World Of Warcraft: WOW!

World Of Warcraft: WOW!

World of Warcraft, also called WOW by gamers, is an online massively multiplayer role- playing game (MMORPG). Around twelve years back, Blizzard Entertainment developed a game called Warcraft, a single/multiplayer adventure game, which went on to become so immensely popular that they added two more Warcraft games, and World of Warcraft is the fourth game in the series. As on May 2006, World of Warcraft had over 6.5 million active users who were paying around $ 17 a month each to play it. That works to over 110 million dollars a month in subscriptions!

How World Of Warcraft Works

The World of Warcraft game takes place in a virtual gameworld called World of Azeroth. The storyline is fantasy-driven and like fantasies go there are many colorful and freaky characters in the game. To play the game you have to choose a character from a variety of races (human, night elf, orcs, dwarfs, trolls, and more), and having chosen your race you have to decide what profession to take (hunter, paladin, rogue, shaman, warrior, and more). Once you get into the game you are Level 1, the objective being to reach Level 60 while having a lot of fun adventuring around and gathering the best possible armor and weapons in the process. To add to the fun there are friendly and hostile non-playing characters and also player characters that assign you quests, and then, of course, there are the enemies you have to slay in order to level up.

World Of Warcraft Gameplay

World of Warcraft is not ranked the number one MMORPG game in the world for nothing. It features two main gameplay varieties, which are – (i) Player versus Environment: When a player adventures in order to level up, he comes across game-generated enemies as well as other players who are against his race. (ii) Player Versus Player: This is played only in specific areas where players can fight against other players, and such areas are level-specific. For example, there might be an area only for players at levels one to twenty; if you are at a higher level, you cannot enter.

Criticism

Some players try to misuse the game – In one case, a transgender player formed a transgender guild and Blizzard Entertainment banned this. People for and against the action voiced their protest and the game got into a needless controversy. In another case, around June 2005, a child died because of WOW-addiction. According to a leading psychologist, around 40% of WOW players are addicted to it. Well, whatever the criticism, World of Warcraft is growing stronger by the day.

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A Quick Review Of The Ultima Online Website

A Quick Review Of The Ultima Online Website

Role-playing games have increased in popularity and are leaping up everywhere online. You can easily find a game with a genre that fits well with your preference and playing style. There are games from vampires to fairies, with every possible niche covered in between. Websites abound with information geared to the role player, and Ultima Online is no exception to providing concise, clear information to new players and old alike.

The interface of the Ultima Online website is clean and simple. The reader isn’t bombarded by Flash media or pop-up messages, nor is the site loaded with over stimulating ads. The colors and graphics are pleasing to the eye, a factor that draws readers to explore the site further. A line of runes at the top of the page lets players know this may be a Dungeons and Dragons style of game. Screen shots of an Ultima Online game clue readers in further to the genre, showing small soldiers battling to hold governance of a fortress.

Digging A Bit Deeper

Click on the ‘New Player’ section and there’s a clear overview of the Ultima Online game, as well as a link to the player’s guide and third party tools. Ultima Online isn’t a free game, but new players are offered a free, 14-day trial to make sure they do want to pay to become a regular member, which is a nice option in a money-hungry world. A quick resume of how to get started playing Ultima Online doesn’t overload the reader with ‘too much information’, another attractive aspect when so many sites feel they need to bombard new players from the start.

New players to Ultima Online will find community forums for sharing information and for asking questions. There is a calendar of events and a newsletter to keep players updated on what’s going on at Ultima Oline. Links to fan sites and affiliate websites will certainly provide even handier information for players, but the Ultima Online site seems to be very complete, and it’s clear that all you really need can be found in one place. A store link for purchasing advancement codes and items packs will certainly come in handy for the serious, long-term player.

Registering an account on Ultima Online is easy and simple. If you’ve downloaded the trial version and decide you like the game and want to continue playing, Ultima Online provides different options for payment, such as credit card or Paypal. Support links and contacting someone to provide technical help is well laid out, and the overall tone is one of great customer service willing to help you no matter what your need.

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Second Life is Definitely a Game of Life

Second Life is Definitely a Game of Life

Fans of the ever popular Sims Online have begun taking a second look at the game Second Life. It’s similar to the online game Sims fans know, but offers a world of depth that has never even been thought of for an online game. 3D graphics and wild ways to express yourself physically and in the style sense is something that makes Second Life so popular.

Is it Costly?

Depending on whether you play just a little or whether you’ve decided that you’re so committed to the game that you want to buy property will determine whether the game will be costly to you. Yes, it’s true that to own your piece of the make believe pie, you must pay for it and with real money. Many people invest countless hours a week on this game, so they feel they have a reason to invest their money as well. Others choose to simply visit their friend’s houses and keep their real life stash just as it is…stashed.

No matter how you choose the game, there are many things to experience. Teleporting to pizza contests and house parties as well as auctions are just part of it. There are endless things to spend game money on too. Hairstyles, clothes, furniture for a house and general items are available at virtual stores throughout the Second Life world.

Can I Make Friends?

The question of whether friends can be easily made in Second Life totally depends on the player and their social tendencies. If you’re someone who has no problem making small talk or casting a friendly “hello” someone’s way, you’re bound to have plenty of Second Life experiences made with good friends. On the other hand, if you tend to be shy and wait for others to talk first, you’ll probably miss out on making some friendships but there are so many people who play the game of Second Life that you’ll probably have a pretty decent social life.

The game is based on just as the name implies, making a Second Life for yourself. It’s a place to become someone you normally aren’t, but it’s important to remember that people can take this game pretty seriously and true natures usually ending up becoming very apparent. Although it’s nothing more than a chat room with graphics, the world surrounding you as you play is something that can easily suck you in and make you wonder if you really do have a second life.

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RuneScape: An Online Role Playing Game

RuneScape: An Online Role Playing Game

With people becoming more and more dependent on their computers, it makes sense that more and more people are turning to the internet to find online games to play during their free time. However, the danger of becoming addicted to the myriad of online games out there is a challenge.

Despite such a challenge, people often find themselves becoming bored with the standard online derivation of a popular video game or puzzle. These people crave the ability to be in the games themselves. For people who want more of an interactive feature in their video games, yet also want the option of playing a game independently, then RuneScape is a good choice.

Is RuneScape Really as Interesting as the Other Games Out There?

Although it is true that RuneScape is an online role playing game that has many independent aspects to it (more so than a game like EverQuest), it can be just as engaging. Indeed, the creative process behind RuneScape is quite an interesting one.

The original version of RuneScape was released in 2001, and a second version was released in 2004. RuneScape was created by Jagex Limited, which is a British developer, and the game runs on a Java platform.

RuneScape takes place in the fantasy realm of Gielinor, which is itself divided into three separate kingdoms. The players have to maneuver themselves through these kingdoms by foot, magical teleportation, or vehicular transportation.

Each region that a player travels through has its own set of challenges (such as monsters to defeat). Players can choose to combat other players in some challenges, while other challenges require the player to solve things on their own.

The great thing about RuneScape is that strategies players learned while playing the game can be used for more that one challenge. This results in a game that is less time-consuming, and more about exercising the mental abilities of the players.

It should also be noted that the secondary characters within RuneScape can sometimes be just as much of a threat as other players. The secondary characters in the game can be anywhere from passive to quite aggressive, so a player should always be aware of them at all times.

A limited version of RuneScape can be played online for free, while the more detailed version can be played for a fee. With more than a million players worldwide, it is clear that the strategies of RuneScape make for a great gaming experience.

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The Psychology Behind Playing Online Video Games

The Psychology Behind Playing Online Video Games

Video games can be found everywhere, and they’re available in formats ranging from handheld Gameboys to playing online video games over the internet with people from all over the world. We know that spending long hours playing video games is bad for us, and we’ve gotten the message about finding something else to do with our time loud and clear. Still, the gaming industry only gets bigger and companies are constantly coming up with new games and equipment.

It’s a love affair. People can’t stop themselves from ‘just trying this game for fun’, and they’ll find themselves hooked to the newest fad, game or trend faster than snapping their fingers. There are different niches of games to satisfy everyone, from hard-core combat to fairylike fantasy. It’s easy to find one that suits your preference, and soon enough, you’re registered, logged on and playing online video games with all your heart.

So Why Do Video Games Suck Us In?

One reason playing online video games may have become so popular is because our fast-paced, real-life world has conditioned people to have short attention spans for situations that move too slowly. We’ve become victims of our own creation, becoming bored easily and turning away from cards or tabletop games to an exciting, easy, quick fix for our entertainment. Playing online video games gives a real boost to our nervous system - our attention level spikes sharply, we sit up and feel the tingle of excitement, anticipating the barrage of mental stimuli and instant gratification playing online video games offers.

Another reason we might cleave to playing online video games is because gaming takes up a good chunk of our concentration and focus. While we’re trying to plan our next move, or running through our options in lightening-fast decision making, there is one thing we tend not to do: Pay attention to the world around us. Take note of people’s behaviour while they are playing online video games – they seem to be phased out, and speaking to them most often gets no response. It’s as if they need to be woken up from their games and brought out of their trance-like yet extremely complex mental state.

What does a trance have to do with the possible psychology of playing online video games? Simply, the person is using the game as a form of escapism. While playing online video games, no one has to deal with work issues, home problems, doing laundry or feeding the cat. Nothing but themselves and the computer screen matters, and for a period of time, they can phase out and forget the world, and their problems, exists.

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Critics And Those Who Play Online Game Activities

Critics And Those Who Play Online Game Activities

How times have changed. Does anyone remember the old videogame PONG that was released by Atari in 1976? That venerable game simply revolved around rectangles bouncing a small square around the screen to create a multitude of “sports” games. Today, graphics and the sophistication of the games have increased so significantly that people love to play online game activities that provide the same wonder today that they did for people 30 years ago during the PONG days.

The Critics

While there are those who vehemently criticize people’s addiction to the desire to play online game activities, the number of people who are active participants totally dwarfs the critics. The question remains, why do people criticize the ability to play online game activities? Part of the reason lay in that fact that playing video and computer games all day is isolationist. That is, it limits human interactions. Also, the feeling is that playing online games encourages lethargy and denies kids and teens valuable exercise time. Granted, there is some merit to these arguments, but the ‘danger’ of playing online games, as espoused by critics, is pretty much overly exaggerated.

The Critics Debunked

If there ever were a huge benefit to a person opting to play online game activities, it would be the fact that the games provide a sense of wonder that can be built upon as inspiration for future endeavors. Many times, things that have their origins in popular culture are seemingly dropped down an Orwellian black hole when it comes to mentioning the educational and inspirational sources of success. If one decides to play online game activities and these online game activities lead to the person becoming inspired to start a career in the computer field, then how could playing online games be such a bad thing?

Therein lies the problem of illogical thought present in many critics of online games. Knowledge and inspiration and value can come from any source. If one decides to decry a certain source of knowledge as having no value (a dubious claim. A third party can not tell someone what is or isn’t of value to their education), then one has simply placed a limitation on someone else’s ability to learn. (Provide the person allows the other individual from impeding the pursuit)

So, it is best not to deride one wish to play online game activities as the criticism of this “art form” is generally not warranted nor based in any serious issue requiring concern.

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Message Boards, Market Research And PC Online Gaming

Message Boards, Market Research And PC Online Gaming

No industry will be able to survive if it does not provide its consumer base with what that base wants. No company can survive trying to steer itself to where it is selling a product that the company is comfortable with selling as opposed to what the buyers in the market demands. While such incompetence is rare, many companies have, in the past, delivered a ton of products to the market that where rejected by consumers. The reason for this rejection in many instances was because a company made the critical mistake of misreading the desires of the market. Usually, such an error is the result of shoddy or improper marketing research. When it comes to PC online gaming, companies have a huge step up when it comes to knowing what their market desires because the PC allows for unrestricted communication and market research between buyers and sellers.

The World Of The Message Boards

Those who love PC online gaming and are rabid about the hobby will also frequent message boards and discuss their PC online gaming likes and dislikes. Some of these individuals who post messages about PC online gaming are not only rabid in their love of the activity, but they are also highly educated and knowledgeable about the business side of PC games. This provides a gaming company with an incredible resource for marketing research that virtually eliminates second guessing what the gaming consumer audience wants or will purchase. After all, the consumers are telling the companies what they want and what they like (dig) or dislike (un-dig?) and do so in an uncensored manner.

The candid nature of the PC online gaming message boards is tremendous for the companies’ ability to receive unadulterated information. When a market research plan is initiated internally within a company, many times there is the tendency for marketing research reports to be ‘doctored’ so as to provide the company with information it wants to hear. (Those in charge of the research may be afraid of losing their job so their reports end up being skewed)

Of course, just reading a message board is not going to provide a PC online gaming company with the perfect answer to all their business practice questions, but it does provide an excellent source of material that can help guide the company in a direction agreeable to all who are involved.

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Suffering From Classic Video Game Nostalgia? Play an Online Video Game

Suffering From Classic Video Game Nostalgia? Play an Online Video Game

In this new world of 3D video games, many people who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s find themselves feeling nostalgic. They miss the days when video games were just as simple as Mario and Luigi running across a screen, or Pac Man gobbling up little coins in a maze. Those people yearning for the glorious past of vintage video games can relive it again via various online video games.

The End of an Era

The 1980s saw the rise and fall in popularity of the video game system known as Atari, and the 1990s saw the same trend via various Nintendo game systems. Video game setups such as Playstation have fared better throughout the years, but with more and more people buying computers, it is only inevitable that online video games would become popular too.

Online Video Games: Something for Everyone

Perhaps the most enticing thing about online video games is that there are so many different types. Whether one is more into classic arcade games such as Pac Man, or more into Nintendo games like Super Mario Brothers, one is sure to find an online video game that one would enjoy playing.

For those that still crave the rush that can be gotten from playing classic arcade games, a fun online video game is that of Breakout Classic. This game derives from the Atari game of the same name.

Breakout first became popular in 1976, and involves playing ping pong (much like another classic arcade game by the name of Pong) against a brick wall. The object of the game is to break as many bricks as possible to increase one’s score. If the ball drops off the screen, that is the equivalent of losing a life, and one can play until all the lives have been used up.

A great online video game for Nintendo fans is one called Mario is Missing. In this game, Mario has been kidnapped by his arch nemesis Bowser, and the goal of the game is to get Mario back and defeat Bowser permanently.

Online video games are not just restricted to ones based on traditional video games. There are also ones that are based on board games like Connect 4 or Monopoly. However, regardless of the type, online video games can be found throughout the internet, and are oftentimes free. Thus, if one wishes to capture a bit of video game nostalgia, online video games are a fun and affordable option.

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Tracking Down The Best Online Strategy Games

Tracking Down The Best Online Strategy Games

With the virtual world providing more and more of our news and entertainment, and computers becoming a standard in households, online strategy games have taken off in a big way. It’s been proven that mental exercises keep our brains sharp and ready to perform, and online strategy games can help do just that. For those who own computers (and who doesn’t these days!), ease of access and a wide variety of choice make online strategy games a popular choice for some quick fun.

Finding a global-coverage review site for online strategy games can help you narrow down your choices of what’s out there, as well as provide you with information about which games are the best, and which sites host them. Your preference will determine a lot about which online strategy games you’ll enjoy – do you prefer a tactical game with a winner-take-all purpose, like Risk? Or maybe you’re happier with a game where you have to think to solve the puzzle or find your way out of a maze. Think of some board games that were childhood favourites and track down their online equivalent.

What To Look For When Visiting Websites

Do a search for ‘online strategy games’ and visit a few of the websites offering them. Look for sites that are low on pop-ups and bling-bling, because these sites really aren’t trying to attract you to play a game – usually they have an ulterior motive, such as selling another company’s products, of which they take a cut of profits. Sites that are serious about entertaining you won’t shove ads and banners in your face, and the main gist of the site will be focused on the online strategy games, not the extras.

Also, be careful of sites that ask you to pay to play. While some online strategy game sites do offer quality services and an exclusive opportunity for your money, other sites are just out to make a fast buck, and you may find yourself paying cash only to be disappointed with the product. Some sites are free to play, but if you want to have bonus equipment or skills to get ahead in the game, you might need to pay extra. Other sites may be completely free, but the graphics and technology leaves much to be desired. Better online strategy game sites offer free trials and let you explore what they’ve got to offer. If you can’t try, then don’t buy.

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Need to Escape Reality? Try Playing an Online Role Playing Game

Need to Escape Reality? Try Playing an Online Role Playing Game

Whether one is a student or is working in some sort of profession, everyone can use a break from the everyday stresses of life. As such, more and more people are looking for ways to engage their minds in something other than just the normal escapes, like television.

In this age of technology, computers are now a crucial part of millions of people’s lives. However, computers can be used for so much more than just typing papers or checking e-mail. Indeed, computers are now great hobbies within themselves, and many people are now discovering how much fun it is to play an online role playing games.

The Online Role Playing Game and “Guild Wars”

Online role playing games are becoming more and more common among the computer savvy. However, there are still many people who regularly use computers, yet have no idea what exactly an online role playing game is.

Simply put, an online role playing game is much like games from childhood, in that players become a certain character, and work with other players to create scenarios within the game itself. The amount of creative freedom that players can have within these types of games is what makes online role playing games so popular in the first place.

One of the more popular online role playing games is one by the name of “Guild Wars.” In this game, a player can choose to play against other players, or play against the environment itself. There are four unique characters that a player can choose to become, and once that is established, the player can choose from the classes of Mesmer, Ranger, Monk, Elementalist, Necromancer, or Warrior.

Online role playing games can certainly be a lot of fun, but they have also been met with some criticism. Much of the criticism centers around the fact that it takes time to learn how to adequately play this genre of game, since the possibilities are quite numerous. Thus, these types of games are generally not recommended for people who do not have much patience.

Online role playing games can be found on many different websites via free or paid download. It should be noted that free games generally are not as advanced as the paid games, so free games are a good idea for novices. For those who have patience and are intrigued by the idea of creating alternative realities, online role playing games are indeed an interesting hobby.

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Online Multiplayer Games: Newbie Concept, Pro-Creation

Online Multiplayer Games: Newbie Concept, Pro-Creation

An online multiplayer game is one that a gamer plays while staying connected to the Internet, against or with other Internet players. While playing you can also interact with thousands of other players on the server where the game is hosted. Since these games involve thousands of gamers playing simultaneously with each other in a giant virtual world, they are also called Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). These were made possible only with the growth of broadband Internet access. [Examples: World of Warcraft, Guild Wars]. In some online multiplayer games you can interact with only a few members with whom you can team up [Examples: America’s Army, Counter Strike Source].

Evolution Of Online Multiplayer Games

MMOGs are very big business nowadays though they are a relatively new phenomenon. Their popularity started climbing in the late 1990s when two games – Everquest and Ultima Online – caught on in a big way. First-person shooters such as Quake, Unreal Tournament, Counter Strike and Warcraft 3 are also immensely popular online multiplayer games, but they are not MMOGs. Up to recently, these games were played only on the computer. However, they are catching up fast on consoles too. Final Fantasy XI and Everquest Online Adventures are games that are big hits on video console circuit. Online gaming on mobile phones has begun too, but it has yet to make a mark because there are many technological restrictions as of now.

Variations Of Massively Multiplayer Online Games

Today many different styles of massively multiplayer games are available, such as: (i) MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games). (ii) MMORTS (Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy games). (iii) MMOFPS (Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter games)

As things stand, it is the massively multiplayer games that are driving the online multiplayer game market crazy. Can you imagine that Lineage – a Korean MMORPG – has four million registered users? World of Warcraft, a relatively new entrant, has over six and a half million registered users! And all of these registered users are paying a monthly fee playing these games. Now take into account the fact that an MMOG is played for several months or years together and you can imagine the money power that online multiplayer games have started commanding! This trend is new, but the creators of these games are hardcore professionals who know where the moolah lies in this next-generation game module – the online multiplayer game module.

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Online Golf Game: Above Par

Online Golf Game: Above Par

For all you know, an online golf game, can satiate your craving for golf when you desperately feel like playing it but cannot because of home, work, or logistics pressures. An online golf game is usually played by a yuppie-aged person, mostly using a computer, or in some cases a video console. These games feature a replica of a famous, real golf course with the sand traps and the small water ponds placed at the exact places. Majority of these games are browser-based and free to play. Online golf is a skill kind of game where you have to select the right club, set the correct angle, and then apply the right amount of force using either the mouse or the keyboard, to hit the ball at the target.

Online Golf Game: Technology

As mentioned earlier, majority of these games are browser-based, in the sense that you do not have to install software on your computer. All you have to do is open the game site and install a small plug-in and play the game. An online golf game is made using Java or Shockwave technology, and chances are that you already have both these plug-ins installed on your system. The upside of these technologies is that they allow the game to be “cached” on your computer and thus place no load on the server hosting the game. These games can range from the very basic types to the highly sophisticated ones with complex graphics; but no matter what, they are fun and great time-killers. Of course, there are CD/DVDs available for both PCs and Video Consoles too, but browser games rule the roost.


Online Golf Game: Gameplay

There are many varieties of online golf games: (i) Single-player game, which an Internet surfer, feeling bored at work or at home, normally plays to kill time. (ii) Multiplayer game, where the player has other Internet players pitted against him. (iii) Some golf games may feature less than the required 18 holes, a feature which golf purists may criticize. But then these games are ideal if you do not have too much time to spare. (iv) There are many golf-variant games such as mini golf games; these are quite popular too. (vi) Many gaming websites add a gambling twist to golf games by making an Internet user pay a fee to play the game, and then if he logs in a good score and is ranked high, he stands to win a prize which is most likely to be cash. These games are big time hookers too.

Playing an online golf game is a great way to kill time. Just take care to remember that your golf score can stay below par – but not your productive work hours.

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Multiplayer Online Gaming

Multiplayer Online Gaming

If there ever were something that has truly become a unique innovation in videogames, it would be online gaming and its ability to provide for multiplayer games. Now, multiplayer online gaming is not something that is new as it has been around for eight years having debuted with DOOM in 1998. Multiplayer online gaming, however, was not instantaneously popular across the whole spectrum of PC gamers. It took a while for the ball to get rolling, but when it finally did start to gain momentum that the following that developed has seemingly exceeded even the most optimistic expectations of the early days.

Defining Multiplayer Online Gaming

For those not familiar with the term, multiplayer online gaming involves several players can participate in an online game at the same time. They can work as a team facing the computer or they can play against each other. It has been said that multiplayer games of this nature were the first shift from computer games where a human faces an artificial intelligence to where humans play against other humans. In a way, this phase that online games have entered seems to be a return to the past in terms of delivering the same purpose of games of old.

The Old Days

Parker Brothers did not make a mint selling all those board games because the games were fascinating to play. (Most of the games were extremely simple minded, but benefited from excellent marketing campaigns) Part of the reason families and individuals loved to play these games was because they were social events where people could get together and have a lot of fun interacting. Yes, there were competitive people who took playing the board games too serious at times, but generally people liked to spend time together and have a blast with these classic games.

When videogames became more and more popular, the games took a protracted approach to developing one player games. This ended up killing off a great deal of the benefits of social interaction. With the advent of multiplayer online gaming, video and computer games have joined the realm of social interaction filling the seeming void formerly held by board games. (Board games, however, are still popular and sell strong)

Multiplayer PC games serve and excellent purpose of increasing the social lines of communication between people all across the globe and will probably continue to expand in volume and popularity.

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Online Games: Fragging On The Net

Online Games: Fragging On The Net

Online games – spoken casually or formally – normally refer to video games that are played on a computer using an Internet connection. There are video games that are played online using devices such as video consoles (Playstation, X-Box) and mobile phones, but online games generally mean PC games that can be played only when you are connected to the Internet. These games kicked off in the 1980s even as Internet connectivity was slow and expensive. The earliest versions of these games were simple multiplayer text-based games. In the 1990s these games started getting popular, and today they feature high-end graphics, virtual communities, and lots more.

Types Of Online Games

Online games can be of the following types – (i) First-person shooters: Here the players battle with each other head-to-head. In most first-person shooters games, there are online components that allow deathmatch/arena style play. In these games the view you see in the gameplay is the one seen from your character’s eyes. (ii) Real-time strategy games: These are games where you have to develop a combat strategy or gameplan by building resources and making a strong army so that you are able to fight with other Internet players. (iii) Browser games: These are simple, small, and quick pastime games that can be played on your browser. They are developed using the popular Shockwave or Java technologies. (iv) Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG): These are online games that can support thousands of players from all over the world simultaneously, playing with or against each other in a giant virtual world and also interacting with each other. Here a person has to keep leveling up till he reaches the maximum possible level written for the game. These games can keep a gamer engaged for months or even years!

How Online Games Make Money

Today, every game is playable online. The question before the company that is making these games is how to make money. Most companies make single-player games that can be played at home. In these games the player has to overcome the artificially intelligent enemies. These games feature an online multiplayer gameplay model, using which a user can play with or against other Internet players. These companies make their money by selling their game CDs/DVDs [Examples: Warcraft 3, Counter Strike]. The browser game companies survive by revenues generated from advertising and promotions. Many MMORPG companies keep adding content by developing new patches in their games and they charge a monthly fee from the players [Example: Everquest 2, World of Warcraft]. Some of them do not, and survive because of their CD/DVD sales [Example: Guild Wars].

One last thing about the title: “Fragging” in game jargon stands for finishing off a player or an artificially intelligent enemy.

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Kids Online Games: Get Phat!

Kids Online Games: Get Phat!

Kids online games are games that kids can play when they are connected to the Internet using either a computer or a video console [Examples: Playstation 2, Xbox]. Kids love games, and with kids getting net-savvier by the day they have latched on big-time to online games. If you compare today’s kids online games to how kids used to assemble together to play board games, you will be surprised to see how fast kids are growing and how rapidly they are maturing.

Kids Online Games: Devices And Games

Kids can play online games using – (i) A computer: In this case the games are most likely to be browser-based, simple, fun or educational type, involving sports (racing, baseball), knowledge (Hangman, Scrabble), arcades (Space Invaders, Mario), etc. Many kids cannot play massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) because there is a monthly subscription involved. However, companies such as Disney have started developing MMOGs for kids. (ii) A video console: Kids really freak out on a video console. They just love video console gaming because the learning curve is easy and there are not too many buttons to push (as in PC online games).

Pros And Cons Of Kids Online Games

Online games can keep kids entertained, and apart from that, improve their knowledge too if they play educational games. In fact, the University of Victoria is developing a game called “Let’s Face It” that teaches autistic kids to recognize faces. While playing MMOGs kids can learn real-world skill concepts such as commerce, barter, mining, chemistry, all of which can be useful in real life. Kids online games also teach them interactivity, and also how to talk to strangers and how to make friends.

The flipside is that if playing these games is not controlled then kids might get addicted to them and this addiction is dangerous – almost as dangerous as taking a banned substance or even as dangerous as smoking. If kids squat for a long time playing these games, they might get obese. Some browser-based games can be graphically violent and leave a deep impression on their psyche (e.g. some browser games may involve shooting a politician). While playing multiplayer games online, a kid might get in contact with a stranger who might be up to no good. Many video console games feature too much graphic violence and that is not nice for a kid at an impressionable age.

Conclusion

There is a silver lining to this dark image depending on how you look at kids online games: statistics show that 62% of the video console and 66% of the PC game market customers are over the age of 18 years. Also, stricter laws related to kids and online games are slowly being passed across the major game-playing nations. And sooner or later, the entire hullabaloo is likely to settle down.

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Final Fantasy XI; the Beginning is a Diamond in the Rough

Final Fantasy XI; the Beginning is a Diamond in the Rough

As you may have heard before, it gets lonely at the bottom. Although Final Fantasy XI is considered one of the richest, methodical, and addicting online RPG games available, first beginning your journey in Final Fantasy XI can seem overwhelming, making it hard to keep your head in the game unless you can learn a few basics from the get go. The problem here is that Final Fantasy XI doesn’t start off as a walk-through and unless you’re lucky enough to find one of their many very in depth fan sites or a kind face in the game, chances are you will have a hard time staying motivated to continue in the game.

It’s Worth It

Don’t mistake what you just read and think that the game isn’t worth playing. The different regions, areas, worlds and people you will encounter on your journey through Final Fantasy XI are well worth the learning curve. You will explore many dungeons, caves and monsters as well as have plenty of opportunities to get together with a group of adventurers from around the world to kick some monster butt, and level your preferred job to new heights.

Things to Know

In order to get past level 12 and have some money in the bank for new armor at this point, you’ll have to accomplish a couple of objectives. First of all, learn that when you kill monsters, they drop things. Rabbit skin and tails may not sound very lucrative, but it adds up and is very easy to get from the beginning. Crystals are something else you’ll want to stack up and sell on the auction house of Final Fantasy XI, as the money here can be pretty good. In order to stack the most crystals possible, visit a “T.K” npc (non player character) before leaving your Country’s walls for battle, and ask them to cast Signet on you. Saving the money you make off of this stuff until you’re level 12 will behoove you, as you will need to purchase all new armor at this time.

Talk to the other players around you out there while you’re adventuring and leveling up! Linkshells are the most popular means of communication in the game, and people who have them to give will offer you a link pearl. Equipping the pearl will allow you continuous access to a list of other players in the world who are also a part of the Linkshell.

You’ll get to know players of all levels, which is important because when you need help to complete missions, the higher levels in your linkshell will more than likely be inclined to assist. It’s a valuable resource you won’t want to miss out on, and a great way to get “newbie” questions answered.

Finally, know how to find a party when the time comes. Without joining a party of live players to level with, you won’t get passed level 12. Level 12-13 requires you to venture even further into the area of Valkurm Dunes, the place for low leveling. You’ll be there for about 6 levels and you’ll require the help of others the entire time you’re there. This is also where you’ll get the help from your party to complete the mission needed to have access to advanced jobs and options.

To find a party, you’ll simply use your menu and select “seek party”. This allows anyone in the Final Fantasy XI world that’s looking to invite party members find you. If you’re not sure where Valkurm Dunes is, just go to your starting country and seek a party. They’ll help you find the way! By the time you finish your adventures in the Valkurm Dunes, you’ll be level 20 and ready to travel even further into the game. By following the suggestions here, you’ll definitely have the resources to know that you can accomplish anything in the game of Final Fantasy XI.

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A Quick Game Review Of Everquest 2

A Quick Game Review Of Everquest 2

Everquest 2 is a Sony-owned multiple-player online game, but at first glance of the website, the overload of information and the graphic-heavy interface can be daunting. A new player wanting a quick glance to see whether Everquest 2 is a game they’d want to invest in and play might be put off from the intense, colourful home page. Here’s a review of Everquest 2 that can help you quickly decide whether the role-playing game is one you’d like to try.

Some Pros And Cons

First of all, Everquest 2 is a game that’s widely played. The game started off popular and has remained that way through the test of time and technology. A good player base means that you’ll have plenty of exciting interaction. But that’s not all you need when you’re looking for a perfect game to hook your interest and keep it. A downfall of Everquest 2 is that while you may have plenty of characters to interact with, battle and combat are never player to player, which could make the game eventually seem stale and predictable.

One of the up sides of Everquest 2 is that it’s rich in graphics (once you get past the bombardment of the home page and start actually playing the game) which makes the role-playing far more gratifying than other, cheaper-looking online games out there. A drawback to great graphics is that it’s a resource hog and may end up sapping your computer system and slowing down performance.

Another plus is the generous content involved in the game. You’ll be able to spend hours exploring and that alone can maintain your interest for a long, long time. There are many quests for your characters, and characters themselves come from a grand array of races and classes, which only add to the general interest of Everquest 2. However, the lack of player-to-player battle makes Everquest 2 better for short bursts of a few hours of gaming as opposed to a prolonged marathon of fun.

The Everquest 2 settings offer two worlds, both which are quite diverse and different from each other. Some online games out there tend to offer different settings to explore, but once you get down to it, the cities and landscapes are much the same and only the quests or available battles might be different. Not so with Everquest 2, and you’ll find there’s plenty to attract you to both worlds.

In general, Everquest 2 is a popular choice for online gaming and is usually satisfying enough on the interest and exploration levels. Learning your way around the game will take you about an hour, so there’s no extensive training required, as may be the case with other games. The game does come with a pay-by-month fee, but there is a free option available, if you don’t mind some restrictions or limitations.

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Gamers Everywhere are Enthralled by EverQuest

Gamers Everywhere are Enthralled by EverQuest

Ever since video games first entered the market in the 1970s, “gamers” or people who love to play video games, always find a favorite. It all began with Pong, then it was Pac Man, Frogger, and finally the Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog. Now, as video games have advanced even further, EverQuest has become a favorite.

EverQuest: A History

In order for those unfamiliar with video games to properly understand why EverQuest has become so popular, an explanation of how the game works and its development is needed. The process behind how EverQuest became the game that it is now is quite an interesting one.

Simply put, EverQuest is a 3D role playing game that primarily takes place online with many other players. The game made its first appearance on the market on March 16, 1999. The original concept for EverQuest was designed by Bill Trost, Steve Clover, and Brad McQuaid, and the game was distributed by Sony Online Entertainment.

EverQuest takes place in a fantasy world, where gamers assume characters and battle other players for points and treasure. As a player continues on with the game, they gain abilities, accessories, and notoriety. The environment alone is quite comment-worthy, since there are at least 400 zones that a player can travel through while playing the game.

As creative as EverQuest is, the game has also met with a considerable amount of controversy. While it is quite alright to play a game as a means of escape sometimes, there are some people who have taken the playing of EverQuest too far. The game is indeed quite time consuming, and so much so that several players have actually died from lack of nutrition and sleep because they had played the game for such a long time.

Despite the criticism, EverQuest continues to be quite popular, so much so that in 2004 a sequel was released. In order to play this game, one has the option of playing a free trial online. However to continue playing the game, one must pay an initial download fee, and then pay a monthly fee to continue.

If one wishes to start playing EverQuest, one must be prepared to play with patience, and have the sufficient funds available. As with anything else, a gamer should play only in moderation, and if this basic rule is followed, the gamer will no doubt have an enjoyable experience.

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Learning About Dungeons And Dragons Online

Learning About Dungeons And Dragons Online

Dungeons and Dragons is a name that’s recognized easily by most people. The game’s concept was created in the 1970’s, based on a board game involving small figurines which players had to role-play reactions and consequences. The tabletop game has remained a classic and endured through the years, adapting and changing to technology to the point that you can play Dungeons and Dragons online in a virtual world. There are hundreds of spin-offs of the concept.

Role-playing can be an amusing way of playing out persona and characters we couldn’t normally be in real life, and people have found to enjoy pretending to be someone else for a while. While the tabletop structure is still popular, it usually involves getting a group of people together for a gaming session. More and more people are turning to playing Dungeons and Dragons online for the quick and easy escapism and entertainment it provides.

Where Can I Find More Information?

A great place to get some information on playing the game is the Dungeons and Dragons Online website. The site is meant to be a virtual resource, as the fantastical game does have a rather thick set of rules and regulations on character creation. There is a store where you can buy the manuals and core books that teach you the game mechanics or you can use the free Quick Start guide and Compendium sections to learn how to create a Dungeons and Dragons online persona without waiting.

The Dungeons and Dragons Online website provides guidelines that help you flesh out a character concept and get you ready to find a game and start playing. While you won’t be able to play Dungeons and Dragons online directly on the site, there are links and forums listing where you can find the game. Otherwise, doing some quick searches on the internet for Dungeons and Dragons online role-playing games can find you links to great sites where games are always being played.

If you find that playing Dungeons and Dragons online isn’t for you, but you do like the idea of role-playing, there are plenty of options. Look around for tabletop groups in your area – people in the role-playing community are usually very friendly and open to new players. There are also games called LARPs, an acronym for ‘live-action role playing’ in which you literally pretend to be someone else.

If you just find that playing elves and dwarves in a Dungeons and Dragons online game isn’t really your thing, there are all sorts of other niches in role-playing games, such as vampire or werewolf characters, modern-day or science fiction settings and apocalypse or everyday life styles of games. There’s literally something for everyone, you just have to find what you enjoy most!

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Computer Gaming Online Role-Playing

Computer Gaming Online Role-Playing

Computer gaming online role-playing is quite a fun spin on the old favorite of role-playing games that have been sold in comic shops for years. In a way, this is consistent with the expanding world of were our leisure activities are going as computers become more and more ingrained in our society and culture.

Role-playing games started in the 1970’s with Dungeons and Dragons and quickly grew to include virtually any type of game or scenario one could imagine including games that revolved around action-adventure, science fiction, espionage, horror, sports and a ton of other genres.

The Computer Version Of Role-Playing Games

Role-playing games eliminated the traditional cause effect method that board games utilized and turned games into an improvisational exercise that proved intriguing. In time, people started to use computer gaming online to expand how role playing games can be conducted. In the computer gaming online variant of role-playing, players will write/type their ‘scenarios’ and submit them via email to the person running the game. The game master then weighs all the emails from the various players to decide how these scenarios play off against each other in order to further the game. Sounds fun, huh?

So How Do The Role Playing Game Producers Feel About This?

Now, while one would assume that the role-playing game companies would love the fact that there are computer gaming online means of playing the games and expanding their customer base, some role-playing game companies have some misgivings about this computer gaming online expansion.

In a way, the computer gaming online role-playing has hurt sales of game packages because people no longer have the need for a role-playing set as they are not playing in a room together and are connected electronically from all over the globe. It would be doubtful that the bottom will fall out on many of these game producing companies as the product that they offer is still very popular, but there have been some dollars lost due to the free competition that the computer gaming online role-playing provides.

Granted, many of these companies offer their own free online role-playing services as a means of promoting their product. They have also offered fee based subscription online role-playing games so the internet provides a solid revenue stream for the companies. There is a paradoxical relationship between the role-playing game companies and the internet, but ultimately, the internet has been good to these companies and will continue to benefit them provided the companies evolve accordingly.

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