| Since the birth of the internet, online games | | | | as they'd like. As a result, more games began |
| have been keeping thousands of people | | | | to appear around the world. The first |
| entertained worldwide. No matter what type of | | | | mainstream product was sold to the public in |
| game you love – the World Wide Web has | | | | 1984. The game, Islands of Kesmai, was |
| you covered. From Bingo to Checkers, there | | | | extremely expensive, and the graphics were |
| are hundreds of opportunities to connect with | | | | anything but impressive. However, as the |
| others and play twenty four hours a day. | | | | market grew, hundreds of different services |
| Recently, a new form of internet pleasure has | | | | popped up. For instance, Meridian 59 was |
| become one of the most addicting and | | | | released in 1996 and created a massive |
| entertaining games of the year. For many, | | | | following. While it was one of the first |
| MMORPG and MUD games have taken over the | | | | internet games, it actually allowed users to |
| industry. | | | | pay a subscription fee, rather than pay by |
| | | | the hour. This change in gaming made |
| For those who do not know, MMORPG actually | | | | thousands of people switch to this form of |
| stands for Massively-Multiplayer Online | | | | MMORPG. Due to its uniqueness and customer |
| Role-Playing Games. In simpler terms, this | | | | satisfaction, the network actually still |
| means that hundreds of users role play and | | | | exists today and has more users than ever. |
| are able to virtually interact with one | | | | |
| another. Fortunately, there are dozens of | | | | Since the early 1990's, MMORPG and MUD games |
| different types of MMORPG games on the | | | | have been swamping the internet. However, in |
| market. Many of these virtual role playing | | | | the new millennium, technology has taken a |
| worlds include the ability to not only | | | | giant leap in the gaming industry. With |
| compete with other players in different | | | | successes like Final Fantasy XI and Lineage |
| countries, but to also personally get to know | | | | II, users are able to not only see the game |
| them. For many game addicts, it is an | | | | through the character's eyes, but have an |
| entirely different world – one that is | | | | entire experience with the world. It is |
| much more peaceful and interesting than the | | | | incredible for a game lover to be able to |
| one they live in. Generally, these role | | | | fight dragons and other characters with other |
| playing worlds tend to resemble a fairytale, | | | | role playing users. With the constant |
| complete with dragons and princesses. | | | | evolution of games and the internet, it is |
| | | | not impossible for this particular industry |
| While these games are widely popular today, | | | | to climb even higher and become even more |
| they actually have been alive for many years. | | | | successful. Soon these role playing games |
| In the early 1970's, two gameaholics named | | | | will turn into virtual reality havens; places |
| Richard Bartle and Roy Trubshaw created a | | | | for users to meet other users and characters |
| role playing game through early multi user | | | | on an entirely different level. The |
| domains. Many of these games were accessed by | | | | opportunities are certainly endless for every |
| a Telnet service. Through this client, users | | | | type of MMORPG. |
| were able to play as many role playing games | | | | |