This page is neither authorized by nor the responsibilty of pmog.com or of Gamelayers.

PMOG is an experimental new online game being created by a small company called Gamelayers. The acronym stands for Passively Multiplayer Online Game. Players install an add-on (an “MMO”) to the Firefox Web browser and also create a log in name and profile on the PMOG server. When the add-on is enabled, they can encounter  and create various messages and artifacts which appear as a pop-up overlay on web pages. Players compete (and cooperate) to accumulate datapoints by browsing, annotating web pages, and using tools like “mines” to remove others datapoints and “armor” to defend against attacks. The design theme is steampunk: Think high-tech Victoriana.

The PMOG add-on to Firefox allows software on the PMOG servers to keep track of your browsing history and immediate location on the web. Each URL may be associated with messages or artifacts;  users can add their own content using the PMOG toolbar.

Well, PMOG has a strong privacy policy (click here), and the PMOG add-on self-deactivates at secure sites (“https”). You can also manually disable the add-on. On the other hand, PMOG does track and store your browsing history. Advertisers would be very glad to get their hands on this information. Should the parent company be bought for a large sum by some larger entity (perhaps beginning with the letter “G”), it’s anybody’s guess what will happen to your data. Be sensible. Sensible users disable the add-on or use a different Web browser when they visit their bank.

Can Firefox be any slower than it already is?  But seriously, because the add-on communicates constantly with the PMOG server, it will conceivably slow down your browsing. If you access the Internet through a satellite service the delay may be more noticeable. However, all of these technical reasons pale besides the kind of slow-down you’ll experience from simply enjoying the game. PMOG may be “passive” in nature, but it is strangely addictive and it will fundamentally change  the way you use the Web.  Among other things, PMOG is probably the best way for anyone to learn the breadth and depth of the Web.

You need an invitation to join PMOG.  Fortunately, PMOG maintains a presence on various social networking sites such as Facebook, and it’s fairly easy to cadge an invitation. You can also give your email to PMOG on the main site (pmog.com). Sometimes you might hear back.

There are between four and five thousand beta testers so far.

What is Pmog?