Earth Empires: 5 Facts About the MMORPG Where Jared Loughner Posted Messages

The Wall Street Journal has obtained 131 messages Jared Lee Loughner posted in a private online gaming forum between April and June.

In his posts, Loughner expressed frustration about his inability to find a job and get a girlfriend. But other posts were more disturbing.

"Would you hit a Handy Cap Child/ Adult?" Loughner wrote on April 24.

"I bet your [sic] hungry," he wrote a few weeks later, "i know how to cut a body open and eat you for more than a week ;-)"

The forums Loughner frequented were associated with an online game called "Earth Empires." Friends say online gaming was a big part of Loughner's life and that he seemed obsessed with private forums associated with games, using them as an outlet for his increasingly bizarre ideas.

According to a former classmate, Loughner began playing a version of "Earth Empires" in ninth grade. Game administrators say he seems to have stopped playing in June.

So, what is "Earth Empires" exactly, and how are its players responding to the Arizona shootings? Surge Desk has the details.

1. "Earth Empires" is an MMORPG
That stands for "massively multiplayer online role-playing game." Players adopt different roles and interact in a complex virtual world.

2. It evolved from a game called "Earth: 2025"
Launched in the early 1990s, "Earth: 2025" was one of the earliest browser-based MMORPGs. It shut down in 2009, and its players continued by building "Earth Empires."

3. Players command armies and economies
As the name implies, "Earth Empires" players adopt the role of nations, building economies and commanding armies. Per the game's website, players can "execute attack strategies to relieve opponents of their resources and land. Strategically invest in technology to outpace the economies of other countries. Ally with your friends or make new friendships by joining a clan. Conduct military operations, govern your country and build your empire."

4. Players interact in public and private forums
"Earth Empires" forums create a busy social network where players talk about a wide range of topics, not just game details. The "Earth Empires" public forums are peppered with discussion about Loughner and the Giffords shooting; there's already a thread about The Wall Street Journal article.

5. Players are shocked and saddened by Loughner's actions
News of the Arizona shootings came as a shock to many members of the gaming community. The Journal reports that one forum administrator wrote, "This is an immeasurable tragedy, and it pains me that someone from our close-knit community could be involved in such a heinous act." Other "Earth Empires" players fear an onslaught of negative attention. "Ouch, this is sad," one gamer wrote in a forum thread. "There is nothing this game or gaming community has done to deserve this. I hope media will keep things in perspective."

To which another player responded, "Personally, I think we as a community will be more than strong enough to withstand whatever the media or anyone else will try to throw at us or label us as or associate us with."

More Surge Desk coverage of Jared Loughner:
Jared Loughner Stopped by Officer Hours Before Arizona Shooting Rampage
Jared Loughner Mugshot Released
Judy Clarke, 'Unabomber' Lawyer, Will Represent Jared Lee Loughner
Jared Lee Loughner's Worldview: A Conspiracy Theory Laundry List

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