Multiplayer online game
Encyclopedia
A Multiplayer Online Game is a multiplayer video game which can be played via a game server
over the internet
, with other players around the world. Some prominent examples of this are Battlefield 2
, Halo 3
, Counter-Strike
, Quake 3, Warcraft 3, StarCraft
, Call of Duty Black Ops, NBA 2K11
, and the Sega Meganet
.
These games differ from MMORPGs
in that they do not create a persistent world
, but create a playing arena for the purpose of a single game or round
. In other words, they rely on a game listen server used only for that round, and there can be numerous servers all around the world. MMORPGs
on the other hand, rely on dedicated servers, as these games must be running continuously.
For example, in Battlefield 2, various servers have their own names, websites and gaming groups known as "clans." Often a list of rules will display when a player first logs on.
. The term could also be applied to many other browser-based competitions.
In order to run in a web browser, the client-side implementation must be a client side solution such as HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash, Java or a browser plug-in. Unlike a stand-alone client or video game, being confined to a browser limits to some degree the extent to which 3-D rendering can be supported. BMOG's can be seen as an evolutionary development of browser-based implementations of board game
s or forum game
s.
Many types of MOGs can potentially be browser-based. Popular examples include simple web sites such as a simple website for a prediction market
or games that involve some 3D rendering such as Quake Live
or MMORPGs
such as RuneScape
.
Game server
A game server is a remotely or locally run server used by game clients to play multiplayer video games. Most video games played over the Internet operate via a connection to a game server...
over the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, with other players around the world. Some prominent examples of this are Battlefield 2
Battlefield 2
Battlefield 2 is a computer game by the Swedish developer Digital Illusions CE . During development, Trauma Studios contributed to the development of the game after it was acquired by DICE...
, Halo 3
Halo 3
Halo 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360 console. The third installment in the Halo franchise, the game concludes the story arc begun in Halo: Combat Evolved and continued in Halo 2...
, Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe...
, Quake 3, Warcraft 3, StarCraft
StarCraft
StarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
, Call of Duty Black Ops, NBA 2K11
NBA 2K11
The game has received critical acclaim. Game review websites have praised NBA 2K11 for its developed controls, online multi-player, and Michael Jordan features...
, and the Sega Meganet
Sega Meganet
The Sega Toshokan, Sega Game Library or Sega Meganet was a network service in Japan for people using the Sega Mega Drive. Debuting in 1990, this was the first time online multiplayer console gaming was possible. However, the service was not very successful and was eventually discontinued...
.
These games differ from MMORPGs
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
in that they do not create a persistent world
Persistent world
A persistent world is a virtual world that continues to exist even after a user exits the world and that user-made changes to its state are, to some extent, permanent...
, but create a playing arena for the purpose of a single game or round
Round
Round or rounds can mean:* The shape of a closed curve with no sharp corners, such as an ellipse, circle, rounded rectangle, or sphere* Roundness , the smoothness of clastic particles...
. In other words, they rely on a game listen server used only for that round, and there can be numerous servers all around the world. MMORPGs
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
on the other hand, rely on dedicated servers, as these games must be running continuously.
Server structure and gameplay
The existence of a wide variety and number of servers has made possible several variations on gameplay.For example, in Battlefield 2, various servers have their own names, websites and gaming groups known as "clans." Often a list of rules will display when a player first logs on.
Browser-based MOG
A browser-based multiplayer online game (BMOG) is a special case of multiplayer online game (MOG) in the form of a browser gameBrowser game
A browser game is a computer game that is played over the Internet using a web browser. Browser games can be created and run using standard web technologies or browser plug-ins. Browser games include all video game genres and can be single-player or multiplayer...
. The term could also be applied to many other browser-based competitions.
In order to run in a web browser, the client-side implementation must be a client side solution such as HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash, Java or a browser plug-in. Unlike a stand-alone client or video game, being confined to a browser limits to some degree the extent to which 3-D rendering can be supported. BMOG's can be seen as an evolutionary development of browser-based implementations of board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s or forum game
Forum game
A forum game is a text-based multiplayer game played on an Internet forum. Simple examples include word association, hangman, "Count to a Million", "what are you listening to?", "which do you prefer?", and variations of Photoshop contests....
s.
Many types of MOGs can potentially be browser-based. Popular examples include simple web sites such as a simple website for a prediction market
Prediction market
Prediction markets are speculative markets created for the purpose of making predictions...
or games that involve some 3D rendering such as Quake Live
Quake Live
Quake Live is a first-person shooter video game by id Software designed to run on x86-based computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux that is downloaded and launched via a web browser plugin. It is a variant of its predecessor, Quake III Arena .Quake Live is free to download and play...
or MMORPGs
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
such as RuneScape
RuneScape
RuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in January 2001 by Andrew and Paul Gower, and developed and published by Jagex Games Studio. It is a graphical browser game implemented on the client-side in Java, and incorporates 3D rendering...
.
See also
- Comparison of MMORPGs
- History of MMORPGsHistory of massively multiplayer online gamesThe history of massively multiplayer online games spans over thirty years and hundreds of massively multiplayer online games titles. The origin and influence on MMOG games stems from MUDs, Dungeons and Dragons and earlier social games....
- History of online gamesHistory of online gamesOnline games are currently considered a separate industry of video games. The evolution of these games parallels the evolution of computers and computer networking, with new technologies improving the essential functionality needed for playing video games on a remote server.- Background of...
- List of free MMOGs
- List of free multiplayer online games
- List of freeware video games
- List of MMORPGs
- List of multiplayer browser games
- List of text-based MMORPGs
- MMOFPS
- MMOGMassively multiplayer online gameA massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
- MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
- MMORTS
- MUDMUDA MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
- Multiplayer video game
- Online gameOnline gameAn online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...
- Sega MeganetSega MeganetThe Sega Toshokan, Sega Game Library or Sega Meganet was a network service in Japan for people using the Sega Mega Drive. Debuting in 1990, this was the first time online multiplayer console gaming was possible. However, the service was not very successful and was eventually discontinued...
External links
- MMORPG.com Overview site on MMORPGs.