Most MMOGs allow a player to designate a list of other players as friends. These friends are stored in a friends list. Players like to be notified when their friends log on or off. The player is usually able to interact with a friend (e.g., chat) directly using the friends list without having to be in close proximity to the friend in the game world.

For an alternative approach to friends lists and integrating friend presence notification mechanisms please refer to the document How To Use XMPP With BigWorld.