Find More MMO Games Friends

There are best friends, family friends, school friends, and then there are the cool friends who can wield magical staffs, swords and the most powerful weapon out there against an almost impossible horde of monsters.

Playing free MMORPGs, or massive multiplayer online role-playing games, opens up a different kind of social life for the player. The friends that one acquires through this kind of gaming can span oceans and continents. There are no boundaries except perhaps how much level and experience one has gained. But once one has attained the level of the big guys and can offer so much in terms of support and working with the team in defeating a particularly tough boss, then there is no stopping the fun.

The fun thing about playing free MMORPGs is the variety of other players that one gets to meet. It is almost like a training ground for the real world and dealing with real people face-to-face. Some start playing games with a group of friends and they level up all at the same time. But then at some point one or two would not be able to sustain the gaming and replacements will be needed. There will always be solo players out there looking for a team to work with, whether for long-term or short-term. In this way, new alliances and friendships are formed. For those who brave the free MMO game world alone, the finding of trustworthy companions is an adventure in itself.

Outside of the game there are even other channels that have sprung up to sustain the connections born within the game. There are forums and blogs and social networks for almost every free MMORPG out there. For the truly enthusiastic, there are even opportunities for actual meet-ups during conventions or events, or even through personal arrangements. The passion for the game nurtures these friendships and just as their characters level up, so do their social relationships outside of the game.

Cooperative Gameplay in MMORPG Games

The very nature of free MMORPG encourages these social interactions because it will be very challenging to survive through the quests and goals and battles all by oneself. Of course there are always options for solo playing in some games that is to hire companions within the game. These companions are characters provided by the game itself to aid new adventurers who have not yet fully decided how to proceed in it. Some solo players do this first until they get the hang of the game before seeking out characters run by real people.

But regardless of the path pursued within the game, in the end it is inevitable that one will get to know other players. Like-minded characters or complementary characters will naturally get drawn to one another and spawn a unique camaraderie that can only be found in an MMORPG. In addition to opening up worlds and ways to express oneself through the enjoyable character customization, free MMO games also open up new avenues for making friends and enriching one's social network. Besides, how many people, when asked how they met their best friend, can say something like "Over the dead body of a fire-spewing three-armed half-dragon, half-eagle monster"?

If you would like to start playing a free MMO game today, try this list of fantasy MMORPG games like World of Warcraft or visit MMO Worlds, the top website that focuses exclusively on the best free MMO games online. It contains links, reviews, gameplay videos, screenshots, game artwork and more.

What are MMORPG Games?

MMORPG is an acronym for "massively multiplayer online role-playing games." It is a genre in computer gaming where the interaction among a huge number of players within the game's virtual world happens.

Just like in all other types of role-playing games, character roles, usually from a world of fantasy, are assumed by players who take control over many of the character's actions.

Aside from the number of players, MMORPGs can be distinguished from small multi-player RPGs and those played by single players by the persistent world of the game. The game still evolves and continues to exist even when the player is away from the game and not online. The data about the game is stored on a server or servers which are normally hosted by its publisher.

Across the globe, MMOs are being played by millions of avid fans. Revenues around the world for these virtual games surpassed the half-billion dollar mark in 2005. In 2006, consumer spending in the West on subscription MMORPGs rose to more than $1.4 billion. As of March 2011, over 11 million people are subscribed to the extremely popular MMORPG World of Warcraft.

Traditional fantasy themes are what most of the well-liked MMORPGs are based on. The games are usually set in a universe similar to that of classic RPGs such as Dungeons and Dragons. Hybrid themes are used by some that either substitute or combine elements of fantasy with those of crime fiction, sword and sorcery, steampunk or science fiction. Even thematic materials from the legends, myths, fairy tales, comic books, anime, and other genres are used by some MMORPGs. The elements are developed using scenes and similar tasks that involve monsters, quests, and loot.

In almost all MMORPGs, a primary goal is the development of the player's character. This is done through gaining experience or exp which can be increased by completing tasks, storylines or by defeating various enemies or bosses. Once the right amount of exp has been gained, the character that the gamer controls will level up. Leveling up involves making the character stronger through learning more skills or increasing innate traits such as health, strength, intelligence, agility, etc.

As the character levels up, equipment becomes more and more important. This includes clothes, armor, weapons and accessories. While low level equipment is quite easy to acquire, high level equipment is typically expensive and much more rare.

One of the most popular activities is players teaming up with other players to be able to achieve a more optimal progression rate. They can form a group or party to kill boss monsters or navigate through a dangerous dungeon. This type of content is called cooperative play but the opposite, competitive gaming, also exists and is likewise extremely popular among MMO fans.

While cooperation is needed to complete difficult tasks, friendly competition between individuals or groups is also encouraged. Player vs player or PvP can take the form of 1 vs 1 dueling, guild vs guild battles or faction vs faction wars.

In conclusion, MMO games are basically virtual worlds where players can create a character so they can indulge in many adventures and have fun.

In 2012, there are two big upcoming releases that are expected to dominate the market. These are Bioware's new MMO game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Guild Wars 2 by ArenaNet. You can find the latest and freshest news about these and other upcoming MMOs at the 2012 Best Free MMORPG Games List. This article was written by Mira Nolan, a writer for MMO Worlds, a gaming portal and blog for free to play MMOGs.

Top 5 MMORPGs

Everybody enjoys playing MMO games these days.  How can players resist? Most offer huge worlds to explore and have many hundreds of fellow gamers to play and team up to achieve objectives or even to compete for rewards and bragging rights.  These types of online MMOs have taken the gaming industry by storm and thousands and thousands of players all around the world play at least one MMO, if not more.

Find links to free MMORPG games at MMO Worlds, the top gaming blog for free to play MMO games online. Check out the latest list of the top f2p browser MMORPGs like Runescape or the Top MMORPGs 2011 list.

On the other hand, a lot of them call for month-to-month subscription fees and sadly that may be a deal breaker for most people.  Luckily for those who are worried about spending monthly fees to fuel their adventuring wants there are many free to download and play MMOs that demand no monthly membership fees ever.

In fact, the biggest advantage of these PC games is the fact that if you should ever decide that the MMO you are playing isn't right for you, you have not spent anything and have lost nothing except the time it took you to download, install it on your computer  and play it.

These free MMOGs use an ingame cash shop  to pay for server costs and content updates to keep gameplay entertaining.  The item shop is totally optional, you can play as long as you like without ever needing to shell out a dime on it.  However, those who spend money on the item store usually will have access to some items that help improve character customization like cool hair colors, eye colors, emotes, and so forth. while gamers who do not spend money will have to be content with the free avatar looks and styles.

Gamers looking to devote the minimum amount of dollars possible be wise to just buy added inventory space.  F2P MMORPGs are known for limiting storage capabilities to a few slots to entice players to buy more storage slots for more convenient gameplay. Once you decide how much storage room you need then any additional purchases is entirely up to you.

The main draw of the cash shop is generally the cosmetic items.  Gamers often love to dress up their avatars and there will be no shortage of clothing to ensure that you are playing in style.  Many of these items are simply costumes that look good. They cover your usual clothing or equipment and have the same stat bonuses.

Another popular item in the item shop are pet companions.  Pets are normally just a little animal companion that follows the player around. While some may help you fight mobs, many are there just for the look of things because they are cute.  Pets can range from your basic dog or cat, to exotic fantasy creatures like tigers, robots, leprechauns, or even monsters like skeletons, vampires, ice monsters, etc.  There is normally minigames you must play such as feeding them and petting them to keep your companion happy.  These pets are totally optional and players are not forced to purchase one.

Nowadays no download browser MMORPGs like Runescape are some of the most popular kinds of free to play MMORPGs as noted in the Top 5 MMORPGs list.

Free MMORPGs Occasionally even offer you items you can purchase with real funds instead of game currency such as potions and even elixirs that give you temporary boosts to experience points or luck to increase your drop rate.  While most of these types of items can be purchased using the game currency, they can be very expensive if your temperament has not located a good way to elevate funds.  Speaking of funds, if you're broke in the game world, but not so broke in real life, you can commonly purchase game currency for real cash to give yourself the advantage of not having to invest time raising funds in the game.

If you are looking for the best MMORPG but do not want to devote dollars on subscription fees, a f2p one might be the right choice for you.  There are many great f2p MMOs out there, so do a little research into which ones are your type.  The best thing about all of this is that if ever you decided that you don't like the game, you didn't spend any money on it at all so you lost nothing but a little bit of time.

Free RPG Adventure MMO Games

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games or MMOGs, are very popular nowadays. That's because people find it truly fascinating to immerse one's self in a virtual world of magical dangers and high adventure.

You could be the barbarian who would brave the most dangerous dungeons and horrifying fortresses to slay the magic beasts and win untold wealth.  Or perhaps you might be the sorcerer who will become the greatest mage across the known world. Or maybe the dark lord who will reign over the many continents in the best free MMORPG online games.

With MMORPGs, you could be anyone and anything, you want to be. The limits are only bounded by your imagination. Visit the MMO Worlds blog to get a list of the top Free RPG Adventure MMO Games.

The only problem is that not all MMORPGs are free to play. Most of the time, you’d have to pay for the MMO game download, in addition to the monthly membership fee. Who wants to pay for something you can get for free?

That's exactly why so many devout players have looked everywhere for good free to play MMOGs that are worth the effort to download. In the past almost all of the free MMORPG games sucked but this is not true anymore. Nowadays the some of the top game companies have created high quality free MMOGs. Also some previously membership games have changed their business model to free to popularize their game.

Is there a catch? Why exactly are these MMORPG games free? The reason is simple they operate using a different different business model compared to premium games. This is is "freemium" business model in which almost all the content is given to users for free apart from some paid or premium content.

So, for example when a player starts playing, everything is given free just like a free trial except without the time limits. Then as the player levels up there may be some paid expansion packs or items offered for higher level players. These expansion packs or items are all optional and are just there to offer additional content. In fact, many of these premium items are purely vanity items that do not even give any special bonuses, they are sold just to customize your avatar.

To give a concrete example, all of the free to play players will have to use the boring-looking steel mace but there might be a awesome-looking magic sword for those who want to buy it. The boring-looking steel sword has exactly the same equiment stats as the cool-looking ice sword - people are paying for only for their character to look cool.

Does that sound good to you? Free MMORPG games are ideal for casual gamers who only play irregularly because they are not willing to pay for a game they won't even play everyday. It's also good for cash-strapped gamers who can't spend too much games online.

These are the top  reasons why gamers are attracted to playing these games.

SW:TOR - WoW Killer?

If you haven't heard of Star Wars: The Old Republic yet then you must not be paying attention. SWTOR has been a hot topic on all the MMORPG forums and websites these days. Some have proclaimed that it will be a WoW-killer, in other words a game that can compete with the incredibly popular World of Warcraft MMO game by Blizzard.

I have nothing against WoW, of course. It's a great game but nowadays its seems that people are looking for the next big thing in MMO games and SWTOR might fit the bill.

I do recall that when WoW was first released that critics liked it but noted that it was polished but not exactly innovative. The nice thing about WoW is that it has got a mass appeal. Before its release there was not one Western MMO that had the same huge player numbers that Asian MMOs did. With WoW Blizzard showed everyone that there is in fact a big and hungry market for good MMORPGs.

At the moment I am not sure of my feelings towards the Star Wars franchise. I liked the original trilogy of movies but the new ones were pretty terrible. There is currently a Star Wars MMORPG that is slated to close this year, Star Wars Galaxies. Problems with SWG were in the mainstream news not too long ago and if you visit any forum with a SWG subsection, well you will see that people have not forgotten what a disaster it was.

However, all things considered, I think people are just waiting for a good MMORPG game like WoW to be released that's why people are closely watching how things are turning out for SWTOR.

Free 2d Sidescrolling MMORPG Games Like Maplestory

I have a cleric character in the Bellocan server in Maplestory. It's an old char that I created when Bellocan was released. Sadly, it is not lukless so yeah, I can't hit hard or anything. Still, I greatly enjoy playing MS casually.

At the time that I played, a few years ago, MS was quite unique and there was nothing else like it at all and certainly not for free. Of course, since the  success of MS there have been quite a few MMORPG games like Maplestory but free to play that have been released.

What's the appeal of Maplestory anyway? For me it is thse 7 things:

1. It's free to download and play.
2. You can run the game smoothly even on older computers.
3. The graphics style is very cute and colorful.
4. It's somewhat kid-friendly in that there is no gore or excessively violent combat animations. This is good if the kids are watching you play!
5. There are many classes that I like to play.
6. The item/cash shop is generally used just for vanity items like clothes. I never had to buy anything to continue playing as much as I liked.
7. It has that great old school feel of a platform game.

Maplestory is so cartoony and fun, it makes me feel happy when I play it. There has also been an update to the game this month with the release of the Global MapleStory exclusive "Capture the Flag" mode. This is a new PvP minigame type where three to six players in two teams have to fight to capture their opponents' flag. The first team to do capture the flag three times wins.

As usual there will be lots of nice item drops during the game like speed ups, power ups, HP recoveries, etc. to make it more fun.

I'm not sure that it's good exp but it sounds like fun. See you there!

Online games for kids - Is it safe?

Are online games for kids safe? There are several types of online games and most of them were not designed for kids. Single-player games like flash games that you can play on your browser are generally safe. For example, coloring book games are safe and fun to play.

Parents should just check the game itself or the game website for any objectionable content like excessive violence, blood, gore, nudity, strong language, etc.but these games are mostly harmless.

Multi-player games are another thing entirely. Since these are played by all kinds of people, parental controls should be in place if your child will be playing online multi-player games. Parental controls in a game will make it safe for younger players and parents can monitor and limit their children's playtime, activities, online chat, and so forth.

Games like World of Warcraft are called MMORPGs and they are very popular nowadays. These games are basically virtual world games where players take on a role to explore and adventure in a fantasy setting.

If you want a specific recommendation of a safe game for kids that has parental controls, visit our blog post on the best free MMORPG game for kids and teens that is free to play and free to download plus it has the Parent Tested Parent Approved Media Seal of Approval and has been recognized by the National Parenting Publications Awards.

The truth is that million of kids and teens play games online. It's nothing to be very alarmed about but as a parent you should probably keep an eye out and steer your kids towards the more child-safe games.

Another good resource:
 
MMORPG for kids - Top Online Games Squidoo lens