Advent of the Internet
Online games are games played over a computer network.
Currently, the term online almost always means the
Internet. During the expansion of online gaming over
the years, it gave a large influence to the overall
expansion of computer networks from local networks to
the Internet and the popular growth of Internet access
itself.
Online games can range from text based games to
complex graphical and virtual games which are
populated by many players simultaneously all over the
world. Many of the recent online games have
incorporated online communities which made it a form
of social activity.
Internet revolution where websites could utilize
streaming video, audio, and a whole new set of user
interactivity was made possible by the rising
popularity of flash and java. When Microsoft began
including flash players as a pre-installed component
of “internet explorer”, the Internet shift from a
data/information source to also offer on-demand
entertainment.
Online Games
The inclusion of flash to internet explorers paved way
for web sites to offer games to web surfers. Most the
popular online games such as the popular World of
Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI and Lineage II charge
monthly fees to subscribers to access to their
services, while games such as Guild Wars use an
alternative scheme which offers a no monthly fee.
Most sites let their subscribers play for free by
relying on advertising revenues from online sponsors.
Others, like Runescape, offer people free play while
leaving option of paying for special services and
unlock new content.
Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG’s)
With the growth of broadband internet access in many
developed as well as developing countries, massive
multiplayer online games were made possible. Using the
internet to allow thousands of players to play the
same game at the same time made MMOG’s very popular to
children, teens, and young adults. Massive multiplayer
online role-playing game (World of Warcraft), Massive
multiplayer online real-time strategy (Mankind), and
Massive multiplayer online first-person shooter (Dark
Fall) are one of the most popular styles of MMOG’s.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Games
The growing access to broadband internet has made it
possible for gamers to play games at their homes and
at the same time interact with other people without
actually meeting them. Here are some advantages and
disadvantages of playing online games at home:
Advantages:
Privacy. Players have the privilege of playing their
favorite online games at home rather than going into
an internet café and line with other people just to
play the games.
Cheaper. Players have the option of playing at home
rather than going out and pay for the hours they play.
Safe. Players can safely play their online games at
home at the same time interact with other players.
Disadvantages:
Time consuming. Online games are very competitive and
to compete means spending a large amount of the
player’s time playing online just to keep up with the
other players.
Less social interaction. Most of the online players
play at home and spend most of their time in front of
the monitor. Although players interact with other
players online, they still spend less time actually
meeting the person and interacting with them
personally rather than in front of a monitor.
Eye strain and the occasional head ache. Online games
are very addictive to the majority of the players.
They spend most of their time playing the game and
some even spend the whole day in front of the
computer. The strain on the players eyes vary on how
long they play the game. While spending the whole day
staring at the monitor, the eyes are strained more
often than usual and even after they stop, their brain
is over used the occasional head-ache is often felt.
Hope & Faith Quotes
Sometimes hope & faith can take a vacation from our lives and it is hard to reign it back in. One way to keep yourself on the track to thinking positive is with hope & faith quotes. There are many wonderful ones out there and you will find them to be quite inspirational. Some of them are even funny so you can get some laughter into your day right from the start.
There are hope & faith quote calendars you can place on your desk. Each morning you can wake up and read the new one for the day. Some will fit the day you are having and others will have more meaning later on in life. You can save those that really do mean something to you and pull them out again later.
You will also find books full of great hope & faith quotes. Many of them can even be explained in great detail. For those that are going though a rough time in life it can be very uplifting to read a book with hope & faith quotes. You can read a few pages of it each night before bed. This is a great way to drift off with some positive thoughts in your head.
The choice to start thinking more positive is often easier said than done. If you are serious about making this great change to your behavior then look for resources that can give you plenty of hope & faith quotes. The internet is full of sites too where you can get hope & faith quotes for free.
Many people like to include hope & faith quotes in speeches and writings that they give as a form of motivation. Make sure that you give credit to those whose work you have chosen to use for such purposes. This way you won’t be accused of plagiarism.
This type of material can make a wonderful gift for someone you know as well. They may really need something positive along those lines to bring some new meaning to their life. Most people will appreciate the amount of thoughtfulness that you have put into selecting such a nice gift for them.
Online Role Playing Games (2)
Introduction
A wide range of games comprises the Computer Role
Playing Games (RPG). These are types of games where
you are tasked to build a hero or character. As the
game advances, the character then acquires experience
which he or she will use to become more powerful and
obtain new abilities.
A broad genre under the video games category is
electronic role playing games. These games originally
came from the traditional role playing games such as
Dungeons and Dragons. These utilize both the game
mechanics and the settings found in such games.
Online Role Playing Games are RPGs that allows players
to interact with each other in a virtual world. These
interactions may be played either as a single or
multiplayer game. Other features of online role
playing games are similar to computer RPGs.
Characters
These types of games revolve on making or choosing
around one or more avatars and building its
characteristics and experience as the game progresses.
These characteristics then represents the skills of
the gamer himself and how he or she determine game
outcomes. Traditionally, a status screen is displayed
to represent the player’s attributes. It makes use of
numeric values rather than meters, bars and other
simpler abstract graphical representation video games
in general utilizes.
Settings
Another special feature of role playing games is its
fictional high-fantasy setting. Usually, these are
derived from science fiction themes or space opera.
There are only a few that take place in modern or
historical settings. However, games such as Bloodlines
(”gothic punk”), Arcanum (steampunk), Darklands (a
combination of medieval German legend and history),
Fallout (post-apocalyptic), and Mount and Blade
(Medieval Europe with no magic or fantasy) are
exceptions to these trends.
Missions
A group of characters or a party, usually different
players, join forces to accomplish a “quest” or a
mission. Challenges and enemies, usually inspired by
science fiction, classical mythology, and more
commonly, fantasy fictions, are faced by the
adventurers along the way.
Examples of challenges are defeating the evil boss,
rescuing a princess, or clearing a dungeon of
monsters. To know and receive his quest, the player
might find it necessary to talk to an NPC. Missions
may also include item fetch quests, locational puzzles
(such as opening locked doors by means of a hidden
lever or a key), or engaging in dialogues.
A number of games are made up of smaller quests in a
predetermined sequence and are played as a linear
narrative. However, games such as Fallout, contain
nonlinear gameplay and multiple quest solutions
through multiple endings and branching plots. How the
quests are approach varies on different character
builds. Methods such as violence, bribery, subterfuge,
or diplomacy may be used depending on the character
divergent of its skill.
Developments
It is difficult to affirm definitely where this genre
will be headed because of it rapid development and the
different numerous titles within the genre. However,
developments have been made. One of these improvements
is the “raid”, or the raid group quest. Large groups
of players (twenty or more) are able to participate in
the “raid”.
Another online role playing game improvement is the
use of instance dungeons which keep the group isolated
from the rest of the game world. This reduces the
amount of data that is sent to and from the servers,
thus decrease lag. It also lessens competition.
Instance dungeons can be found on World of Warcraft
“raids” as well as all of the Guild Wars combat area.
A wide range of games comprises the Computer Role
Playing Games (RPG). These are types of games where
you are tasked to build a hero or character. As the
game advances, the character then acquires experience
which he or she will use to become more powerful and
obtain new abilities.
A broad genre under the video games category is
electronic role playing games. These games originally
came from the traditional role playing games such as
Dungeons and Dragons. These utilize both the game
mechanics and the settings found in such games.
Online Role Playing Games are RPGs that allows players
to interact with each other in a virtual world. These
interactions may be played either as a single or
multiplayer game. Other features of online role
playing games are similar to computer RPGs.
Characters
These types of games revolve on making or choosing
around one or more avatars and building its
characteristics and experience as the game progresses.
These characteristics then represents the skills of
the gamer himself and how he or she determine game
outcomes. Traditionally, a status screen is displayed
to represent the player’s attributes. It makes use of
numeric values rather than meters, bars and other
simpler abstract graphical representation video games
in general utilizes.
Settings
Another special feature of role playing games is its
fictional high-fantasy setting. Usually, these are
derived from science fiction themes or space opera.
There are only a few that take place in modern or
historical settings. However, games such as Bloodlines
(”gothic punk”), Arcanum (steampunk), Darklands (a
combination of medieval German legend and history),
Fallout (post-apocalyptic), and Mount and Blade
(Medieval Europe with no magic or fantasy) are
exceptions to these trends.
Missions
A group of characters or a party, usually different
players, join forces to accomplish a “quest” or a
mission. Challenges and enemies, usually inspired by
science fiction, classical mythology, and more
commonly, fantasy fictions, are faced by the
adventurers along the way.
Examples of challenges are defeating the evil boss,
rescuing a princess, or clearing a dungeon of
monsters. To know and receive his quest, the player
might find it necessary to talk to an NPC. Missions
may also include item fetch quests, locational puzzles
(such as opening locked doors by means of a hidden
lever or a key), or engaging in dialogues.
A number of games are made up of smaller quests in a
predetermined sequence and are played as a linear
narrative. However, games such as Fallout, contain
nonlinear gameplay and multiple quest solutions
through multiple endings and branching plots. How the
quests are approach varies on different character
builds. Methods such as violence, bribery, subterfuge,
or diplomacy may be used depending on the character
divergent of its skill.
Developments
It is difficult to affirm definitely where this genre
will be headed because of it rapid development and the
different numerous titles within the genre. However,
developments have been made. One of these improvements
is the “raid”, or the raid group quest. Large groups
of players (twenty or more) are able to participate in
the “raid”.
Another online role playing game improvement is the
use of instance dungeons which keep the group isolated
from the rest of the game world. This reduces the
amount of data that is sent to and from the servers,
thus decrease lag. It also lessens competition.
Instance dungeons can be found on World of Warcraft
“raids” as well as all of the Guild Wars combat area.
The Online Role Playing Game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMORPG) is a computer role-playing game where a large
number of players meet and play with each other in a
virtual world. Richard Garriott coined the term
MMORPG. He is the creator of Ultima Online, the game
which popularized MMORPG.
As in most role-playing games, players take roles in a
fictional fantasy world. In the virtual world, the
player takes control of the character and his
abilities. In every game there are different
characters with different traits and abilities. Most
MMORPG characters are categorized into melee, ranged,
and magic users. Players have the option to choose
from these variety characters to match their
personality with the avatar. MMORPG’s Difference From
The Average Computer Role Playing game
MMORPG can be distinguished from normal computer
role-playing games by the number of players and the
virtual world where the game is situated. While
single-player computer role playing games is limited
to one player, MMORPG can host thousands of players at
a time.
Another difference between the two is the world that
surrounds the game. Computer role-playing games are
situated in a setting which is repetitive and
constant. Each time the player plays the game, the
same event is repeated since the game was programmed
that way. On the other hand, the MMORPG’s environment
continues to evolve whether the player is online or
away from the game.
Cost of Online Role-Playing Games
Since MMORPG has become very popular over the world,
revenues have risen dramatically over the years to
keep up with the demand of online gamers world wide.
As of 2005, about half a billion US dollars have been
allotted to MMORPG and about one billion dollars have
been allotted to the western revenues alone.
Economics on MMORPG
Most online role-playing games feature living
economies. Virtual items and currency have to be
gained while playing the game and have definite value
for the players. Such a virtual economy can be
analyzed and has value in economic research and can
even have a dramatic impact on the economies of the
real world.
Edward Castronova, one of the early researchers of
MMORPGs, demonstrated that there is an existing
supply-and-demand market for virtual items, even
crossing over with the real world. Some of the
crossover requirements are the following: The player’s
ability to sell in-game items for virtual currency,
trading of items which have the similar value, the
purchase of game items with real money, and the
exchange of real money with in-game money.
The idea of exchanging real currency virtual currency
or in-game items has had a significant effect on both
the players and game industries. Some people even make
a living out of the virtual economies. These people
are termed as “gold farmers” and can be employed
through the game shops or private forums. Game
publishers usually prohibit the exchange of real
currencies with in-game items or virtual money
however, these exchanges are hard to control and due
to the necessity of an item or virtual money, many of
the players offer real money exchange. There are some
online games which offer a direct link between virtual
economy and real-world economy. A perfect example is
the game “Entropia Universe”. In this online game,
real money can be deposited for game money and vice
versa.
(MMORPG) is a computer role-playing game where a large
number of players meet and play with each other in a
virtual world. Richard Garriott coined the term
MMORPG. He is the creator of Ultima Online, the game
which popularized MMORPG.
As in most role-playing games, players take roles in a
fictional fantasy world. In the virtual world, the
player takes control of the character and his
abilities. In every game there are different
characters with different traits and abilities. Most
MMORPG characters are categorized into melee, ranged,
and magic users. Players have the option to choose
from these variety characters to match their
personality with the avatar. MMORPG’s Difference From
The Average Computer Role Playing game
MMORPG can be distinguished from normal computer
role-playing games by the number of players and the
virtual world where the game is situated. While
single-player computer role playing games is limited
to one player, MMORPG can host thousands of players at
a time.
Another difference between the two is the world that
surrounds the game. Computer role-playing games are
situated in a setting which is repetitive and
constant. Each time the player plays the game, the
same event is repeated since the game was programmed
that way. On the other hand, the MMORPG’s environment
continues to evolve whether the player is online or
away from the game.
Cost of Online Role-Playing Games
Since MMORPG has become very popular over the world,
revenues have risen dramatically over the years to
keep up with the demand of online gamers world wide.
As of 2005, about half a billion US dollars have been
allotted to MMORPG and about one billion dollars have
been allotted to the western revenues alone.
Economics on MMORPG
Most online role-playing games feature living
economies. Virtual items and currency have to be
gained while playing the game and have definite value
for the players. Such a virtual economy can be
analyzed and has value in economic research and can
even have a dramatic impact on the economies of the
real world.
Edward Castronova, one of the early researchers of
MMORPGs, demonstrated that there is an existing
supply-and-demand market for virtual items, even
crossing over with the real world. Some of the
crossover requirements are the following: The player’s
ability to sell in-game items for virtual currency,
trading of items which have the similar value, the
purchase of game items with real money, and the
exchange of real money with in-game money.
The idea of exchanging real currency virtual currency
or in-game items has had a significant effect on both
the players and game industries. Some people even make
a living out of the virtual economies. These people
are termed as “gold farmers” and can be employed
through the game shops or private forums. Game
publishers usually prohibit the exchange of real
currencies with in-game items or virtual money
however, these exchanges are hard to control and due
to the necessity of an item or virtual money, many of
the players offer real money exchange. There are some
online games which offer a direct link between virtual
economy and real-world economy. A perfect example is
the game “Entropia Universe”. In this online game,
real money can be deposited for game money and vice
versa.
Getting To Know Computer Role Playing Games
Overview
Online Role Playing Games, or sometimes refereed to as
Computer Role Playing Games, are a wide range of games
that requires the player to build a hero or a
character based on his preferences and fancy. These
are types of games where one interacts with other
players in the virtual world (usually in groups).
As the game advances, the player’s character should be
able to acquire experience as he or she will be
needing this in order to succeed with other rounds or
quests. The character must be able to become more
powerful and should be able to obtain new and advanced
abilities.
Electronic role playing games is a broad genre under
the video games category. These were the early
beginnings of inline role playing games. These games
were originally from Dungeons and Dragons, a
traditional role playing game which had been the basis
for advance online role playing games nowadays. The
game mechanics and the settings of the games were
formatted from this game.
Interactions in online role playing games are done in
the virtual world using the internet. These may be
done individually (single player games) or with a
group of friends or team mates (multiplayer games).
Computer role playing games offer almost identical
features with online role playing games.
Avatar
Online role playing games revolves on making or
building your own character. These characters are also
called avatars. More often, players find it fun and
put effort in choosing their avatars. There are
different abilities that your avatar can excel on.
However, the abilities and powers of the characters
depend on the progression of the game.
The characters represent the skills and abilities of
the player himself. It shows how he or she decide or
control the game outcomes. A status screen displays
the attributes of the player and his character. It
uses numerical values instead of meters, bars, and
other simple abstract graphical representation that
the usual video games utilize.
Fantasy Setting
A fictional and high fantasy setting is another
feature of online role playing games (and other RPGs
in general). These settings come from science fiction
or space opera themes. However, some online RPGs also
utilize historical settings and backgrounds.
Exceptions to these trends are online role playing
games such as Bloodlines (”gothic punk), Arcanum
(steam punk), Darklands (a combination of medieval
German legend and history), Fallout
(post-apocalyptic), and Mount and Blade (Medieval
Europe with no magic or fantasy).
Quests
Team members or a group of characters (usually called
a party) join forces to complete their missions
(usually called “quest”). However, a single player may
also do this by himself with the help of other
players. These quests are usually fantasy fiction
inspired. But classical mythology and science fictions
are also used as basis for the missions.
These missions comprise different adventures along the
way. Some challenges are defeating the evil boss,
rescuing a princess, or clearing a dungeon of
monsters. Some games require the character to talk to
a Non Player Character (NPC) to know and receive his
or her mission or quest.
Fetch quest, locational puzzles (such as opening
locked doors by means of a hidden lever or a key), or
engaging in dialogues are some of the requirements to
proceed to the next level or challenge.
Majority of the online role playing games are played
as a linear narrative. Meaning, one plays the game in
a predetermined sequence. They just have to comply
with the requirements for the next level to complete
the entire mission.
Online Role Playing Games, or sometimes refereed to as
Computer Role Playing Games, are a wide range of games
that requires the player to build a hero or a
character based on his preferences and fancy. These
are types of games where one interacts with other
players in the virtual world (usually in groups).
As the game advances, the player’s character should be
able to acquire experience as he or she will be
needing this in order to succeed with other rounds or
quests. The character must be able to become more
powerful and should be able to obtain new and advanced
abilities.
Electronic role playing games is a broad genre under
the video games category. These were the early
beginnings of inline role playing games. These games
were originally from Dungeons and Dragons, a
traditional role playing game which had been the basis
for advance online role playing games nowadays. The
game mechanics and the settings of the games were
formatted from this game.
Interactions in online role playing games are done in
the virtual world using the internet. These may be
done individually (single player games) or with a
group of friends or team mates (multiplayer games).
Computer role playing games offer almost identical
features with online role playing games.
Avatar
Online role playing games revolves on making or
building your own character. These characters are also
called avatars. More often, players find it fun and
put effort in choosing their avatars. There are
different abilities that your avatar can excel on.
However, the abilities and powers of the characters
depend on the progression of the game.
The characters represent the skills and abilities of
the player himself. It shows how he or she decide or
control the game outcomes. A status screen displays
the attributes of the player and his character. It
uses numerical values instead of meters, bars, and
other simple abstract graphical representation that
the usual video games utilize.
Fantasy Setting
A fictional and high fantasy setting is another
feature of online role playing games (and other RPGs
in general). These settings come from science fiction
or space opera themes. However, some online RPGs also
utilize historical settings and backgrounds.
Exceptions to these trends are online role playing
games such as Bloodlines (”gothic punk), Arcanum
(steam punk), Darklands (a combination of medieval
German legend and history), Fallout
(post-apocalyptic), and Mount and Blade (Medieval
Europe with no magic or fantasy).
Quests
Team members or a group of characters (usually called
a party) join forces to complete their missions
(usually called “quest”). However, a single player may
also do this by himself with the help of other
players. These quests are usually fantasy fiction
inspired. But classical mythology and science fictions
are also used as basis for the missions.
These missions comprise different adventures along the
way. Some challenges are defeating the evil boss,
rescuing a princess, or clearing a dungeon of
monsters. Some games require the character to talk to
a Non Player Character (NPC) to know and receive his
or her mission or quest.
Fetch quest, locational puzzles (such as opening
locked doors by means of a hidden lever or a key), or
engaging in dialogues are some of the requirements to
proceed to the next level or challenge.
Majority of the online role playing games are played
as a linear narrative. Meaning, one plays the game in
a predetermined sequence. They just have to comply
with the requirements for the next level to complete
the entire mission.
Hope
Hope is a feeling that a person can have for a particular outcome. It can be something very minor such as hoping it doesn’t rain or that tickets to the movie they want to see isn’t sold out. Other forms of hope are more serious in nature. For example you may be hoping that your dog makes it out of surgery without any complications so they can make a full recovery.
The hope that we have is something based on our personal believes. It is often tied into our own faith and religion as well. For example many people have family member’s right now in Iraq fighting the war. They hope and they pray each day for that person to return safely. They hold on to their faith as it is a way to get though difficult situations.
The benefit of having hope and a positive outlook for a situation is very important. Many people will tell you they just had a feeling that everything was going to work out alright. There has been plenty of research to indicate individuals who have hope recover from cancer and other types of illnesses faster and more often than those that don’t.
Some people keep their feelings of hope to themselves and they do engage in prayer. Some religions openly tell their congregation to engage in hope for themselves, those they know, and the world as a whole. Others give very emotional and motivational appeals about how to reach for hope and what it can offer you.
There are some great books out there that offer great information on how you can become more hopeful. Sometimes life throws us for a loop and we aren’t sure what to make of it. We can change our outlook though by finding things to hope for and to motivate us to keep striving for better things ahead.
Hope can provide a person with the strength they need to handle any situation regardless of what is taking place. Many professionals feel that hope is nothing more than a coping mechanism. Yet for many individuals it is a feeling that is much stronger and much deeper than that. What is agreed upon though is the hope a person has and the depth of it varies by individual.
Your Own Virtual World
Play God - Be God (Even If It's Only Electronically)
Part of the appeal of video games is the visual eye-candy that splashes across the television screen. But even the addictive imagery is only half of the equation. The remaining half is the magic bestowed upon our eyes when this imagery comes to life. Animation that's controlled by a gamer is all it takes to escape into a different time and place - a time and place brought to you by virtual reality.
As you can imagine, virtual reality is a hypothetical three-dimensional visual world created by a computer. Players can enter and move about in this world and interact with objects as if inside it.1 Some of the games that are already on the market give a pretty good idea of what virtual reality is and can do. Video games like Zelda, Halo, or Harry Potter allow players to enter into an environment and interact with objects, but they don't allow the player to create an environment and that's what virtual worlds are all about.
Without a single ounce of programming experience, anyone can create a virtual world and have loads of fun doing so. All one needs is an idea.
To begin, you'll want to construct a plan that maps your idea of the perfect world, the craziest world, or the oddest world that you can imagine. Some virtual world software will give you a template of sorts (a "starter" world) that lets you make additions and ultimately build a world that you've always dreamed of. A good example of template use is inside Maxis' SimCity or SimTown games. Both games provide pre-designed environments that provide plenty of space and opportunity to shape them into one that you prefer.
Of course, you could always start from scratch. The only problem with starting with scratch is that it takes more time and knowledge to add some of the features that virtual worlds provide. Either way (from scratch or from a template), most users build a world by adding objects and scenarios - even deleting some until they've reached the perfect balance.
A good place to find examples of what you could build in virtual world gaming is online. Every virtual world program available offers sample environments that players can download and install into their own system. Some manufacturers of these games even hold contests and award winners with free upgrades. Other suitable places to find ideas are from fiction books: -historical, -fantasy, -futuristic, you name it. Science fiction movies are a good resource for ideas as well.
Just understand that virtual gaming takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your virtual world. There's no rush and this is a relaxing hobby. Take your time and have fun. Don't fret over not knowing how to build an object or lay down a map - you can learn how to do these kinds of things in due time. Your goal is to create a world of enjoyment and it won't help if you find yourself frustrated all the time.
When ready, you can add characters with their own unique histories, habits, strengths and weaknesses. You can even give them goals or small tasks to perform throughout the game. Giving your characters goals and tasks will help you give the game a plot.
To get started, look for RAD (Rapid Application Development) Tools. RAD tools will help you bang a virtual reality game together in no time and with little difficulty.
Part of the appeal of video games is the visual eye-candy that splashes across the television screen. But even the addictive imagery is only half of the equation. The remaining half is the magic bestowed upon our eyes when this imagery comes to life. Animation that's controlled by a gamer is all it takes to escape into a different time and place - a time and place brought to you by virtual reality.
As you can imagine, virtual reality is a hypothetical three-dimensional visual world created by a computer. Players can enter and move about in this world and interact with objects as if inside it.1 Some of the games that are already on the market give a pretty good idea of what virtual reality is and can do. Video games like Zelda, Halo, or Harry Potter allow players to enter into an environment and interact with objects, but they don't allow the player to create an environment and that's what virtual worlds are all about.
Without a single ounce of programming experience, anyone can create a virtual world and have loads of fun doing so. All one needs is an idea.
To begin, you'll want to construct a plan that maps your idea of the perfect world, the craziest world, or the oddest world that you can imagine. Some virtual world software will give you a template of sorts (a "starter" world) that lets you make additions and ultimately build a world that you've always dreamed of. A good example of template use is inside Maxis' SimCity or SimTown games. Both games provide pre-designed environments that provide plenty of space and opportunity to shape them into one that you prefer.
Of course, you could always start from scratch. The only problem with starting with scratch is that it takes more time and knowledge to add some of the features that virtual worlds provide. Either way (from scratch or from a template), most users build a world by adding objects and scenarios - even deleting some until they've reached the perfect balance.
A good place to find examples of what you could build in virtual world gaming is online. Every virtual world program available offers sample environments that players can download and install into their own system. Some manufacturers of these games even hold contests and award winners with free upgrades. Other suitable places to find ideas are from fiction books: -historical, -fantasy, -futuristic, you name it. Science fiction movies are a good resource for ideas as well.
Just understand that virtual gaming takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your virtual world. There's no rush and this is a relaxing hobby. Take your time and have fun. Don't fret over not knowing how to build an object or lay down a map - you can learn how to do these kinds of things in due time. Your goal is to create a world of enjoyment and it won't help if you find yourself frustrated all the time.
When ready, you can add characters with their own unique histories, habits, strengths and weaknesses. You can even give them goals or small tasks to perform throughout the game. Giving your characters goals and tasks will help you give the game a plot.
To get started, look for RAD (Rapid Application Development) Tools. RAD tools will help you bang a virtual reality game together in no time and with little difficulty.
Living Your Passion
Living Your Passion
We all begin thinking about what we’re going to be
when we grow up at a very early age. As we grow and
learn more about ourselves and life, those career
ideas change and grow.
As we experience new relationships, hobbies and events
in our lives, we develop interests and ultimately we
become passionate about some of them. It’s these
passions that make the stressors of life dissipate.
What may have been a passion in our twenties may very
well change in our forties or fifties or beyond. We
may find that the career we chose in college no longer
satisfies our needs, once our basic needs have been
met.
While once our passion was making enough money to pay
the bills, our passion in our fifties may become a
desire to help others. As we’ve developed personal
skills, we may find that we are gifted in public
speaking; what could be better than talking about your
passion and making money at the same time?
Unfortunately, many people fail to live a life filled
with passion. Fearful of rejection or of success keeps
many people from pursuing their dreams; many people
simply don’t have enough faith in themselves to reach
for the stars.
What makes you happy? Do you have a hobby that you
just can’t get enough of? Take the step of writing
down any way that you could make money at doing your
favorite thing and try it in your spare time. You
might find a new career doing exactly what you are
passionate about!
What Makes A Great Game:
A Gentle Reminder for Programmers
It's easy to get lost in all the details of building a great video or computer game - so easy in fact, that we can forget the parts of a game that make them fun to play. The following serves as a gentle reminder of what prompts players to play games in the first place. Refer to this reminder in the event that you get bogged down or distracted with confusing C++ syntax, or lines and lines of Visual Basic statements and DLL structures.
1. Remember the player is the main character. Here's a secret between you and me: People play games to gain a sense of control. If you can manage to program your game in a way that puts the player in control, then you've already won half the battle. This doesn't mean to suggest that the game should be easy. It simply means that when a gamer runs home from school or drives home from work to play a video game, she wants to feel the control that she didn't have during the hours between nine and five. The outcome of a game - whether it's a win or a loss - should never be random, but the result of a good, controlled game play instead.
2. KISS. Remember that acronym? It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. We all know that programming a game is hard business, but believe us when we say we don't want to be reminded of it. The difficulty of programming a game should never be part of the game play so when possible, make the game easy to start, easy to navigate, and of course, easy to play. We're not asking for pre-school strategy here, but on the other hand, we don't want to feel as dumb as a pre-schooler either. Forget the hundred page manual. Nobody except the truly obsessed is going to read it anyway. Build your game for the average Joe and everyone will be your fan.
3. Add plenty of action. And add lots of it too. The more action you add to your game, the more attention players will pay attention to it. And the more that players pay attention to your game, the more addictive your game gets. For every action that a player's character makes, have the game react and then prompt the player for more.
4. Make the story a good one. Nothing is worse than playing a game only to wonder what you're doing and why. Purpose is and always has been a human obsession. But without it, we're left wandering... in the darkness... wondering bizarre things like how the house would look in a coat of bright pink paint. Don't give your players the opportunity to waste time like that. Give them a mission and make sure your game reminds them what the mission is at opportune times and why they must complete it.
5. Give us eye candy. But make it relevant. The graphics in a game shouldn't be distracting, they should make our eyeballs glaze over with satisfaction upon seeing them, and then salivate for more. Graphics should contain clues and entice us further and further into the game until we've beaten the thing.
6. Make it real. Fantasy games are okay, but what makes them cool is the fact that they're realistic. It's hard to get into something that isn't familiar or that there's no way we could ever experience. But if you can implement some reality into your games, players will appreciate it and relate to it on a whole new respectable level.
It's easy to get lost in all the details of building a great video or computer game - so easy in fact, that we can forget the parts of a game that make them fun to play. The following serves as a gentle reminder of what prompts players to play games in the first place. Refer to this reminder in the event that you get bogged down or distracted with confusing C++ syntax, or lines and lines of Visual Basic statements and DLL structures.
1. Remember the player is the main character. Here's a secret between you and me: People play games to gain a sense of control. If you can manage to program your game in a way that puts the player in control, then you've already won half the battle. This doesn't mean to suggest that the game should be easy. It simply means that when a gamer runs home from school or drives home from work to play a video game, she wants to feel the control that she didn't have during the hours between nine and five. The outcome of a game - whether it's a win or a loss - should never be random, but the result of a good, controlled game play instead.
2. KISS. Remember that acronym? It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. We all know that programming a game is hard business, but believe us when we say we don't want to be reminded of it. The difficulty of programming a game should never be part of the game play so when possible, make the game easy to start, easy to navigate, and of course, easy to play. We're not asking for pre-school strategy here, but on the other hand, we don't want to feel as dumb as a pre-schooler either. Forget the hundred page manual. Nobody except the truly obsessed is going to read it anyway. Build your game for the average Joe and everyone will be your fan.
3. Add plenty of action. And add lots of it too. The more action you add to your game, the more attention players will pay attention to it. And the more that players pay attention to your game, the more addictive your game gets. For every action that a player's character makes, have the game react and then prompt the player for more.
4. Make the story a good one. Nothing is worse than playing a game only to wonder what you're doing and why. Purpose is and always has been a human obsession. But without it, we're left wandering... in the darkness... wondering bizarre things like how the house would look in a coat of bright pink paint. Don't give your players the opportunity to waste time like that. Give them a mission and make sure your game reminds them what the mission is at opportune times and why they must complete it.
5. Give us eye candy. But make it relevant. The graphics in a game shouldn't be distracting, they should make our eyeballs glaze over with satisfaction upon seeing them, and then salivate for more. Graphics should contain clues and entice us further and further into the game until we've beaten the thing.
6. Make it real. Fantasy games are okay, but what makes them cool is the fact that they're realistic. It's hard to get into something that isn't familiar or that there's no way we could ever experience. But if you can implement some reality into your games, players will appreciate it and relate to it on a whole new respectable level.
Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
You miss so much if you look at life through the
half-empty glass. Taking the negative slant on life
leads to a life of negative thinking that never sees
the good things that life has to offer.
Take a moment and write down all the things that are
wrong with your life. Then, on a different piece of
paper, write down all of the blessings you have. For a
negative person, this can be hard. Did you wake up in
a warm bed this morning? Was your bed warm? Was there
someone on the other side of the bed? Did you have
breakfast? Did you go to a job? In a car? Did you have
clean, decent clothes to put on?
Each any every one of these things are blessings and
are a positive part of your life. It can be so easy to
think about the negative things: I don’t get paid
enough, my car is old, and the cereal wasn’t fresh -
come on! Half the world would love to have the things
you took for granted just this morning!
What do you ever get out of life by looking at the
negative aspects of your life? Are you a complainer?
Are you a complainer because of your circumstances or
do your circumstances make you complain? How much
worse could things be? When you really think about
your life, aren’t you truly blessed compared to others
around the planet?
Try thinking positively as a way of finding happiness
and satisfaction in your life. Complaining does
nothing except make others around you feel bad, and if
that’s your intention, you need to re-think your
relationship.
half-empty glass. Taking the negative slant on life
leads to a life of negative thinking that never sees
the good things that life has to offer.
Take a moment and write down all the things that are
wrong with your life. Then, on a different piece of
paper, write down all of the blessings you have. For a
negative person, this can be hard. Did you wake up in
a warm bed this morning? Was your bed warm? Was there
someone on the other side of the bed? Did you have
breakfast? Did you go to a job? In a car? Did you have
clean, decent clothes to put on?
Each any every one of these things are blessings and
are a positive part of your life. It can be so easy to
think about the negative things: I don’t get paid
enough, my car is old, and the cereal wasn’t fresh -
come on! Half the world would love to have the things
you took for granted just this morning!
What do you ever get out of life by looking at the
negative aspects of your life? Are you a complainer?
Are you a complainer because of your circumstances or
do your circumstances make you complain? How much
worse could things be? When you really think about
your life, aren’t you truly blessed compared to others
around the planet?
Try thinking positively as a way of finding happiness
and satisfaction in your life. Complaining does
nothing except make others around you feel bad, and if
that’s your intention, you need to re-think your
relationship.
Video Games in the Future
A Gamer's Plea
With video game technology advancing so fast and so far from where it started, one can't help but to entertain the idea of where it's going to go from here. After all, that is part of a larger creative process and we'd like to think that our writings contribute even in some small way. One of the earliest video games that we can remember is Commodore's "Pong." But never did we think the industry would have reached the point where it is today. One thing is for sure however, and that's the gaming is pushing full force ahead.
Today we did a little fantasizing to see where our imagination and desires would take us.
The following offers some suggestions of what could be done short of a little thing called, "impossible."
We're a little intrigued with the "Sun Game Glasses" idea. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and using the technology implemented by Nintendo's "Wii" system, we could literally watch a game take place right before our eyes and then interact with it using a device that's about the size of a pen. Since this isn't exactly a new idea, we're curious to watch what develops from University of South Australia's 'ARQuake' project1 - a springboard for this kind of gaming to develop in the near future for sure.
Another cool idea we'd like to see erupt within the gaming industry is the ability to talk to the characters inside a game. Some games allow players to textually speak to game characters already, but we'd like to see this pushed a little further. We'd like to be able to orally interact with characters: ask questions, joke around, warn and speak to them as if we were speaking to another human being. And we'd like to hear these characters talk back! It's the ultimate artificial intelligence opportunity and although it would probably be years before this technology would be available on a wide scale, we're sure it would be a hit.
Will we ever get to the point where we can play inside a simulated environment the way the characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation could play? Virtual reality is getting close, but the reality of the simulation is gone the moment we put on the silly-looking goggles and gloves. In order for simulation of this sort to work, there has to be as little a barrier between gamers and the game as possible. We don't what to just think we're inside a game, we want to feel that we're inside a game and to be honest, we don't want to have to go somewhere outside our home to do so.
The television or computer screen will suffice for now, but in the future, we're going to want to be surrounded with the elements that make gaming the wonder that it is today. We're going to want to transform our dens or bedrooms into a virtual alien ship or simulated jungle. In short, we want a new world.
One possible obstacle to bringing this fantasy into our living rooms is public acceptance. Would the public be ready for such a high level of entertainment? And could the public handle it? Immediately following Nintendo's Wii release, customers were ready to complain that they wanted their old controller back! So as with any new development, there will surely be unintended consequences and although we're gung-ho for these types of advances, we also share concerns about the impact it would have on an audience that isn't "virtually ready."
As a result, we can certainly envision a few laws introduced that restricted the use of our fantasy gaming. We already have some laws that attempt the same now and in our opinion, that's a good thing. The last thing we want to encounter in gaming is physical harm - especially when we're trying to enjoy virtual entertainment!
1 Source: http://wearables.unisa.edu.au/projects/ARQuake/www
With video game technology advancing so fast and so far from where it started, one can't help but to entertain the idea of where it's going to go from here. After all, that is part of a larger creative process and we'd like to think that our writings contribute even in some small way. One of the earliest video games that we can remember is Commodore's "Pong." But never did we think the industry would have reached the point where it is today. One thing is for sure however, and that's the gaming is pushing full force ahead.
Today we did a little fantasizing to see where our imagination and desires would take us.
The following offers some suggestions of what could be done short of a little thing called, "impossible."
We're a little intrigued with the "Sun Game Glasses" idea. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and using the technology implemented by Nintendo's "Wii" system, we could literally watch a game take place right before our eyes and then interact with it using a device that's about the size of a pen. Since this isn't exactly a new idea, we're curious to watch what develops from University of South Australia's 'ARQuake' project1 - a springboard for this kind of gaming to develop in the near future for sure.
Another cool idea we'd like to see erupt within the gaming industry is the ability to talk to the characters inside a game. Some games allow players to textually speak to game characters already, but we'd like to see this pushed a little further. We'd like to be able to orally interact with characters: ask questions, joke around, warn and speak to them as if we were speaking to another human being. And we'd like to hear these characters talk back! It's the ultimate artificial intelligence opportunity and although it would probably be years before this technology would be available on a wide scale, we're sure it would be a hit.
Will we ever get to the point where we can play inside a simulated environment the way the characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation could play? Virtual reality is getting close, but the reality of the simulation is gone the moment we put on the silly-looking goggles and gloves. In order for simulation of this sort to work, there has to be as little a barrier between gamers and the game as possible. We don't what to just think we're inside a game, we want to feel that we're inside a game and to be honest, we don't want to have to go somewhere outside our home to do so.
The television or computer screen will suffice for now, but in the future, we're going to want to be surrounded with the elements that make gaming the wonder that it is today. We're going to want to transform our dens or bedrooms into a virtual alien ship or simulated jungle. In short, we want a new world.
One possible obstacle to bringing this fantasy into our living rooms is public acceptance. Would the public be ready for such a high level of entertainment? And could the public handle it? Immediately following Nintendo's Wii release, customers were ready to complain that they wanted their old controller back! So as with any new development, there will surely be unintended consequences and although we're gung-ho for these types of advances, we also share concerns about the impact it would have on an audience that isn't "virtually ready."
As a result, we can certainly envision a few laws introduced that restricted the use of our fantasy gaming. We already have some laws that attempt the same now and in our opinion, that's a good thing. The last thing we want to encounter in gaming is physical harm - especially when we're trying to enjoy virtual entertainment!
1 Source: http://wearables.unisa.edu.au/projects/ARQuake/www
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