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I've played the GOD of MMORPG -- EverQuest. My older brother has spent the last year playing it. I never really got into it. Though, I know enough to let you know what kind of things to expect. (BTW, my borther is at level 50+ in EQ, which is quite a thing in EQ  )
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MMORPGs normally don't have much story, beyond specific quests for specific characters. Since it's online, it never ends. More so because it has a monthly fee. How would / why would they make it online, and have a monthly fee for something that ends when you beat it?
It's mostly fighting, and leveling up. I for one hope SQUARE does something about that. The constant fighting, and that all you do for _DAYS_ is what turned me off EQ. But, the main thing is community. The game itself, is a fun side thing you can do with your friends on theses games. It's like a forum such as FFR. You come back to talk with people, and talk about fun stuff. Well, think about doing all that, and playing an RPG!? That's the true purpose of MMORPGs is an online RPG, with friends! ^_^
Because of the detail and quality of such games as EQ and FFXI. You usually need a good computer to play them at all, and a great computer for it to have no errors, and lag. My older brother is and Everquest WHORE _Whore_ I tell you.... He's gotten another computer, just so he and his G/F can play together, so that way they can play together with all of their friends.
He has DSL, 700+ Ram, 1.00+ Ghz Processor comp he just bought. It has a 20 Gig HD aswell. He uses to to Play EQ at highh res. He also has a good Sound Blaster, and is 'getting' a Geforce4 to go in his 'special slot' (I forgot what it's called) for the Geforce4. That way he can have his-res image and sound quality.
Most people will be running FFXI on low quality I assume. And you probably *need* broadband.
This is where the PS2 comes in folks! The PS2 already is a great 'computer' Why do you think it can have a keyboard, mouse, and cost $300! Because basically, it's a mini-computer. It will take care of most of those quality issues that normal comps have to deal with. It has it's own personal hardware and software, so no bugs and errors are likely. Once you buy all the extra stuff for your PS2 to play FFXI, you'll be set. I assume it'll be better than EQ just because of the gameplay add-ons you get just because it's on a console.
If FFXI ever comes to PC, then you'll need some Hardware... But the PS2 should run it just fine, even on 56k! Broadband is reccomended though.
It's run over different servers, that accomadate a certain usergroup. So you don't need to worry about how many people are on most of the time. If you not on Broadband, then you might experience some lag in "heavy zone". Where there are alot of objects being renderd, like people or monsters.
FFXI looks alot like an EQ clone from everything that's been given out so far. But it being on a console (A Powerful one at that) and being by SQUARE, I expect many little fixes to gameplay, and community experience over EQ.
MMORPGs use "Zones" or "Areas" because if you loaded everyone, everywhere, at every place on the World Map, then your PS2 would slap you with the mouse and walk back home.  That's just a _LOAD_ of bandwidth and memory to be using. So you'll load in zones, much like a nomal RPG, but even the outside world map is loaded in sections, not just towns and stuff.
The PS2 network adapter will get you connected, and the PS2 has a phone port on the back, with two USBs in the front for the Mouse, and Keyboard.
The only thing left, is the only thing that's left with everything... "DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED YOUR ADDICTION!?"
Hope that helps a little.  You should really get my brother in here when it comes to questions about MMORPGs... He knows loads more than me, as I said he's played it for over a year.
A day in the life of Scott (My brother):
Get up, eat, play everquest, work, play everquest, eat, play everquest, sleep. -- Repeat.
-FFGnome |
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