The Elusive MMORTS

Finding a good MMORTS (Massively Multiplayer Online Real-time Strategy Games) can be a challenging task for those looking to enjoy the genre. Many developers have tried and some are still trying to develop an MMORTS that can capture fans of the genre in a way that MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games) have. MMORPG.com's Dana Massey examines the MMORTS genre and why he thinks developers are coming up short when they try to tackle this sort of game.

The first problem is in the mindset of an RTS player. The whole genre is far more like a board game than a video game. MMOs are meant to be long, enduring, near-on endless marathons. RTS games are short and the table is cleared once a winner is crowned. The biggest hurdle for an MMORTS designer is translating a relatively short game into a long one.