Is it possible to design an online game so that communication, community, story-telling, and the genuine playing of roles is core and essential to the experience?

Of course it is. You just won't get the $40m budget you need for a big commercial title out of the philistines who rule our industry today unless you want, in essence, to imitate World of Warcraft.

Enter Skotos, and Castle Marrach.

Space Federation is a massively multiplayer online game with over 350,000 members. It's 10,500 AD, and you have been elected the leader of a planet. Your goal is to build up an empire that spans the galaxy. Start or join Federations (Clan) and wage war with others. Inspired by Master of Orion and Civilization.

A text-based, multiplayer, online role-playing game, Lovecraft Country has a social rather than combat-oriented focus. The theme and objects of the game are to experience horror genre thrills in settings inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft and authors who have followed in his style.