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