Gamespy Analyzes the MMORPG (October 27, 2003)

[ChrisReid]

Beginning with an in-depth analysis of whether "MMORPG" is the correct term or not, Tye noticed that Gamespy is currently building a giant feature on the history of the massively multiplayer game. Some of the people who were working on Origin's Privateer Online are quoted throughout.

Koster, who worked at Origin Systems, remembers things differently. "The massively multiplayer term was coined by Electronic Arts marketing. At that point, Ultima Online was announced. I remember the meeting in which they told us they were going to call it 'massively multiplayer' and we were like, 'Okay, whatever.'" (Looking back, Koster admits that it is possible that 3DO coined the phrase and that Electronic Arts marketing borrowed it.)

You can find the very beginning of the article here. They start getting into Origin and Ultima Online's role as one of the MMORPG pioneers in the week one writeup.

--
Original update published on October 27, 2003