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