Take a look at Esenthel.

Perhaps the Hero Engine is worth a look.

Thank you, seems like the best option so far.

Take a look at Esenthel.

This one doesn't seem to have any server components, only a simple game example, you take it from there and program all of it yourself in LAMP

Take a look at Esenthel.

This one doesn't seem to have any server components, only a simple game example, you take it from there and program all of it yourself in LAMP

Look closer,

http://www.esenthel.com/?id=feature/network#mmo

Builtin MMO Functionality:

• Client/Server Based
• Account Creation/Removal
• Character Creation/Removal
• Login/Logout
• Awareness of Nearby Players
• Exchanging Positions and Basic Animations
• Exchanging Custom Animations
• Chat
• Inventory
• SpeedHack Detection
• Full Client Server Source Codes so you can modify the game to your own needs

Look closer

I did, I also looked at this:

http://www.esenthel.com/community/showthread.php?tid=7213&pid=43623#pid43623

Some important features are missing comparing to HE and it seems when they say "it's really open you can do whatever you want" that means "you have to program it yourself" and it's not a kind of "freedom" I'm looking for.

I don't want to argue about it though, Hero Engine package so far looks like a more complete and cheaper solution, I still have questions that I'm going to ask and then will decide.

When I first got into game development, it was because I wanted to make a 3D MMORPG, in the style of Final Fantasy XI (it was a cutting edge game at the time lol).

I came to realize that this was a monumental undertaking that required far more resources than I had. Even starting with Hero Engine, you would need hundreds, if not thousands of man-years worth of art assets to make it look mildly competitive. Hero Engine also requires extensive programming of the server-side in a proprietary language called HeroScript. I have used Hero Engine (in the form of their indie cloud option, "Hero Cloud"). There is no non-programming server solution for MMORPGs. The best, most complete 3D MMORPG servers are Hero Engine and Electrotank ES5 (http://www.electrotank.com/es5.html), both of which require advanced programming experience and tons of work. I have spent years researching MMORPG development, and there is no easy or cheap route.

However, I am not telling you not to make an MMORPG. Instead, what I came to find was that web games were the way for me to go. Browser-based PBBGs ("Persistent Browser-Based Games") are extremely hot right now and for the foreseeable future, and they can cut down on one of the most costly parts of MMORPG development: art asset creation. They can range from text-based to 2D animated, and everything in-between. They are also, by nature, cross-platform since they are part of the Web. They are also more accessible, and allow for easy integration with Facebook, Google+ and other social networks to help get the word out about your game.

You will have to do some programming, no matter what route you go, but with a PBBG, all that is required is fairly basic programming skill in PHP and/or Javascript, and a bit of basic HTML and CSS. The workload would also be 1/20 or less what a 3D client-based MMORPG and server would be. I am a moderator on a forum where people are creating browser-based MMORPGs all the time (http://indie-resource.com/forums/index.php). PBBGs are doable for one person or a small team, and there are many out there that prove that. You can create a world that is engrossing and the successful ones can amass well into the millions of players. Urban Dead (http://www.urbandead.com/) is an excellent example of a game made by one person. There are 1.5 million players on it right now.

If you do decide to at least investigate this option, you could check out New World Engine for text-based MMOs (http://www.nw-engine.com/) all the way up to Isogenic Engine (http://www.isogenicengine.com/) for 2D animated MMORPGs (it doesn't have to be isometric, despite the name of the engine). I know both of the engine creators very well, and they are very passionate and offer tons of help to new users of their engines. Both would require some programming ability, but games made with it are very doable, and complete-able, something a 3D MMORPG engine cannot say when it comes to indie developers. If neither of these fits what you want, I have created one of the most complete lists of PBBG engines out there (http://indie-resource.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=112&t=4898) and most of them are free and open source!

Best of luck! :)

When I first got into game development

Very useful info, thank you!