Comment Prior art (Score 3, Informative) 106
Patent filed in Aug 3 2000.
Prior art in the form of launched MMORPGs:
Dec 31 1996 The Realm Online
Sep 30 1997 Ultima Online
Sep ?? 1998 Lineage: The Blood Pledge
Mar 16 1999 Everquest
Oct 31 1999 Asheron's Call
Source: http://www.mmogchart.com/analysis-and-conclusions/