Finding Your Identity in Online Games by Mark Ramirez
As of today, there are dozens of Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMOPRG’s) slated for release or in beta. It is hard to decide on which online game to play. And most of us don’t have the time or money to play more then one game at a time. ... Customizable Characters One of the most important aspects of a game is being able to customize the in-game character. ... Going Beyond the Virtual World The success of an online game in developing ownership can be measured by its ability to go beyond the confines of the virtual world into the personal life of a gamer.

World of Warcraft: Could it be Killing our Teens by Mark MacKay
The parents of a teenage son who committed suicide just over a year ago claim that their son become addicted to the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. They believe that as a result of this addiction he took his own life. ... So using this definition as a guide we could assume he had no control over how often he sat down to play the online role playing game. ... Now these parents are suing World of WarCraft developers Blizzard Entertainment, blaming the game developers for the tragic loss of their son.

Console Gaming vs. Computer Gaming by Jared Strop
It’s an age-old question that will only get more and more intense in the coming year as the Xbox 360 is in full swing and the PS3 and Revolution release. Which is better? What system is right for me? Well, I would suggest both, but if you have to choose one or the other then you have to consider... Computer gaming is best for Real Time Strategy (RTS) games, First Person Shooters (FPS), Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORG), Flight Simulation games, and Point and Click Adventure games.

Gaming Worlds - A Look into MMORPGS by Michael Russell
Chances are you have heard the term MMORPG before. Most likely it was while passing by the IT guys while they're excitedly talking about their exploits in some fantasy world. Or maybe you overheard a conversation about some epic battle at the last party you were at. ... MMORPG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. ... Players will constantly strive to improve their skills in the game, be it through working on specific skills, or through gaining experience in the world to gain levels and thus grow stronger.

The MMORPG phenomenon: Digital Addiction? by Brendon Kirk
For the uninitiated, MMORPG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. The basic premise of these epic online games is that players from around the world converge on servers to do battle against computer driven opponents and often each other. ... This makes leaving the game all the more difficult as other people may have grown to rely on the unique skills a certain player can bring to the game. ... Knowing that you are only a few hours away from being better at fighting the monsters that haunt your online existence is a very good reason to keep playing.

Game Design Tips For MMORPG Designers by Hitoshi Jones
The popularity of massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) has exploded over the past few years and shows no sign of letting up. Thanks to the success of hugely popular titles such as World Of Warcraft, EVE Online, and Dark Age of Camelot, the demand for new MMORPGs keeps... The game designer here must understand the technical issues of networking and the internet, and must also understand how to design the game to maximize the play aspect and also minimize the strain on the equipment.

Online Video and Computer Gaming as a Catalyst to Positive Social Function by Gregory Wolfe
With the advent of the cultural phenomenon known broadly as Online Gaming (encompassing both console and PC gaming), a gradual shift has taken place in the public perception of gaming, as well as it's social impact. Needless to say, with Gross Revenues exceeding Hollywood's Box Office income,... MMORPG's (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) such as EverQuest, rather than dungeons of video game isolation, have become virtual Pubs, 'where everybody knows your username'. ... University of Wisconsin/Madison Speech Communication professor, Dmitri Williams, argues that online games...

The Online Game Industry is an Excellent Way to Study the Economics of Fun by Richard Kingston
While scientists developed sensory-input devices to mimic the sensations of a virtual world, the games industry eschewed this hardware-based approach in favour of creating alternative realities through emotionally engaging software. "It turns out that the way humans are made, the software-based... Millions of people now spend several hours a week immersed in "massively multiplayer online role-playing games" (MMORPGs). ... In particular, real-world trade of in-game items, swords, gold, potions, or even whole characters is flourishing in online marketplaces such as eBay.

PlayStation 3 Preview by Alan Scott
In past one decade Sony has sold around 190 million PlayStation consoles across the world. The estimated units of software sold are around massive 2 billion. As the next generation avatar of its highly successful PlayStation series, Sony unveiled PlayStation 3 at technology fest E3 in Los Angeles. ... The future belongs to MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). ... The success of the PS3 hugely depends upon how compatible will it be to online environment. ... If Xbox was better than PS2 even though marginally at something, it was in its online connectivity.

The World Within Or Online Multiplayer Games In Depth by Sergey Alekseyev
For most of the 20th century, life used to be rather simple for most people. There was school, college, work, retirement. Along with that you had hobbies like cars, bowling, or gardening. The former was more or a less of a chore, the latter the fun stuff you did in your free time, usually... This category still remains predominant in total worldwide player numbers (according to Valve, Counterstrike is currently still the most popular online multiplayer game). ... The last group, the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), is the area which popularity has really exploded...