I was thinking this morning about some of the various MMO's launched recently (and those coming) and got to wondering about where some of the basic game features we've come to take for granted and where they came from. My first MMO was vanilla wow, so my own experience is somewhat limited.
For example, who came out with instanced portions of the game? Was it Blizzard?
I know of lot the RPG characteristics (gear upgrades, levels, talent trees, quests) grew out of, well, RPG's. But what about the notion that certain roles needed to be filled in order to take down more powerful bosses?
And then some other minor things: mounts, auction houses, professions.
I think it helps me when I'm evaluating a game to understand its own place in the genesis of what we consider to be an MMO, and whether or not is has played (or might play) an important, influential role or if it is just another expression of the same game features we've already experienced.
Thanks!