The massively multiplayer online (MMO) game experience has typically focused on the role-playing genre, but many have wondered what it would be like if other genres were mixed in to the equation. Several games from Korea, a country at the forefront of network game innovation, have experimented with blending other game types like sports with Online RPGs. One of these games is Shot Online, the first 3D Golf Online Multiplayer Sports RPG. Currently in beta in Asia, the game has already attracted one million participating players. In September of 2006, developer OnNet and publisher SyNET will release Shot Online in the U.S., letting gamers on our side of the Pacific get in on the fun.

In Shot Online, the player starts out by customizing a character and going through a brief tutorial. After learning the game’s interface, they enter the 3D game world, where the players mix and mingle before teaming up and heading off to golf matches. There seems to be an emphasis on community building, as the game will host special events and quests that large numbers of people can participate in. There will also be support for guilds and friend lists, encouraging players to meet new people to hit the greens with and keep in touch with them afterward.

No MMORPG is complete without character building, of course, and in Shot Online as you practice and play, your abilities go up. By doing well in tournaments and the like, you can win in-game money to spend on items or entry fees for other contests. Aside from cosmetic effects, some items affect attributes like your shot accuracy during play, and they can be sold or exchanged to other players as well.

The actual golf part of the game is simulation-oriented utilizing a proprietary physics engine called G-Engine. The graphics have a bit of an anime flavor, especially when it comes to the character design. While they are stylized, the characters will use realistic animations motion-captured from a PGA pro. The game initially will offer eight courses, which range from those based on real-world locations to more creative entries like a course situated around a pyramid in the desert, so Tiger Woods PGA Tour fans and Hot Shots Golf enthusiasts alike will find their tastes catered to.

Shot Online will be free to play without time limits or restrictions on the amount of times you can play. However, to actually progress in the game, players will need to purchase an account with a credit card to be able to keep the items or money they have earned in play. The retail version will be priced at $29.99 and will include ownership of exclusive items and tournament invites.