| For most of the 20th century, life used to be | | | | either one on one or in teams of up to 4 on 4, or |
| rather simple for most people. There was school, | | | | play others in pre-arranged teams. As in FPS |
| college, work, retirement. Along with that you had | | | | games, there are also clans in Warcraft, which in |
| hobbies like cars, bowling, or gardening. The | | | | this case are even explicitly supported by |
| former was more or a less of a chore, the latter | | | | Battlenet. This and the very immediate visibility of |
| the fun stuff you did in your free time, usually | | | | someone's skill level (basically, his win/loss ratio) |
| together with local friends from the same | | | | gives rise to much competition between dedicated |
| neighborhood. This was basically the same as a | | | | players for the top ladder (ranking) spots. Unlike |
| thousand years ago. For a few lucky people the | | | | geographically uniform games like Counter-Strike |
| two areas overlapped and they could do the stuff | | | | with tens of thousands of servers, Warcraft has |
| that they liked as their main job.Now, in the last | | | | just a handful of large servers, each for a certain |
| 10 years of the 20th century, as well as in the | | | | area of the world (e.g. Americas, Europe, Asia). |
| first few years of the 21st, this has been | | | | Interestingly enough, most strategy games are |
| changing rather dramatically. The reason is the | | | | dominated by Asian, especially South Korean, |
| rapid technical progress, both in the wide area | | | | players, where online multiplayer games have |
| network and computing power areas. | | | | been a very major part of the culture for years |
| Contemporary hardware can animate very | | | | already. The professional South Korean Starcraft |
| detailed and realistic graphics fluently, and transfer | | | | and Warcraft tournaments are major events with |
| data on the movements and actions of hundreds | | | | hundreds of thousands of live spectators, played |
| of objects and characters around the world in | | | | on an extremely competitive level, and |
| milliseconds (although, unfortunately, the speed of | | | | broadcasted on TV, and the top players have |
| light still remains a limiting factor). This has led to | | | | practically celebrity status and incomes in the |
| an explosion in the availability and quality of online | | | | six-figure range and higher.Since the popular |
| games, with the newest generation like | | | | strategy games are usually also just round-based, |
| Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft becoming a | | | | there is not very much room for social interaction |
| phenomenon no longer limited to any particular | | | | apart from an occasional chat. Strategy players |
| social class, but rather an all-encompassing cultural | | | | are probably a bit older than FPS players on |
| element in the industrial countries.Increasingly, | | | | average, mostly between 16 and 35 in the |
| parents find that their children spend a lot of time | | | | Western societies.Massively Multiplayer Online Role |
| playing some of those games, and more and | | | | Playing Games MMORPGs are the final and by far |
| more people come in contact with them. This | | | | the most complex group in our classification. They |
| leads to people wanting objective information, | | | | are something like little worlds within themselves, |
| which is in practice not easy to obtain. Most | | | | often resembling scaled-down copies of the real |
| articles about these games are either written by | | | | world, yet different as well. The two leading |
| rather clueless journalists who have never or | | | | MMORPGs as of the time of writing are probably |
| hardly played the games in question and therefore | | | | World of Warcraft (WoW) and Final Fantasy XI |
| mainly focus on scandalous negative side effects, | | | | (FFXI) , each with millions of active players |
| or by enthusiastic fans who dive deep into the | | | | worldwide. The distinctive difference between |
| technicalities and don't mention the real world | | | | MMORPGs and the other kinds of online |
| consequences much. This article tries to bridge | | | | multiplayer games is that RPGs are not |
| the gap - it describes the currently most | | | | round-based, and do not have a time limit or any |
| important types of online games and looks in | | | | specific goal to achieve. They are just there to be |
| detail at the social relationships behind them. The | | | | explored along (or sometimes against) other |
| authors have been longterm players for years | | | | players. The key concept is that each player |
| and therefore hope that they can address the | | | | chooses a single virtual avatar which is at first |
| issue in considerably greater depth and detail than | | | | rather weak (low-level) and starts in some safe |
| most journalists (however, you won't find detailed | | | | basic area of his choice. The current MMORPGs all |
| technical facts here since it is not in scope of this | | | | offer a rich palette of races and locations to start |
| article).There are basically three main types of | | | | with. Usually, to be able to explore the world, the |
| multiplayer online games:First-person shooters | | | | character must be made stronger, which is |
| (FPS) where the player sees everything through a | | | | typically achieved by killing some kind of virtual |
| (usually temporary, just for the online session or | | | | monsters repeatedly, at low levels usually alone, |
| less) character's eyes and his gun's barrel. This | | | | later in a group. You can also do "quests" - tasks |
| category still remains predominant in total | | | | given to you by an in-game character - for |
| worldwide player numbers (according to Valve, | | | | various rewards and with various degrees of |
| Counterstrike is currently still the most popular | | | | difficulty.Current MMORPGs are very large and |
| online multiplayer game). Some of the other | | | | highly complex. Even fully exploring their worlds |
| examples include Quake, Unreal Tournament, and | | | | can take years, and trying out all the playstyles |
| Doom3.Strategy games are the the second main | | | | and options is almost impossible. There are lots of |
| category. Usually similar to FPS games in the | | | | different strategies for doing quests and winning |
| round/session-based style of play, in these games | | | | difficult battles, and organizational and |
| the player usually does not have any single entity, | | | | managemental skills become essential in major |
| but rather commands a number of troops of | | | | conflicts where sometimes hundreds of people |
| some kind against other human opponents. There | | | | are involved at once. Those large-scale groups |
| are also various options where one can both play | | | | already resemble something like real-world armies, |
| with other humans against the computer etc. | | | | with a defined command structure and squads |
| Games of this kind include Starcraft, Warcraft III, | | | | with some special tasks each. This is something |
| Age of Empires and many others.The last group, | | | | entirely new - nothing of comparable scale and |
| the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role | | | | complexity has been there until just several years |
| Playing Games), is the area which popularity has | | | | ago - and the scale is likely to become ever |
| really exploded in the last few years. Here, the | | | | greater.An impressive fact is the extreme |
| player obtains a permanent character (or entity) | | | | internationality of MMORPGs. A little less obvious |
| or several which can evolve and be equipped with | | | | with WoW, since it is also Battlenet-based and |
| various gear, and undertakes adventures in a | | | | uses the regional server concept, it is highly |
| large world full with other players. This is probably | | | | apparent with Final Fantasy XI, which does not |
| the most promising group since it resembles the | | | | distinguish any regions - each of its servers has |
| real world most, and it has also been the fastest | | | | people from the entire Earth. Most players come |
| developing recently. The currently most prominent | | | | from Japan (where the game originates from), |
| games in this category are World of Warcraft, | | | | many from the US and Europe, but it is possible |
| Final Fantasy XI, Guild Wars, Everquest II and | | | | to meet people from too many countries to list |
| Lineage II.FPSIn first-person shooter games, the | | | | here, almost every corner of the world being |
| basic principle is simple. Shoot or be shot, kill or be | | | | represented. An interesting side effect is that one |
| killed. Starting with the original Castle of | | | | comes in contact with numerous cultures and |
| Wolfenstein and Doom, these games have | | | | customs and many different languages. Some |
| developed to a level of frightening realism mainly | | | | anecdotal stories from the authors' own |
| for men living out their ancient predatory and | | | | experience include a maid coming in to clean an |
| fighting instincts (according to some surveys, | | | | Egyptian player's room at the wrong time, relaxed |
| there are about 10 times as many male as | | | | Moroccan players sipping on a water pipe in an |
| female players in average FPS games). One of | | | | Internet cafe while playing, and a Canadian PhD |
| the recent milestones in this category, Doom 3 is | | | | student surveying the attitudes of gamers for her |
| a game which is psychologically scary even to | | | | thesis work.Another positive thing about |
| adult men with the highly detailed and realistic | | | | MMORPGs is that they encourage making friends |
| monsters suddenly attacking from dark corners. | | | | and teamplay very much. It may be possible to |
| However, once these games take to the online | | | | do a lot alone (although not in all RPGs), but a |
| multiplayer stage, their focus shifts a little. The | | | | well-matched group can do much more. |
| goal is no longer to scare the pants off the lone | | | | Therefore, social skills like making contacts and |
| player in his dark room, but rather to provide a | | | | keeping them are substantial in MMORPGs. Since |
| fun platform for competition between many | | | | the player is hidden behind his avatar, the |
| players of different skill. The most popular online | | | | threshold to approach someone you don't know is |
| game in this category is still without doubt | | | | a lot lower than in real life, which makes them a |
| Counter-Strike - a game which has received much | | | | good playground for shy people. The authors |
| negative fame because of various school | | | | know of several real-life relationships that initially |
| shootings done by Counter-Strike players, yet still | | | | started with the players liking each other in the |
| remains a highly captivating pastime for millions | | | | game and then finding out they liked each other in |
| worldwide. It is a fan modification of Half-Life, a | | | | real life as well. Of course, the chance for a |
| Valve game, and a team game in its core: one | | | | mess-up is much higher here as well - after all in |
| team is the "terrorists", the other the | | | | real life it's unlikely you date someone who looks |
| "counter-terrorists", and the play is round-based: | | | | cute for a while, only to find out he's a chain |
| at the start of a round, each team member | | | | smoking guy in his 30s. However, still, interestingly |
| receives an identical (except for clothing) avatar, | | | | enough, MMORPGs are relatively much more |
| picks some weapons, and the the two teams | | | | popular with women when compared to FPS or |
| clash in combat until either a bomb is placed or | | | | strategy games. That is probably because there's |
| everyone of one team is dead (there are also | | | | a lot of social interaction within them - you make |
| variations like "capture the flag" etc).There are | | | | friends who you see and adventure together a |
| numerous reasons for the massive popularity of | | | | lot, and there's a lot of talking and personal |
| Counter-Strike. The game rounds are short-term | | | | information being exchanged - something almost |
| in nature and don't require much time. It is | | | | entirely missing from most other multiplayer |
| comparatively realistic - weapons existing in reality | | | | games.The clan idea from FPS and strategy |
| like the M-16 or AK-47 are used in the game, and | | | | games is even much more emphasized in |
| even one shot may be enough to kill. Also, it is | | | | MMORPGs. Guilds in WoW and linkshells in FFXI are |
| easily accessible - almost everyone can install and | | | | major social entities, with their members meeting |
| run a Counter-Strike server, and there are many | | | | each other daily for years. The real-life meetings |
| thousands of them in the world online at any | | | | of large guilds or linkshells are worldwide events, |
| given time. Although the basic game does not lead | | | | with people coming together from many different |
| to social interaction deeper than a quick chat, the | | | | places. Linkshell friendships sometimes last for |
| grouping of people around some specific favorite | | | | years. On the downside, this means that one can |
| servers and the wish to play better, which | | | | get hurt as well in the game - a fact that many |
| inevitably requires solid teamplay, has led to the | | | | people unfamiliar with the whole phenomenon |
| phenomenon of so-called "clans", or dedicated | | | | often fail to understand. "It's just a game", they |
| player groups, which usually have their own | | | | say. On the one hand, they're right. Yet on the |
| server where they train. A competitive clan will | | | | other hand, if it is possible to make new friends |
| usually have requirements for people wanting to | | | | through these games, who become real-life |
| join - a certain skill level, or some minimum | | | | friends as well, one should realize that it is quite |
| playtime - and most serious clan players play at | | | | possible to get friendships broken by them as |
| least several hours a day. Dedicated clans will also | | | | well, for instance when being disappointed by |
| sometimes meet in real life to discuss strategies | | | | people one had trusted. This is also something |
| and generally have fun, which is not much | | | | almost unique to MMORPGs - there has never |
| different from most other groups of people with | | | | been so much reality in a virtual world before. |
| similar hobbies, like e.g. stamp collectors or RC | | | | Talking of that, one should mention another |
| model builders. Since many servers are regional, | | | | peculiar aspect of those games - the equipment |
| mostly there are same-country and often even | | | | hunting. As the avatars are the same (or similar) |
| same-neighborhood people on the same server, | | | | for everyone, the gear or equipment that a |
| which of course makes meeting in real life easier | | | | player has basically measures his social status, |
| as well.The picture is roughly comparable in the | | | | much like a car or money in real life. Players with |
| other FPS multiplayer games like Quake 4 and | | | | very rare, "godly" gear, are admired and envied |
| Unreal Tournament, with the main difference | | | | by many people with regular equipment. Since |
| between that the latter are less realistic and | | | | that is something most people like, and, as |
| include sci-fi weapons like laser guns and such. | | | | mentioned, the thresholds for doing things are so |
| They are also typically much faster, with frantic | | | | much lower than in real life, many nasty things |
| movement (means, being hard to target) being | | | | have been done in order to obtain gear. Again, |
| highly important to survival, which is a concept | | | | here the RPGs are almost like a mirror of real life, |
| rather different to Counter-Strike where | | | | condensing down the more hidden similar issues |
| sometimes the top scorers just sit in one place | | | | there to a more compact and visible form. In a |
| with a sniper rifle. However, a thing common to all | | | | way, it is a pretty interesting experience and can |
| FPS, mouse control is highly essential. Skilled FPS | | | | teach one a lot about people. It just becomes |
| players develop extremely good mouse control | | | | clear much faster who is worth what. A related |
| (conventional mice no longer being good enough | | | | trait of these games is the emerging RMT (Real |
| for them led to the development of a whole new | | | | Money Trade) industry, which basically thrives on |
| segment of gaming mice) and have reaction times | | | | selling virtual game money and items for real |
| below 0.1 seconds. The numerous stress peaks | | | | money, and for some games has reached |
| and drops, lack of time between rounds, and the | | | | revenues comparable to the per capita gross |
| frantic gameplay often leads to additional | | | | national products of European countries. Here one |
| addictions, though - many of the hardcore FPS | | | | can see the blurring of the distinction between |
| players are chain smokers, fast-food eaters, | | | | work and playing - many people don't play for fun |
| coffee addicts, or all of it combined. There are | | | | anymore. They earn money by "camping" (sitting |
| worldwide tournaments held for most of the | | | | at the same spot all day) special monsters and |
| established FPS, and the current champions are | | | | selling the dropped items. It turns out it is possible |
| mostly from Europe or the US.Strategy | | | | to earn sizable amounts with that - more than a |
| gamesThe picture is a bit different with strategy | | | | regular hard job in some countries would pay.To |
| games. Usually they are less frantic and leave | | | | summarize, online multiplayer games are a very |
| much more room for logical thinking (of course, | | | | large and ever increasing phenomenon. Very |
| the classic board games like chess or Go also | | | | addictive, and easily able to occupy a player for |
| have major online playing facilities nowadays, but | | | | years, they are perhaps becoming the major |
| they cannot really be called multiplayer games | | | | modern escape-from-reality tool of the next |
| since there is little to none team aspect, it's just | | | | generation. Certainly, they have their drawbacks, |
| one-on-one most of the time). A typical example | | | | and not too few. However, if seen as an |
| is Warcraft III, which is the most recent in the | | | | alternative to TV, MMORPGs are definitely more |
| Warcraft realtime strategy game series by | | | | worthwhile, in the authors' humble opinion.The |
| Blizzard. It is played on the so-called Battlenet, a | | | | authors are experienced gamers and alongside |
| major online gaming hub by Blizzard, which also | | | | with their work as co-founders of a web design |
| serves other strategy games like StarCraft. In | | | | and development company ( still enjoy an |
| Warcraft III it is possible to play both random | | | | occasional round of play. |
| opponents matched to you approximately by skill, | | | | |