| Imagine, you're piloting your space ship | | | | Eve Online is one of various MMORPGs on |
| through the galaxy, searching for fame | | | | the internet. An MMORPG is a Massive |
| and fortune. You're in the process of | | | | Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. A |
| working a trade route, transporting ore | | | | MMORPG like Eve Online is different from |
| from a mining colony to a heavily | | | | most computer games in that in a regular |
| industrialized planet to sell it at a | | | | computer game you are the only human |
| massive fortune. You're gliding through | | | | player, all of the other characters you |
| the star system when your sensors select | | | | interact with are just computerized |
| up something. | | | | "bots." |
| Pirates close in on you, and you fire | | | | However, in MMORPGs you're interacting |
| off a few shots to keep them at bay. One | | | | with other people who populate the world |
| of them challenges you, "Hand over your | | | | of the game. There are some characters |
| cargo or die." You consider bargaining | | | | that are simply part of the game, |
| with them, but realize it's no use. You | | | | usually called NPCs (Non Player |
| fire off a missile salvo at the nearest | | | | Characters), but for the most part |
| pirate, and he disintegrates into dust. | | | | you're interacting with other people. |
| The other two pirates open fire, | | | | The pirates in the Eve Online example |
| weakening your shields as you make a run | | | | are other people, sometimes on other |
| for the planet. You duck into its | | | | parts of the world, connected through |
| protection just as your shields | | | | the Eve Online server. When you receive |
| dissolve, narrowly escaping death and | | | | messages, there is someone sending them |
| heading towards the biggest sale of your | | | | on the other end. |
| life. | | | | |