Not a rumor but possible new trend.

denmj

http://community.istaria.com/default.aspx?pg=press

 

Athon

OMG!!! NEW CONCEPT IN RPGs! HAVE A STORYLINE THAT PLAYERS CAN GET INVOVLED IN!!!!

This isn't a new concept. This is the sort of thing UO used to do. This is just developers going back to the things which made games really good.

And of course, if you go way back, MMORPGs can be traced back to pen and paper roleplay (and this probably applies to many MUDs and MOOs too) where, while not written by "professional" storywriters, the GMs would write backstories to the scenarios.

Athon