There is no avoiding MMOs They are the biggest thing in gaming since Pong. (Bee deep... ... ... deep ... beep ... beedeep...) Well, maybe there was some milestone that escapes me since then.

Nonetheless, where are they going? Millions are spent on subscriptions every year, and the forecasts see it only going up and up. But what about the real future of this amazing genre of games?

Stratics Central has taken a look at just that. Eight game company executives were asked one question, with a far from simple answer.

[i]"Where do you see the Massive Multiplayer genre in ten years?"[/i]

"...Technology will change game world locality, presentation, and interaction. We will have de-centralized game servers and peer-to-peer communications so that a player's personal little piece of the game world can reside on their own computer. We will have headsets that integrate video glasses, head-phones, and microphone to allow heads-up-display over realistic 3D images of expansive game worlds, real-time voice communication, and directional control of what an avatar sees. Add peripheral glove control and you are ready for total immersion..." --Kevin Hannah, PersistentWorldZ

"...I feel MMOGs will evolve more closely with communication technologies, than with traditional gaming technologies, like graphics and processor speed (though they are related elements). MMOGs are by nature defined by connectivity..." --Paul Philleo, Nexon

"Almost all Internet users will be involved in massively multiplayer games that are best categorized as e-sports. There will be many more spectators than competitors at any given time. The user will have a 3D avatar to interact with the 3D environment where natural metaphors such as 'sitting down' will access modal interfaces for things like watching a game, a movie or taking part in a live auction..." --Paul Whipp, Auran

You can read the entire article at Stratics Central.