident as a research model to chart both the progression of a disease, and the potential human response to large-scale [[epidemic]] infection. However, due to [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s failure to keep statistical records of the event, the 2005 Corrupted Blood Outbreak ultimately failed to produce any results. Nevertheless, the CDC has continued to express interest in the use of MMORPGs for disease research.<ref name="CDCP">{{cite magazine |date=2005-01-04 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=131791 |title=Looking Back... World of Warcraft |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games (magazine)|CVG]] |access-date=2006-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219105923/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/131791/features/looking-back-world-of-warcraft/ |archive-date=2014-02-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Coppola|first=Kim|date=February 2007|title=Virtual outbreak|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0262407907604825|journal=New Scientist|language=en|volume=193|issue=2592|pages=39–41|doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(07)60482-5| issn=0262-4079 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Education ===
It has been suggested by Springer University in Germany that MMORPGs encourage and provide opportunities to study and improve in [[Economics|economic theory]] by providing a controlled environment for the natural development of economic practices between players of including professions, trade, and services.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=By Joshua H. Barnett and Leanna Archambault|date=November 2010|title=How Massive Multiplayer Online Games Incorporate Principles of Economics|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11528-010-0451-y|journal=TechTrends|language=en|volume=54|issue=6|pages=29–35|doi=10.1007/s11528-010-0451-y|s2cid=62553072|issn=8756-3894|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Research has shown that for the positive learner, game-based interaction could reduce inhibition as well as enhance the enjoyment and motivation of [[Second-language acquisition|second language learning]], but appears to be more suitable for learners of intermediate and higher levels of proficiency than language beginners.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Peterson |first=Mark |date=December 2010 |title=Massively multiplayer online role-playing games as arenas for second language learning |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09588221.2010.520673 |journal=Computer Assisted Language Learning |language=en |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=429–439 |doi=10.1080/09588221.2010.520673 |s2cid=62217619 |issn=0958-8221|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Therapeutic applications ===
The Division of Autism and developmental disabilities published a significant report detailing the value of MMORPGs for the treatment of individuals with [[autism spectrum]] disorder. The report suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder could benefit from MMORPGs by being provided a space to freely develop social skills and communication skills without the stress of face-to-face contact. This in turn opens new pathways for social therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gallup|first1=Jennifer|last2=Serianni|first2=Barbara|last3=Duff|first3=Christine|last4=Gallup|first4=Adam|date=2016|title=An Exploration of Friendships and Socialization for Adolescents with Autism Engaged in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24827520|journal=Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities|volume=51|issue=3|pages=223–237|jstor=24827520|issn=2154-1647}}</ref>

===Economics===
{{See also|Virtual economy}}
[[Image:evemarketscreen.png|thumb|256px|right|A user browsing the market for items in ''[[Eve Online]]'']]

Many MMORPGs feature living economies. Virtual items and currency have to be gained through play and have definite value for players.<ref name="Development of Economy">{{cite web| url =http://www.devmaster.net/articles/mmo-economy/part1.php| title =Tips on Developing an MMO Economy, Part I| access-date =2007-04-21| last =Privantu| first =Radu| date =2007-02-17| publisher =DevMaster.net| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070409073047/http://www.devmaster.net/articles/mmo-economy/part1.php| archive-date =2007-04-09}}</ref> Such a [[virtual economy]] can be analyzed (using data logged by the game)<ref name="Development of Economy" /> and has value in economic research. More significantly, these "virtual" economies can affect the economies of the real world.

One of the early researchers of MMORPGs was [[Edward Castronova]], who demonstrated that a [[Supply and demand|supply-and-demand]] market exists for virtual items and that it crosses over with the real world.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Castronova
 | first = Edward
 | author-link = Edward Castronova
 | title = Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games
 | publisher = University Of Chicago Press
 | year = 2006
 | isbn = 0-226-09626-2
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/syntheticworlds00edwa/page/10 10, 291]
 | url = https://archive.org/details/syntheticworlds00edwa/page/10
 }}</ref> This crossover has some requirements of the game:
* The ability for players to sell an item to each other for in-game (virtual) currency.
* Bartering for items between players for items of similar value.
* The purchase of in-game items for real-world currency.
* Exchanges of real-world currencies for virtual currencies.
* The invention of user-created meta-currencies such as [[dragon kill points]] to distribute in-game rewards.<ref>{{cite book
 | last1 = Castronova | first1 = Edward | author-link = Edward Castronova
 | last2 = Fairfield | first2 = Joshua
 | ssrn = 958945
 | title = Dragon Kill Points: a Summary White Paper
 | publisher = Social Science Research Network
 | year = 2007
}}</ref>

The idea of attaching real-world value to "virtual" items has had a profound effect on players and the game industry, and even the courts.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6870901 | title = Virtual worlds wind up in real courts – Technology & science – Games | work = [[NBC News]] | date = 4 February 2005 | access-date = 7 February 2005}}</ref> The virtual currency selling pioneer [[IGE]] received a lawsuit from a ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' player for interfering in the economics and intended use of the game by selling WoW gold.<ref name="escapistmagazine.com">{{cite news | url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/72346-IGE-Sued-By-World-Of-Warcraft-Player | work=EscapistMagazine | title=IGE Sued by World of Warcraft Player | date=2007-06-01 | access-date=2013-01-09 | archive-date=2019-12-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209233901/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/72346-IGE-Sued-By-World-Of-Warcraft-Player | url-status=dead }}</ref> Castronova's first study in 2002 found that a highly [[Liquid capital|liquid]] (if illegal) currency market existed, with the value of ''Everquest'''s in-game currency exceeding that of the [[Japanese yen]].<ref name="CurrencyExchange">{{cite magazine |url= https://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2002/11/55982|title= Online Game Economies Get Real|access-date = 2007-05-16 |author= Whiting, Jason|date= 2002-11-06|magazine= [[Wired News]]}}</ref> Some people even make a living by working these virtual economies; these people are often referred to as [[gold farming|gold farmers]], and may be employed in [[game sweatshop]]s.<ref name="Wage Slaves">{{cite web|url= http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3141815|title= Wage Slaves|access-date= 2007-04-21|author= Lee, James|date= 2005-07-05|website= 1UP.com|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091001170952/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3141815|archive-date= 2009-10-01}}</ref>

Game publishers usually prohibit the exchange of real-world money for virtual goods, but others actively promote the idea of linking (and directly profiting from) an exchange. In ''[[Second Life]]'' and ''[[Entropia Universe]]'', the virtual economy and the real-world economy are directly linked. This means that real money can be deposited for game money and vice versa. Real-world items have also been sold for game money in ''Entropia'', and some players of ''Second Life'' have generated revenues in excess of $100,000.<ref name="SecondLifeEconomy">{{cite magazine |url= http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060421131418/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= April 21, 2006|title= My Virtual Life |access-date = 2007-05-16 |author= Hof, Robert|date= 2006-05-01|magazine= BusinessWeek}}</ref>

[[File:RuneScape spammers.png|thumb|Bots spamming a communication channel in ''[[RuneScape]]'' to advertise illegitimate market websites]]

Some of the issues confronting online economies include:
* The use of "bots" or automated programs, that assist some players in accumulating in-game wealth to the disadvantage of other players.<ref name="bots">Robert Shapiro (2003), How online games teach us about economics, [http://www.slate.com/id/2078053/ slate.com]</ref>
* The use of unsanctioned auction sites, which has led publishers to seek legal remedies to prevent their use based on intellectual-property claims.<ref name="stopauctions">Blizzard Goes to War, [http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/12/blizzard_goes_t.html terranova.blogs.com]</ref>
* The emergence of [[virtual crime]], which can take the form of both fraud against the player or publisher of an online game, and even real-life acts of violence stemming from in-game transactions.<ref>BBC News (2005), Game Theft led to Fatal Attack, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4397159.stm news.bbc.co.uk]</ref>

Linking real-world and virtual economies was rare in MMORPGs as of 2008, as it is generally believed to be detrimental to gameplay. If real-world wealth can be used to obtain greater, more immediate rewards than skillful gameplay, the incentive for strategic roleplay and real game involvement is diminished. It could also easily lead to a skewed hierarchy where richer players gain better items, allowing them to take on stronger opponents and level up more quickly than less wealthy but more committed players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danwei.org/electronic_games/gambling_your_life_away_in_zt.php|title=Gamble your life away in ZT Online|access-date=2008-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511221059/http://www.danwei.org/electronic_games/gambling_your_life_away_in_zt.php|archive-date=2008-05-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
<!-- Please do not link individual game articles here. Instead put them in the "List of MMORPGs" article. -->
<!-- Please check whether you can add a Wiki link to a previous phrase in the article itself, rather than add a link here. Save this for something that couldn't be touched upon elsewhere in the article for some reason. -->
{{cols|colwidth=23em}}
* [[List of MUDs]]
* [[Digital currency]]
* [[List of free massively multiplayer online games]]
* [[List of massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
* [[Private server]]
* [[Virtual economy]]
* [[Virtual goods]]
* [[Virtual world]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last=Jøn |first=A. Asbjørn |date=2010 |title=The Development of MMORPG Culture and The Guild |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283281457 |journal=Australian Folklore: A Yearly Journal of Folklore Studies |volume=25 |pages=97–112 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Dyer-Witheford |first1=Nick |last2=de Peuter |first2=Greig |date=2009 |title=Games of empire: Global capitalism and video games |publisher=University of Minnesota Press}}
*{{cite journal |last=Jenkins |first=Henry |date=2004 |title=Game Design as Narrative Architecture |journal=First Person: New Media as Story, Performance, and Game |publisher=MIT Press |pages=118–30 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Tekinbaş |first1=Katie Salen |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Eric |date=2006 |title=The game design reader: a Rules of play anthology |publisher=MIT Press}}

{{Multiplayer online games}}
{{VideoGameGenre}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game}}
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games| ]]
[[Category:Video game genres]]