About Online RPG Games
An online RPG game is a type of role-playing game in which you can interact with others over the Internet. Most online RPGs fall under the Massively Multiplayer (or MMO) category, and feature online "hubs" where users can take characters through various quests and dungeons. Some of the most popular online RPGs include World of Warcraft, Runescape and Maple Story.
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History
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The modern online RPG can trace its roots back to the 1990s, when the Internet first came on the scene. One of the first online RPGs, Neverwinter Nights, was released in 1991, and was distributed through the America Online service. When Neverwinter Nights took off, many game creators took notice. Games like EverQuest and The Realm began to foster expansive online worlds in the early 200s. But the online RPG format did not truly take off until 2004, when World of Warcraft was released. This title owed its great success in part to the proliferation of broadband Internet capabilities, as well as the game's expansive, fantasy-inspired universe. Modern online RPGs are growing at a fast pace, and many people believe that the number of online RPGs will soon outpace that of other PC games.
Significance
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Online RPGs comprise the fastest-growing game genre. Although World of Warcraft was arguably the first blockbuster online RPG, titles like Lineage and RuneScape laid the foundation for the genre. Existing game franchises like Knights of the Old Republic and Lego are also creating online RPGs in an effort to catch the trend while it's still hot.
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Types
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Online RPGs generally fall into three categories: free, scaled and subscription-based. As one might imagine, free online RPGs are those you can play without paying a fee. Examples include Maple Story and Dofus. Free MMOs are generally simplistic in nature, and rely heavily on community-based content. Scaled online RPGs have a free-to-play version, as well as a full-featured "premium" version. Examples of scaled online RPGs include Pirates of the Caribbean and RuneScape. Subscription-based RPGs are generally very high-budget tiles that involve the work of well-known developers and publishers. These games carry a monthly or annual fee and are updated regularly by their developers. Some examples are Final Fantasy XI, World of Warcraft and Guild Wars.
Time Frame
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Generally, online RPGs are open-ended, and feature an updating quest roster. Certain games, like Final Fantasy XI and World of Warcraft, will receive periodic expansion packs that update the game's settings and quests. Some RPGs even feature user-generated quests.
Warning
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Many online RPGs are extremely expansive, and as such are very easy to become obsessed with. It is important to play these games in moderation and take frequent breaks away from the computer screen. It is important to recognize when you have begun to play with an unhealthy frequency. And if you start feeling dizzy or disoriented, quit the game immediately and get some fresh air.
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Resources
- Photo Credit World of Warcraft
