With the success of the MMORPG genre in recent years, several multiplayer games played in web browsers have also begun using the MMORPG moniker. This largely text-based sub-genre developed from old BBS games and pre-dates the modern idea of an MMORPG.
Browser-based MMORPGs are usually simpler games than their stand-alone counterparts, typically involving turn-based play and simple strategies (e.g. "build a large army, then attack other players for gold"), though there are many interesting variations on the popular themes to be found. Many of these games are more like turn-based strategy games or wargames than role-playing games.
In Dark Galaxy players control planets and fleets of ships; in Kings of Chaos the player commands an army rather than a single player character. In Pardus, the player controls a character who owns a spaceship and gains XPs through trading or fighting, in a way similar to the classic game Elite.
The release of Guild Wars on April 28th, 2005 represents NCsoft, an MMORPG publisher, investing in the possible profitability of an online RPG with a one-time fee. Guild Wars does not share many of the distinguishing features of typical MMORPGs such as the massive persistent game world, the subscription fee, the large time investment required to play, and the largely server-dependant software architecture.
The Walt Disney company has now joined the world of MMORPG, with the launch of Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom. This is a free-to-join version, and allows gameplayers to explore Disney's Magic Kingdom park, interact with each other, and undertake tasks and games in order to earn 'credits', which can be used to purchase clothing, posters, pins etc. Gamers can also customise their own 'room' and make friends with each other. There are strict guidelines concerning speech - if a gamer attempts to type in a word that is considered unsuitable (such as 'love' for instance), it will be replaced by a series of hash signs in the sentence. There is also the opportunity to continue to play your game if you visit Walt Disney World in Florida, by going to DisneyQuest, their virtual-reality and simulator attraction.
On August 4, 2005, the Chinese government announced a ban on all "violent" gameplay for minors under 18. Chinese officials declared violent any game that involves player vs. player combat, a common feature among MMORPGs. Later in August the same year, the Chinese government imposed online gaming curbs so players can not play more than three consecutive hours. See BBC news article.
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