Here at ZAM we like to dissect games, bolting them down to the operating table and pulling them apart to examine what makes them tick. It’s not enough to know that a particular MMO is good or bad. We want to understand why.

But to know the beast, you have to understand the anatomy of the beast, which is why we’ve launched this regular column. In Game Mechanics, we’ll be examining a component of MMO gaming, looking at how it works in detail and the purpose it serves within the overall game. We’ll share our gripes and loves about how it’s been used in a mixture of MMOs, asking if it’s become a mainstay of our beloved genre, or if it leads us to an evolutionary dead end.

With that in mind, it’s time to pull on our lab coats and don those rubber gloves. Goggles are optional.