Line #15 VideoGame/TheMatrixOnline


1	[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_matrix_online_coverart_6568.png]]
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3	''The Matrix Online'' was a MMORPG based on ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' franchise that was made by Warner Bros. Entertainment and Creator/MonolithProductions and was later bought out by [[Creator/DaybreakGameCompany Sony Online Entertainment]]. It began beta testing in June 2004 and went live in March 2005 for North American users, and April 2005 for European users. It was eventually [[DefunctOnlineVideoGames shut down]] in July of 2009, due to low sales.
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5	''The Matrix'' was unique in the MMO market for two major reasons: First was the leveling and skill system. Unlike standard [=MMOs=], where you pick a class and then delve into specializations within that class, ''The Matrix'' had a modular system that gave every player access to all of the skills, but only allowed them to pick a certain number of skills in a certain progression at a time. This allowed characters to make unique classes by mixing and matching abilities and weapons and was fairly intuitive despite sounding incredibly complex.
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7	Second was the Live Events. Unlike other MMO events, this one had a specific team designed to act out the roles of the minor characters and contacts during a event.
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9	The story of ''[=MxO=]'' was as such: After the death of Neo, the [[TheEmpire Machines]] and [[TheAlliance Zion]] have stopped engaging in open warfare and now fight a cold war in the Matrix proper. The [[TheIlluminati Exiles]], led by the [[TheChessmaster Merovingian]], also joined in the fray, recruiting redpills (the players) to do their dirty work. The major arcs in the story included the death of Morpheus, illegal codes that turned some redpills into SuperSoldiers, a conspiracy to kill everyone by [[ObviousTrap holding a free concert]], and finally giving everyone [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny GM level powers]].
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11	As stated above, the game is now defunct. A slideshow is available at the community website, [[http://www.mxoarchive.net/archives/dn1/thematrixonline.warnerbros.com/web/live/index.html Data Node One]]. There is however a community-led project which aims to revive the game through the use of private, fan-run servers. It was the last official piece of ''Matrix'' media until 2021's ''Film/TheMatrixResurrections''.
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13	!!This game series provides examples of:
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15	* AbortedArc: The story of Neurophyte, a Zion operative who inherited mysterious powers after a run-in with a "killcode." The arc took a few branching paths and set the stage for a new Neo-like character... until Sony took over, laid off the event team, merged servers, and never mentioned the story again.
16	* FalseFlagOperation: The Red-Eyed Agents were created to impersonate actual agents and sabotage the peace treaty.
17	* FantasticTerrorists: Morpheus is branded a terrorist when he starts to fight the Machines with code bombs, which disrupt the simulation of the Matrix and reveal its raw code to everyone around. To the "bluepill" bystanders who weren't aware they're InsideAComputerSystem, the sight is extremely traumatic.
18	* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: The real agents are extremely strong enemies with whom is not advisable to fight directly, this is according to the story in which Neo was one of the few who could defeat them.
19	* NeverFoundTheBody: It is noted that Neo's body was never found, which leads to some InUniverse EpilepticTrees about his status. Notably, some [=NPCs=] discussed rumors about Neo somehow still being alive deep inside in the Machine City.
20	* PrefersTheIllusion: There's a group of people called "Cypherites" who argue that Cypher was right and that Neo and the people of Zion had no right to decide for the rest of humanity. After all, who would want to live in a dead, post-apocalyptic world that humans themselves were largely responsible for?
21	* RedEyesTakeWarning: The General at one point employed an army of BlackHelicopter pilots who resemble the Agents, but with glowing red eyes, probably so that everyone knew they were bad. This was eventually revealed to be because the General and his Commandos were in fact exiled sentinel programs. Which makes sense since the sentinels were mass-produced to destroy Zion and had no purpose once the truce was forged.
22	* RestrictedExpandedUniverse: The game features in its first chapter as [[spoiler:Morpheus]] eventually commits terrorist acts against the Machines, demanding that they return Neo's body. That character goes so far as to create "code bombs" to reveal the Matrix code even to people still jacked in and not ready for such a revelation. Then he is KilledOffForReal by a program known as the Assassin.
23	* UselessUsefulNonCombatAbilities: Cryptography — and by extension, the Crypto Tool item — were never used once and eventually silently vanished.
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Context VideoGame / TheMatrixOnline