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Peter, never played a web-based MMOG, but it sounds intriguing. Kinda like the days when MUDs were all the rage. Thanks for the article.

I recently got in to the City of Heroes beta for Mac but just haven't found much time to play. MMOs require too much playing time! I always attempt to get into them but eventually they just get pushed aside. It's sad really.

My husband and I are both World of Warcraft players. He played other computer games (but now only plays WoW) and I was more a dabbler in games (but am now as into WoW as he is).
We played other Blizzard games and were spoiled by the fact that they always released their pc and Mac versions pretty much at the same time. I was thinking of trying out a few of the other MMORPG's out there, like Warhammer or Lord of the Rings, but was surprised to find out that they're not out for the Mac.
Good thing the best MMORPG out there is on the Mac, or maybe that has something to do with why it's the best MMORPG out there.
It does take a lot of time, for us it's really more of a hobby than a game. It cuts down on our tv and movie viewing time, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing, really.
Many of the WoW podcasters that I listen to play on Macs (probably 50% of the ones I listen to), so I know there are a bunch of Mac users playing WoW.

This is completely tangential to the article, but something sorely needed on the Mac are turn-based card games. Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is no longer supported by Decipher and they're going to pull the plug on the server in 2010. Would be great to see WotC's Magic: The Gathering natively come to the Mac.
Better yet would to have Blizzard's offline card game come online.

Kay, you and your husband may also want to take a look at EVE Online (http://www.eveonline.com/). It may not be to your taste if you're a casual gamer, and the theme may not be up your alley (SciFi). Still, it's an incredibly deep MMO that's available natively on the Mac.

We have looked at EVE and actually enjoy science fiction just as much as fantasy, but couldn't get past the combination of the interface (not as easy to pick up as WoW) and the learning curve. The wondrous thing about WoW, for us, is that it's simple to learn, hard to master, which is a cliche, I know, but that's what we've found.

We spent a little time at the Eve Online booth at Macworld Expo last year, but didn't see anything that sparked our interest. We love playing different classes and races in WoW, I'm not even sure you play a character in EVE so much as a ship?

I know there are a lot of people that enjoy it, just not our cup of tea. We're waiting for a Starcraft MMORPG and I'm keeping an eye on the Stargate one. We'll see what happens.

Yeah, EVE definitely has a spartan/abstruse/what-the-hell-am-I-looking-at UI. And in some ways, too deep. You're right in that WoW is almost the perfect blend of gameplay (jump right in) and depth.

RE: Starcraft MMO... dear Lord, I don't think my friends would ever see me again if that was released.

Any game that requires huge amounts of time to be "competitive" is not for me, personally. Also the WoW stuff is a little too cult-like for my liking. And enough with the Ozzy and Mr. T commercials please. Those would be counted by me as reasons not to play (that I might encounter such nuckleheads en masse during my game play).

I haven't dabbled in the web-based MMOs. I have tried City of Heroes and thought it fun, but it's now pretty dated for a monthly-fee based game.
I played WoW for a while and loved it. But I found that, unlike any game I've ever played, it's set up to require exorbitant amounts of time just to make it fun. It's not enough to level up your character level and gear to survive against getting ganked, you also need to spend time doing auction house, leveling crafting skills, fishing, first aid, cooking, and more. Then you get stuck creating an ALT character to play with a Noob friend, and then rinse and repeat all the above for the alt character.
Plus, it can take an hour just to run to the place you need to start your quests...only to find that it's overrun by high-level gankers from the opposite faction. Try explaining to your spouse that after two hours you haven't really started to play yet :-)
Is this bad? I don't know. It gives you a lot of game for your money, but it's only a worthwhile investment if you end up putting a lot of time into it. If not, you feel guilty for paying and not playing. If you put too much time in, real life suffers.
I've since switched to Guild Wars. I don't think the PvE game play is quite at the same level as WoW, but it's still a blast. And I love not feeling guilty if I don't play one month (no monthly fees). They let you jump between explored cities without running to save time. And for the cost of a few months of WoW, I was able to buy copies for the whole family so we can play together. Only problem: no direct Mac support, so I have to use Boot Camp or Crossover Games on my iMac or MBP. I'm hoping they add Mac support for Guild Wars 2...

I finally broke the bonds of WoW a little over a year ago. I sold everything I had and gave the gold to my fellow guild officers, then deleted my characters so I couldn't go back.
I decided it was more important to spend time with my wife (she wouldn't play) and get some sleep. I think about it occasionally, especially since they have been advertising the new expansion.
I'm not sure which was harder, quitting WoW or smoking.
Anyway, I feel I am better off without either one.

Peter, you need to have a little chat with your headline writer, if what you really wanted were comments specifically relating to web-based MMOs.
As for the EVE sub-discussion: I tried that one too and stuck with it for a while, but even though it's a game of spaceships and combat on the surface, underneath it's a game of cutthroat politics and personality conflicts.
Actually, in a sense, EVE is partially a web-based MMO, in that its web-based message board sometimes has a profound effect on how the game gets played, and who decides to pick a fight with whom.

World of Warcraft really set the standard for visual appeal in MMOs. WoW is also a very broad game, with activities oriented toward several completely independent goals and styles of play. (For example, you may not want to go out adventuring at all, but just try to get rich playing the auctions.) In the end, though, I gave it up because performing the exact same actions and seeing larger numbers appear ceased to be satisfying.
I tried Dofus (by the way, I believe Peter is mistaken about it not requiring a download), but didn't like it. Too much squinting at tiny icons, and all the mouse clicking made my hands hurt. It's cool that it runs in a web browser, though. It even works with Google Chrome.
The most fun browser-based MMO is probably Kingdom of Loathing.
My all-time favorite MMO is Clan Lord. The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the ultra-simple movement and chat systems are where this game really shines. It lets you forget about the controls and just dive in like no other MMO. And it was there for Mac gamers at a time when few options were available. I don't play MMOs anymore, but I played CL a lot from 1999 through 2004.

I started playing WoW over 2 years ago, on a MDD Power Mac G4. Before that I was an avid Mac gamer but had never seriously played an MMO. I'm now a 79 hunter and have never looked back, barely playing any other games since I began. It's been a strain on my marriage at times, and I never play when my 2 kids are awake, but the scope, complexity, and company have kept me very engaged. I continue to be in awe of the game's depth.