Join Senior Staff Writer Chris "Pwyff" Tom as he looks at some of the major games that are coming out this year.

Rift

What it is: While Trion Worlds is a new developer name to the MMORPG scene, the creative team backing Rift is anything but. Perhaps the biggest element that will set Rift apart from its competitors is the concept from which it takes its name: rifts. In Rift, players will be ranging the land, waging war against planes of existence that dynamically open and spew baddies into the world. Rift is also setting itself up as a real visual powerhouse of an MMORPG, running some incredibly impressive high-res graphics that we don't normally associate with MMO gaming. Also, keep an eye out for the intense amount of character customization that will be available in Rift, via its unique soul system that allows players to mix and match souls to really dictate how their characters play and feel.

Why you should care: At the end of Rift's pre-order TV spot, Trion Worlds specifically sets itself against Blizzard by running the line, "We're not in Azeroth anymore." If you couldn't tell, these guys are serious about competing for the title of King of the Fantasy MMORPG World. Of course, you can expect this to be a fairly steep uphill battle, but the amount of pressure that Trion Worlds will be under to produce quality material should either give us some fantastic content to enjoy in the world of Rift, or we should, at least, get a new, unique perspective on fantasy MMORPGs. The one thing that I'm most excited about is the heavy customization that will be available to players through Rift's unique soul system. As of this writing, there appear to be eight "sub-classes" set for each overarching class (Warrior, Cleric, Rogue and Mage), and with each sub-class having its own specialization, you can definitely expect a lot of unique combinations. Rift is currently scheduled to launch on March 1.

Star Wars: The Old Republic (SW:TOR)

What it is: BioWare is pretty much the top of the food chain when it comes to RPGs developed on the PC, and it's easy to see this from its long line of iconic projects, like Baldur's Gate II, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins. Expect SW:TOR to follow BioWare's committed approach to strong storytelling and creating immersive worlds. BioWare is also extremely proud that SW:TOR will be the first fully voice-acted MMORPG and, while some more cynical gamers would argue that players are always skipping the quest text, maybe some strong voice acting could be what we need to create that fully immersive RPG experience.

Why you should care: Say what you'd like about BioWare being new to the development of MMORPGs; if anyone picked up Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the Steam Holiday Sale for $2.50, they should know that BioWare can, at least, make a stellar Star Wars game. To be honest, one of the key elements that many MMORPGs lack is the concept of player agency and the feeling of really being a part of an overall world. BioWare remains as one of the greatest storytelling development teams in the industry, and if anyone is going to bring roleplaying to MMORPGs, it'll be BioWare. Expect to see Pwyff Ooglartastic the Bounty Hunter roaming the lands on day one!

TERA

What it is: Created by Korean developers Bluehole Studio, TERA is set to be one of the first triple-A real-time battle MMORPGs to enter North America via En Masse Entertainment. Incorporating some incredible dynamic combat with a gorgeous world, TERA is set to be a huge contender for the attention of gamers who want an MMO with a little more action in their gaming. Because of its unique combat system, TERA players will also need to re-think how they approach their MMO gaming; most notably that tanking involves actually placing ones physical body in the path of the enemy's attacks.

Why you should care: Even if you don't plan to play TERA, the mere existence of this MMO in the North American market is definitely a healthy thing to have. MMORPGs have long been tied to the EverQuest style of auto-attack and hotkey combat, and if TERA is successful, developers will at least have evidence that action-based combat can succeed in the MMO genre. TERA will definitely have some of the most exciting combat of any MMORPG on the market, and there is evidence that there will be a strong core storyline to back it up. If you want a game where tactical placement is just as important as the gear your wearing (maybe even more so), or if you want to actually dodge an attack, as opposed to getting a lucky dice roll, then TERA is probably going to be the MMORPG for you.