Gaming Hacks

Practice Proper MMORPG Etiquette

Learn the basics without playing all day every day.

As with any type of game, Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPGs or MMOGs) have a learning curve. Many single-player games offer tutorials to help new players understand the basics before diving in. A few MMOGs have this feature, but they concentrate on movement and use of controls. No Massively Multiplayer Game can actually teach you how to behave and play with dozens or hundreds of other people.

Although starting with the original Multiple User Dungeons (MUDs) and MUD Object-Orienteds (MOOs) in the ’80s, the advent of Ultima Online began a modern MMO gold rush. Titles such as EverQuest, the Lineage series, Final Fantasy XI, and City Of Heroes now provide a monetized, massively multiplayer experience that millions of people have signed on to worldwide.

This, then, is a guide for the new player and a refresher for the seasoned hand. Here we’ll discuss what a MMOG is, some guidelines for dealing with your fellow players in a social game, and an analysis of what exactly you’ll receive from playing a Massively Multiplayer Game.

MMOGs are somewhat unique in that they can help fulfill fantasies of heroism, mercantile success, or international fame. It’s rare for a game accomplishment to have such an impact on the real world. The first group of players to slay a powerful creature can become famous to thousands of people in the space of a few days, such as the large group of players who defeated ...