This paper will examine how communities form in Massive Multiplayer Online Real Player Games (MMORPGs) through the formation of alliances/guilds. An argument will be put forward that the strength of communities in MMORPGs can be measured by how well they withstand the undermining influence of spies/moles working to destroy them. Strong and weak community ties will both be examined along with the role and importance of each type within a community. The reasons people try and destroy these communities will be considered and the effectiveness of this undermining force on different types of communities will be discussed. First we will start with a crucial definition of community.
