Hyperiums.com: 3 things a small strategy MMOG can bring that big titles can't...

As some of you may already know, since Hyperiums has been on the MMO scene for 10 years now, and about 150K accounts created, it's a real-time browser-based strategy game, with a classical sci-fi "planet conquest" theme. By these times of inflation of MMO titles, I thought it may be of interest for many players to know, from a game creator and administrator's point of view, what makes a gaming experience enjoyable in the long run, and what "small" games like Hyperiums ("only" 4K active players) can bring that you can't find elsewhere.

1st - Conviviality
Where 3D and top notch graphics are the main point of a game, conviviality, human communication and friendship are usually peripheral values. Most MMO web games like Hyperiums are community-centered, they really are social games.

2nd - Long term experience
When the half life of most modern games doesn't exceed a few months, because either the game itself or the underlying hardware (console, PC...) has become obsolete, games like Hyperiums fight on a different ground and don't fear to become obsolete: in a way, they are already obsolete the day they come out. For instance, I like to compare Hyperiums to the Monopoly board game: based on a few simple yet strong concepts, this kind of game can never die.

3rd - Adding up to your life, not eating it
Long term games like Hyperiums, with persistent universes running for several years without reset, allow the players to build something that adds up to their life and can offer true feelings of achievement, with just a few minutes a day (which you can even spend at work!), while most modern graphics-enhanced games offer evasion from real life, at the cost of eating your free time, because they require 100% of your attention.

There is much more to say, naturally, on this topic, but these are the three main points I wanted to share with you first. I'll happily read your feedback and continue the discussion with those interested.

DG, Founder and Administrator of Hyperiums