Q: What is The Matrix Online?
A: The Matrix Online is an MMORPG based on the world of the popular Matrix trilogy movies.

Q: Who is developing The Matrix Online?
A: Monolith Productions are creating the game. Warner Brothers and Sega are co-publishing the title.

Q: What about the Wachowski brothers?
A: The Wachowski brothers are taking an active role in the development and content of The Matrix Online.

Q: When can I play The Matrix Online?
A: The Matrix Online is scheduled to debut in November 2004.

Q: But I want to play now!
A: The Matrix Online started Beta testing in June 2004. Applications can be submitted via their official website at http://www.thematrixonline.com

Q: Where and when does The Matrix Online take place?
A: In The Matrix Online, you jack into the Matrix shortly after the time period of The Matrix Revolutions. Consider logging into the game the equivalent of jacking into the Matrix. In other words, no "real world" gameplay exists. It's all in the Matrix!

Q: Can I be The One?
A: Who do I look like? The Oracle?

Q: What about BULLET TIME?
A: BULLET TIME is a key part of The Matrix Online. You will see yourself perform super cool moves in slow motion, while those around you see a blurred, fast version of your move. Both animations manage to take up the same amount of time, and the result is BULLET TIME in an MMORPG!

Q: Super cool moves? You mean like martial arts?
A: Not only martial arts, but wire fu combat! There are several styles of melee and gun combat that will be featured in The Matrix Online.

Q: What do I need to play The Matrix Online?
A: The Matrix Online is currenly only being developed for the PC. It will be playable on as low as a 56k connection. Official minimum requirements have yet to be announced, but preliminary requirements have been set for beta. You can find them here.

Q: How does AOL Instant Messenger fit in with The Matrix Online?
A: AOL Instant Messenger is being incorporated into the game as a tool to chat in the game and to those who are not playing the game. Basically, it is being designed so that you can contact your friend who is not playing and ask him or her to jack in and help you out.

Q: Will I have to pay monthly for The Matrix Online?
A: Yes. The Matrix Online will have a subscription fee. The amount has still not been determined.

Q: Ok, so I get to be in the Matrix. But what can I do while I'm in it?
A: You might be running from agents, tapping data nodes, downloading abilities, hyper-jumping from rooftop to rooftop, performing martial arts, hacking a computer, and much much more!

Q: Agents? So there are agents?
A: Agents play just a large of a role in The Matrix Online as they did in the movies. If you take a wrong turn, you might see a pedestrian transform into an agent. If you do, I suggest running!

Q: What kind of character can I be?
A: Throughout your playing of The Matrix Online, you will have to decide whether to be a Zionist (those fighting for Zion), a Machinist (those fighting for the Matrix), or you can even work for the Merovingian (those fighting for power). Your character will be further defined based on his or her abilities, which are divided into Ability Trees.

Q: What are Ability Trees?
A: An Ability Tree is a group of abilities that can be improved upon. The three Trees are Soldier, Hacker, and Spy.

Q: Do I have to choose a specific Ability Tree?
A: Abilities are mixable and interchangable. For instance, you can have Spy and Soldier abilities, while storing a few Hacker abilities. If you wanted, you could switch out your Spy and Soldier abilities for your Hacker abilities. This means you are not limited to one Ability Tree.

Q: What is the Soldier Ability Tree?
A: The Soldier Ability Tree focuses on combat. You will find a Soldier at the front of a battle.

Q: What is the Hacker Ability Tree?
A: Hackers are much like casters in other RPGs. They can affect the Matrix in such a way to help or hurt other players, and can also craft items and ability codes for themselves and others. A Hacker is vital to any team.

Q: What is the Spy Ability Tree?
A: Spies focus on subterfuge, misdirection, and espionage. In combat, they often attack from behind, after being disguised as an NPC. Spies are also masters of Information gathering.

Q: How can you craft items in MxO?
A: Everything in the Matrix is Code. Characters can write code that will provide weapons, clothing, and even abilities.

Q: What weapons can I use?
A: The pistol, rifle, and submachine gun are planned for the initial launch. Expansions will most likely include more weapons.

Q: What about armor?
A: Everything in the Matrix is mental. For this reason, there are abilities which affect the mental condition of a character which can add protection to that character. Some of these abilities are hidden in the coding of clothing, but you won't see anyone walking around with a Kevlar vest!

Q: So who can I beat up? Is there PvP?
A: The Matrix Online does include PvP, but there are plenty of computer-controlled characters to fight as well. You can choose to play missions that pit you against these AI characters. PvP is not necessary to advance in MxO.

Q: What kind of missions are there?
A: You can play in solo and group missions, or even lead or join a Hovercraft Crew. If you become powerful enough, you can even create your own faction.

Q: Hovercraft Crew? What's that?
A: A Hovercraft Crew is the equivalent of clans in other games. Clans are supported in The Matrix Online, and being in one will give you certain benefits.

Q: What is the Interlock system?
A: Interlock is a brand new system that creates cinematic combat while producing no lagtime. No more jerky and laggy animations while fighting.

Q: How many people can play?
A: Thousands will be able to jack in to one of The Matrix Online virtual worlds.

Q: What if I live outside of North America?
A: The Matrix Online will be an international game. Worldwide release, however, is not yet set. Also, Beta testing is limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

Q: What languages will be supported?
A: Initially the game will support English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German.

Q: Will there be expansions?
A: New stories, missions, art content, weapons, and abilities are all going to be a part of The Matrix Online experience. Expect regular updates, as well as large expansions.

Q: Can I fly like Neo?
A: No. That ability was reserved for Neo. You can hyper-jump, though!

Q: Can I drive vehicles?
A: As of now there are no plans to incorporate driving vehicles. There are, however, other ways to travel quickly...

Q: What happens when you die in MxO?
A: When you die in the Matrix, you can be restored by another player, or you automatically jack out before death. This takes you back to the Loading Area. You can jack right back in, but the shock will leave you vulnerable for a short amount of time. The penalty goes away with time.

Q: I signed up for Beta but never received an email.
A: There is no confirmation email when you sign up for Beta. You will not receive an email until you are chosen to be a Beta tester.

Q: What are my chances of getting chosen as a Beta tester?
A: Beta testing is starting small and gradually increasing in size. Invites will be released in waves, and eventually enough people will be let in to stress test the servers. In other words, as time goes by, your chances increase.

Q: I signed up for the newsletter but haven't received anything. What gives?
A: The MxO Newsletter is currently inactive. The MxO Staff is currently focusing on game development.

Q: What if I sign up for Beta more than once?
A: If you need to change your application, you may sign up again. They will take your most recent application, disgarding your previous one.

Q: Will I see characters from the movies?
A: Characters from the three films will be in the game. The chance to see or even talk to one will be quite an event, however, and will be something to brag about to other players.

Q: So the game will take place in the Megacity?
A: Correct. The gamespace is nearly infinite in potential, and based off maps of the Megacity the Wachowskis have created themselves. The Megacity has been divided into four diverse districts. MxO boasts having the largest virtual gamespace to date.

Q: Such a large gamespace. What about load times?
A: In The Matrix Online, you can stand on the rooftop of a building looking down at rushing traffic, enter a building, run down the stairs, look out a window at the city, and walk out into the street, all without running into a single load-zone.

Q: I still don't understand what The Matrix Online is about.
A: The Matrix Online has a rich, urban environment, captures the Matrix's fashion and style, contains smooth, choreographed wire-fu combat, and a story that will keep you guessing at what will happen next.

Q: How do I know that The Matrix Online will live up to the movies?
A: The MxO Developers worked directly with the film studio and their special effects crew in order to guarantee that the visual and sound effects were as close to the movies as possible. The Wachowski brothers have made sure that the story picks up where Matrix Revolutions leaves off.

Q: What game engine is being used for the Matrix Online?
A: A completely new engine was developed by Monolith for MxO. The engine includes a content tool pipeline, allowing for content to be created quickly and efficiently, a 3d graphics engine that depicts a seamless world with dynamic loading, networking software that routes packets efficiently, databases that securely store character information, and server clusters that distribute server load across multiple processors.

Q: If the gamespace is so huge, how will I find my way around?
A: You will be provided with a compass and a map to help you nagivate through the Matrix. Some areas will be locked up (as a part of the truce with the Machines), but you can hack access nodes that will trick the Matrix into giving you access.