This is an exciting time for massive multiplayer online gaming. At this year's E3, we are starting to get a glimpse at the next generation of MMORPGs. One thing is certain. There will be plenty to choose from. Given the sheer number of games that are scheduled for release, I hope the MMORPG manufacturers are able to figure out a way to market their games to a broader audience instead of just trying to gain a larger percentage of the current player base. Otherwise, some of these games are doomed to failure. While there are a number of games coming onto the market, there are also several obvious frontrunners. Everquest 2, Asheron's Call 2, and Star Wars Galaxies seem to be the best of the lot and seem destined to dominate the others. These are truly next generation games, with graphics and gameplay not seen in the current crop of games. They also have the advantage of being made by big pocket companies that already have gained experience with successful online games. Still, you can't rule out the other games. Many offer unusual gameplay or other features that will endear them to certain groups of gamers. World of Warcraft especially looks impressive, also comes from a company with deep pockets and online experience, and may be able to sneak up on the big three. We previewed four games today and are scheduled to preview many more in the next two days. What I decided to do in this update is give you a brief overview of the games that are on display here, with some initial thoughts and impressions. Over the next week or so, I will write up more detailed previews of the most promising ones so that you can get a better idea what you might be playing in a few years. So here are the upcoming MMORPGs that are on display this year at E3: Star Wars Galaxies: This is the game everyone has been anticipating, and it could very well win best of E3 again this year. The combined talents of Lucas Arts and Sony Online Entertainment, coupled with the built in loyalty of the Star Wars faithful, leads me to think this will be a complete blockbuster. Nobody is able to get into the Sony booth to see this without an appointment (and mine isn't until Friday), so I can't say a lot about it beyond what I know from their site at this time. Based upon what they have released so far, the graphics are simply stunning. Of course it's game play, not graphics, that makes a game. In this respect, it is difficult to judge the game on just this initial impression. It seems like they are attempting to add game play that will satisfy both the shoot em up, quake-type players, and the more serious role players. If they succeed, this game will probably sell more copies than the combined sales of every existing MMORPG to date. If they fail, they may end up with both groups leaving to find games that cater to them more exclusively. I would still bet my lightsaber that this will be a huge hit once it is released. Expect them to have this out by Christmas this year. Asheron's Call 2. The sequel to Turbine's Asheron's Call is being unveiled at E3 this year. I got a long preview of this game earlier today and promise a full review next week, but I can definitely say right now that I was pretty blown away by this one. The original Asheron's Call was entertaining, but in my opinion ultimately flawed. While it gained a loyal set of followers, it never caught on like Everquest did. This game builds upon the positives of the original AC and shows that Microsoft learned from its flaws. There is no doubt that this is truly a second generation MMORPG. The graphics, sound, interaction, creature AI and gameplay all build upon both AC 1 and the other previous games such as EQ and DAoC. This is definitely a game to pay attention to. Expect a release sometime next year. Everquest 2: As I mentioned before, the Sony booth is closed off, so I won't get to see this until Friday. Thus, I don't have a lot to report on it at this time. Just by name alone, this is clearly one of the top MMORPG's being demonstrated this year. This is going to be a completely separate game from Everquest. The class system will be different, as will the skills, trades, zones, etc. Sony has certainly had enough feedback from the many rabid EQ fans to get a feel for what made the first Everquest so successful and what people disliked about the game to adjust their new game accordingly. They are using the SWG graphics engines, so you can certainly expect a significant upgrade in graphics. I would be very surprised if this didn't turn out to be a terrific game. World of Warcraft Online: This is an online, massive multiplayer version of Warcrart III. Like Everquest 2 and Asheron's Call 2, it revolves around a fantasy setting where you slowly build your character's power and reputation. If you are familiar at all with Warcraft III, this will seem very familiar to you. The controls, items, spells and other features have been drawn from that game and put online in a full blown Multiplayer world. Blizzard already has experience in the online field though its Diablo games, and in some ways, this seems to be a blend of Diablo-style fighting and speed with the more traditional role playing game. The graphics are very well done, but are going for a different look than those of the other next generation games in that they are more of a bright cartoon feel than a photo-realistic look. Because it comes from a company with a good reputation in the single game field and uses gameplay concepts already well developed for single player play, this has the potential to challenge the big boys in MMORPG gaming. Shadowbane: This highly anticipated game has been in development for quite a while, and is finally getting close to final release. The concept of Shadowbane is of a more kill or be killed type of world than you get with the current crop of MMORPG's. This gives it a unique appeal. It is set up to allow large scale guild wars, and is as much a strategy game as a MMORPG. Guilds will be able to establish cities and territories and conduct war against each other. They will use NPC guards, seige engines and other methods to protect their own territory or take over that of others. Players can not only build their own houses and cities, but can destroy those built by other players. This is definitely not a game for everyone, since you will eventually have to chose sides and join a guild to make it in the world, and soloing seems pretty limited after the first 20 or so levels. Still, there is nothing really like this game out there yet and there is clearly a fan base out there for this type of game. Horizons: This is another fantasy MMORPG game that has been anticipated for years. I have not yet had a chance to check it out, so I don't have a lot to say on it yet. Several years ago, this was considered a game with promise equal to DAoC or AO, so it will be interesting to see what Artifact Entertainment has been able to do over that time. Earth and Beyond: This game is distributed by Westwood Studios and Electronic Arts, and may be released as early as this summer. I wouldn't doubt that Westwood wants to make sure it is well established before Star Wars Galaxies gets released. Like SWG, Earth and Beyond is a science fiction MMORPG, where you create a character who travels through space and to various planets. However, E&B will take place in our more familiar universe, just projected intothe future. The manufacturer claims that the E&B world will be a persistant world, where they players will be able to create and destroy actual gaming features to constantly change the way the world looks and plays. In addition, the game will put equal emphasis on trade and exploration skills inaddition to the usual fighting skills. Dragon Empires: This is a very different game. At heart it is basically a massive trade skill game. A guild will form a city and designate what trades that city will specialize in and then, through trading with other players or hunting for trade items, start creating and selling their items. It is a pvp game, so players can attack each other and also take over other cities (though not through attack and seige techniques as in Shadowbane, but more through political means). Frankly, I'm not sure how well it will al work, but it is certainly an unusual concept. Ballerium: Billing itself as the only Massive Multiplayer real time strategy game, the players control their own personal armies and can war against or join with other players. One unique feature of this game is that when you go offline, you don't stop playing. Instead, your character is controlled by an AI that you set up. This certainly looks like one of the more unusual massive multiplayer games on display. Ragnorak Online: This is a Japanese import that uses the traditional cartoony graphics found in many Japanese console games. I'm personally not a fan of these types of graphics, but I know many are, and this is worth looking into for those who like this type of thing. Its gameplay looks to be similar other games in this genre as well.