What are text-based mmorpg games and why are they so darn addictive?
Many moons ago, before computers had graphical capabilities, text-based RPGs were played on university LANs over super weak dial-up connections. Best known as MUDs (multi-user dungeons), many of these text based web games have been adapted for play over the Internet via a MUD client, or most recently, a modern web browser.
A poor web connection has very little affect on playability, and can also handle large numbers of players, often referred to as MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). This is largely due to the fact that most text based RPGs have very few graphics.
Another advantage to text based MMORPGs is the ability to play them on, pretty much, any computer connected to the Internet, due to their low system requirements compared to graphical games. Many serious gamers are now playing them on handheld devices and modern cellphones.
All text based browser games worth their salt will have the ability to create a virtual character, increase their health, wealth, status, equipment, weaponary, trade items etc, and complete tasks in the game. Over recent years, the landscape has changed and with so much competition, expectations are generally higher and building a successful text based mmorpg game requires time, effort and constant feature updates. Good text web games are massively addictive and keep players loyal for months, and sometimes, years.
Facebook saw the appeal in text based rpg games and has recently launched Farmville, Mafia Wars and Frontierville, created by Zynga. Although much more graphical than the original text-based games, the game play is almost identical to most other text-based rpg games.
Torn City is a popular text based mmorpg game which has been played for over 6 years. A great place to start experimenting with text-based RPGs.