1) When Neverwinter Nights was released, the developers did not intend it to be a persistent world like MMORPGs. However, gamers are changing that by developing their own persistent worlds using the same toolset that the developers used to make NWN.

2) There already appears to be an add-on and/or knock off for WarCraft 3 entitled Warhazard. Either way, the game is unofficial. So far, it looks like only a German version is available. Here is the link that gives a picture of the box. If anybody learns more about this title, let us know at [email protected].

3) If you had to guess the most popular MMORPG in the world, what would it be? If you said EverQuest, you would be wrong. In fact, the most popular MMORPG in the world is not that popular in America. Lineage reigns as the world's top MMORPG with a user base of close to 5 million because it dominates Korea and the Far East. That is right, 5 million. With some MMORPGs carrying just hundreds to a few thousand players per server like Asheron's Call 1 and 2, that number is definitely staggering. 

4) In a very creative twist, there is a free stock market simulation game out there that trades in WarCraft 3 game elements. Go to either Game Ogre's Free Game or WarCraft 3 lair to learn more about it. 

5) The very famous father of pen and paper RPGs, Gary Gygax, is helping to making his Lejendary Adventure RPG into a MMORPG. Look for this unique MMORPG to avoid using combat as the primary theme of the game. Instead, expect a more robust gaming experience where combat only plays a small part. The game will also focus on "skill-bundles" instead of character-specific abilities.

6)  With so many initials for online games and role-playing games already in existence like MMORPG, MMOG, MORPG, CRPG, and MOG, a little development company has now introduced UMMORPG into that group. The company, Mutable Realms, is working on an "Ultra" MMORPG entitled Wish. What makes an UMMORPG?  All the players in the game are on one server, instead of hundreds to a few thousand on multiple servers like most popular MMORPGs. Reportedly, tens of thousands of players can play in one world on one server simultaneously. Sounds good, but time will only tell if UMMORPGs actually work. The game is not expected to be released until the near the end of 2004. 

7)  One of the oldest MMORPGs, The Realm Online, has found a new home once again. All the way back in 1996, The Realm was started by Sierra with cartoony graphics and a solid community. A few years later, this online gaming pioneer was sold to Codemasters. During its time with Codemasters, very little was changed regarding the game's look and play. Now, The Realm Online is owned by Norseman Games as it looks like Codemasters wants to focus solely on its upcoming MMORPG entitled Dragon Empires. How will Norseman Games treat this classic? Find out for yourself because the company has brought back the 30 day free trial period!

8) Did you know that one of the greatest computer RPGs is returning as a MMORPG? No, I am not talking about Final Fantasy. I am talking about a series that has waited several years for a new installment, Ultima. You may think that the new game would be called Ultima Online 2, but it will not. Instead, it will be called Ultima X: Odyssey and it will be a quantum leap in terms of graphics over Ultima Online or any other game of the vaunted franchise. Although it will be loosely based on the single player series, the main feature to look out for will be its innovative adventuring system.  

9) Well, it looks like one of the greatest computer RPG franchises is not returning as a MMORPG after all. Ultima X: Odyssey, an eye-candy rich MMORPG that was to be loosely based on the single player series, has been canned by Electronic Arts so that the gaming giant can focus on Ultima Online instead. This news comes on the heels of Electronic Arts winding up the sci-fi MMORPG, Earth and Beyond. In other words, Electronic Arts appears to be minimizing its exposure to MMORPGs. 

10) Look who has risen from the dead! After losing so much money that it had to cut the juice, Rubies of Eventide (Review) is now back as a "free" MMORPG. Of course, this game is not 100% free since Cyber Warrior is asking for donations to keep the game alive and is calling Rubies a shareware game now. If it survives as a "free" MMORPG, RoE will definitely rank as one of the best in that category.

11) It now pays off to be a long time subscriber to a MMORPG. You need not even have to have a high level character. According to NCsoft, City of Heroes subscribers who have been with the game over 12 months will automatically be given a testing slot when City of Villains (the sequel to CoH) opens for Beta testing. Gamers with at 6 months in CoH will be given the most consideration after that first level of veteran players. 

Throw in the $2.95 monthly comic book that subscribers already receive and it's easy to see that CoH is trying to provide as much bang for the buck as possible for the $14.95 monthly subscription fee. Look for a review of City of Heroes by GameOgre.com very soon.  

12) Will a no monthly fee model work with MMORPGs?  Apparently, it does have its upside since Anarchy Online has now gone free until 2006 and the game's customer base is definitely growing considerably larger because of this move. However, take special note that Anarchy Online's expansions (Shadowlands, Alien Invasion, and Notum Wars)  offer a free trial, but not a free subscription. 

Anarchy Online's success with its subscription tinkering is interesting but the real test for the free (no monthly fee) MMORPG genre will be the upcoming Guild Wars since it will not charge a monthly fee period. 

13) The Free MMORPG genre continues to grow as Dragon Raja has now gone to a free subscription model. Support will still be provided for the game despite the elimination of subscription fees.  

While Anarchy Online offers in-game advertising to non-paying players and  Guild Wars relies solely on retail purchases, Dragon Raja will try to make money a little differently than those two major MMORPGs. Cashing in on the popularity of selling online RPG items on the Internet, Dragon Raja will sell in-game items for real cash.  

14) A free MMORPG is one that allows you to play on an ongoing basis without having to pay a monthly subscription. However, a MMORPG needs to make money in some way in order to survive. To make money without monthly fees, different MMOs have come up with various strategies.

Anarchy Online uses in-game advertising, while Guild Wars uses retail purchases and RuneScape offers a premium version along with its extremely popular free one. A growing trend by several of Korean MMORPGs is to offer no download or subscription fee but to charge for in-game items instead. Yet another strategy is to charge for access to special areas of the game.

The good news for players is that these different strategies are allowing nice 3D MMORPGs like Knight Online and Thang Online to be offered without monthly fees instead of having to rely solely on text-based online RPGs for free online role-playing.