The Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Online and Why MMO Is Still Popular Over 25 Years Later

Jess Mulligan is a consultant and troubleshooter for senior executives of online games operating in the US and Europe. Jess is a veteran in the industry with over 35 years of experience working in producer and leadership roles. Before offering their expertise as a consultant, Jess spent over five years at Travian Games in Munich, Germany, before exiting their dual role as Executive Producer and Game Director. Jess co-authored Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide, an overview of how to design, develop, and manage online games, published worldwide in over 10 languages, including Korean and Chinese.  In this episode… Massively multiplayer online is considered the most popular genre in the gaming industry. What features should you include as a game developer to keep this category fresh?  MMO first launched in the late 1990s, with Ultima Online being one of the first. These games allow multiple players to interact with each other in a virtual world. However, inadequately-designed games can potentially bore players. To prevent this, MMO expert Jess Mulligan advises developers to create games that offer a great customer experience. This includes providing tutorials on developing characters and making the game functional for first- and second-level players. Jess also suggests creating activities that give players a burst of instant gratification, such as being immediately promoted to a new level. Additionally, implementing open worlds like theme parks can keep players engaged and incentivize them to keep playing. In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, Lizzie Mintus interviews Jess Mulligan, a consultant and troubleshooter to senior online game executives, about the MMO industry. Jess discusses the evolution of MMO, how to create engaging games, and becoming an online game consultant.