What The Virtual World Has To Offer - ORPGs

The Online Role Playing Game

The venue is the virtual world. Numerous individuals
participate, meet, and play with each other. These are
the occurrences in massively multiplayer online
role-playing game (MMORPG). These are computer role
playing games which developed from continuous
improvement of online multi user games. It was Richard
Garriott who coined the term MMORPG. He is the creator
of the game which popularized MMORPG, Ultima Online.

A fictional fantasy world is the usual setting in most
role playing games. The gamers build their own
character (avatar) and take control of the avatar’s
skill and abilities. They can customize their avatars
to match their personality. Every game in the online
RPGs comprises of different characters with different
trait and responsibilities. They can be categorized
into melee, ranged, and magic users.

What Makes MMORPGs Different

Massively multiplayer online role playing games can be
recognized from the usual computer role playing games
by the number of players and the virtual world where
the game is situated. Computer role playing games can
only cater to single player modes whilst massively
multiplayer online role-playing games can cater to
thousands of gamers at one time.

The world that the game is themed from is another
factor that differentiates the two genres. A
repetitive and constant setting is found on computer
role playing games. Because of the way it is
programmed, each time the gamers in computer RPGs
plays a game, the same episodes are repeated.

On the contrary, MMORPGs’ provide an environment that
lives on its own. That means that even if the player
is away or online, the game continues to evolve and
“live”.

Increasing Revenues

Because of the popularity MMORPG has gained, it is not
surprising to know that revenues rose dramatically
over the years just so it could keep up with the world
wide demand of online gamers.

In 2005 alone, about half a billion US dollars have
been given to MMORPGs. Western revenues have been
allotted with about one million dollars.

Economics

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.

One of the early researchers of MMORPGs, particularly
Edward Castronova, stated that the supply-and-demand
market for virtual items is existing. It even crossed
over the real world as much as the virtual one.
Crossover requirements are some of 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. People who make a
living out of the virtual economies are termed as
“gold farmers” and can be employed through the game
shops or private forums.

Real currencies in exchange for virtual money and
in-game items are usually prohibited by game
publishers. However, because of necessity this
exchange cannot be avoided. An example of this is
“Entropia Universe”, an online game that allows real
money in exchange for game money and vice versa.

Building Courage to Improve your Personal Life


When you build courage, you start to improve your personal life. Building courage will help you take risks to a brighter future that you ordinarily would not take. When you build courage, you put fear behind you. courage is the process of admitting that you have fears, yet you are willing to find a way to defeat those fears and not allow these fears to take control of you. It is ok to experience your fears at appropriate times. For instance, if a bus is heading in your path, swerving you have a right to fear. There is nothing wrong with healthy fear. The problem is you have to put healthy fear in its place and unhealthy fear out of your life.

Once you build courage, you will learn to self-direct you in life. You will learn to accept punishment and rewards gracefully. A courageous person will often feel motivated to accept blame and responsibility while reviewing their actions and using what they learn to move forward. Courageous people will step to the front, rather than stepping back when opportunities come their way. On the other hand, a courageous person will step back and take a view at his or her mistakes gracefully.

Sometimes the courageous person is spontaneous. It is never good to plan each day, because no one knows what the next day will bring in. Think about it. How many times have you planned something all to see it shatter in your face the next day. For instance, I plan to go to the ballgame tomorrow. Come tomorrow a blizzard, hurricane, tornado, wind storm, or rainstorm could change your mind. You planned, but did you plan for the weather. Did you make a backup plan in case your first plan failed. As you can see, planning is not always in your favor, which is why courageous people are sometimes spontaneous.

A person willing to improve their life will relax. This person will relax even when plans fail. For instance, if it stormed the next day the person will find something else to occupy his or her time and feel just as happy about joining this adventure.

To become successful and improve your life you will need to learn how to trust you. When you trust you, you can trust others as well. Unfortunately, we live in a world where trust is hard to find, yet when you trust you, you can’t blame others when things go wrong.

Improving your life includes using your creative and critical mind. When you can create new ideas, you are off to the road to success. You have many options in this world, it takes you to pull up resources to find those options.

Sometimes in life, we feel uncomfortable. In fact, this is common. Are you willing to accept your discomforts? Perhaps at an interview you feel misplaced. Are you willing to accept this discomfort and find a way to deliver a good speech to impress the interviewer. Alternatively, are you willing to allow negative energies cost you the job.

Do you accept?
Do you accept the things you cannot change? Do you accept the things you have control over? Do you accept other people regardless of how these people act? Do you accept you for who you are? Do you accept the changes that life brings your way?

Acceptance is your key to happiness. When you can learn to accept the good with the bad, you can learn how to live happier and improve your personal life. If you cannot accept however, well, reread this article again.

The Internet and ORPGs - Pros And Cons


With the advent of the Internet, online games have
been played over computer networks. Over the year, the
online gaming has expanded and provided a large
influence to the overall expansion computer networks
from the popular growth of Internet access itself and
the local networks to the Internet.

These online games can vary from games that are text
based to complex graphical and virtual games which are
simultaneously populated by many players all over the
world. Nowadays online gaming has become a social
activity because of the online communities
incorporated into the recent online games.

The rising popularity of flash and java and internet
revolution made video streaming, audio streaming, and
a whole new set of user interactivity possible. 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.

Flash Players

When flash players were included into the internet
explorers, it gave way for web sites to offer games to
the web surfers. World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI
and Lineage II are among the most popular online games
to date.

These games charge monthly fees to their subscribers
so that they may be able to access the services and
avail the services they need. However, games such as
Guild Wars, do not charge monthly fees to their
subscribers.

Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG’s)

With the advent of broadband internet access, massive
multiplayer online games were made possible especially
in developing countries. Using the internet, MMOGs
became very popular to children, teens, and young
adults because the internet allows thousands of
players to play and participate in the same game at
the same time.

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.

Pros and Cons of Online Games

Because of the growing access to broadband internet,
gamers can play there favorite online role playing
games from the comfort of their own home while
interacting with the other gamers even without meeting
them yet.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of playing
online games at home:

Pros

Online games provide privacy. Online gaming can be
played at home rather than go to internet cafés with
other people lining up just to play the same game.

Online games are cheaper. Because you can play from
the comfort of your own home, you can play for as long
as you can without paying for large amounts in the
internet cafés.

Online games are safe. Online gamers need not to go
out of their homes so as to guarantee safety. You also
need not to reveal your true identity to other players
while maintaining interaction with them.

Cons

Online games are time consuming. These games are quite
competitive and one needs time to think of strategies
and accomplishing their goals. They also need to spend
large amounts of time to keep up with other players.

Online games lessen social interaction. Because of the
large amount of time players spend in front of the
computer and interacting with other gamers mostly
through chat, they become impersonal in dealing with
people. They would rather spend the entire day
interacting through chat than actually meeting and
talking to individuals in person.

Online games can cause eye strain and head ache. While
most online games are fun to play with, they can
become very addictive to the majority of players.
Spending large amounts of time in front of the monitor
not only prove to be eye straining but can cause
prolonged head ache even if they stop playing the
game.

Accepting to Improve your Personal Life


Do you have the ability to accept the things you can change and the things you cannot change? Do you have the ability to accept that other people are opt to change them, rather than you changing them? Do you accept that you are who you are, regardless of what others think? Can you accept the many changes that take place in your life?

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation.

When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you.

Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the persons eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors.

We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounding by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in house-holds, government, schools and so forth. Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these peoples behaviors and way of thinking, but we can change ours. This is a part of learning and accepting. The best way around the world is become your own influence and allow other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. Positive reflections are the key to living happier.

Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity.

Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in a unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us and move on. Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change.

As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you. In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences and so on. Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.

The Development Of Online Role Playing Games

Background

The mid 1970s gave birth to a new genre of role
playing video games. Online RPG were the results of
early university mainframe text-based role playing
games on Unix-based computers (such as pedit5, dnd,
and Dungeon) and PDP-10.

When the 1980s came, Rogue, a very popular dungeon
crawler, was released. Because of this, a deep system
of gameplay was observed in the settings, items, and
monsters. As a result, new genres of “roguelike”
replicas were made.

One of the most influential among the role playing
games invented was Dungeons and Dragons. Ever since
its release, improvements have been made on online
role playing games in general. In 1988, SSI formed a
series of “Gold Box” Computer Role Playing Games with
Pool of Radiance. The rules were based on Advanced
Dungeons and Dragons. It also featured overhead
tactical displays for combat and a first-person
display for movement.

Initially, role playing games offered only a single
player mode of playing. But with the advent of games
like Diablo, multiplayer options of the games became
available and quickly became all the rage especially
in the mid-1990s. With more success, these multiplayer
games became massively multiplayer online role-playing
games (MMORPGs) with the advent of the internet. Games
such as Everquest where produced as MMORPGs.

Dungeons and Dragons and other traditional ORPGS
became the basis for the game mechanics and the
settings found in the new role playing games.

They all involve a team, group of characters, usually
called a “party” that join together to accomplish a
mission or quests. Challenges and enemies await the
players and they become more and more difficult to
overcome as the game progresses.

Some obstacles are dragons, monsters, or evil wizards.
Most of these are inspired by science fiction,
mythology, and fantasy.

Rewards and Points

The players themselves build their own avatars or
characters. They also have different options on how
they can modify these characters basing on their
skills, attributes, equipment, special abilities, and
personalities.

However, the improvements of their characters are
highly dependent on how they play the game. New
powers, equipment, and better health are given as
rewards and prizes for achievement of their goals and
accomplishment of quests. It can also be given as
reciprocate to the service they offer to the locals of
the fantasy setting.

Rewarding the characters may be done based on these 3
systems. The training system awards the characters
with proficiency in using equipment. With training and
practice, the character will become more accustomed to
it.

The skill point system rewards the character skill
points based on the quests he or she completed.

The experience system awards the player with
experience points upon winning battles and destroying
monsters in the game.

Complex Fun

Normally, status screens are displayed on the gamer’s
monitor to know the attributes and hit points of the
character. It uses a more complex abstract graphical
representation because bars and meters are not
utilized in describing the character’s status.
Instead, numerical values are designated to do the
job.

Multiplayer Experience

Single and multiplayer options are available with
online role playing games. These games allow you to be
part of a group or a team. They give chance for player
to player interaction through chat. A sense of
competition is also experienced during battles with
other teams.

With revenues exceeding more than a billion dollars
each year, it is then, with no doubt, that online
gaming encompasses other role playing game genres.

Optimism


The world is full of many different types of people. Some like to complain and stir up issues. Yet others will always search for solutions and hold out that better things are to come. These individuals are full of optimism and they can sometimes annoy those that like to wallow in self pity. Yet if you can try to think positive then you can learn to appreciate the things in life you already have. Too many people are always reaching for more when so much is right there in front of them.

It goes back to that timeless question of is the glass half empty or half full. Those that see it as half full are very optimistic. They will take what is there and make it as fulfilling as they possibly can. This is why they can be poor or they aren’t the most educated but they are happy people. They are able to count the blessing in their life and not take them for granted.

Being optimistic is a state of mind that a person chooses to have. You can decide if you are going to look for the good or focus on the negative. The reality of it is that you will find exactly what you are looking for. By this I mean if you are looking for how bad your life is you will find plenty of examples. Yet if you want to look for all of the good and the opportunities that you have you will also find them.

It is important to surround yourself with people in life that are positive. Those with a negative outlook can poison everyone so you need to be careful though. Challenge those you know who are continually unhappy to enjoy the good things that they have to cherish. You can also challenge them by asking them what they want to do to change the situation instead of simply complaining about it.

One of the greatest gifts you can give to a child is optimism. They will learn from example if you show it to them. They will have to learn that life is full of ups and downs but they can always find something to bring them joy. This outlook is going to help them to live a very full and happy life.

The Advent Of Online Role Playing Games

Background

The genre of role playing video game history can be
traced back to the mid-1970s. These were the results
of early university mainframe text-based RPGs on
Unix-based computers (such as pedit5, dnd, and
Dungeon) and PDP-10. The 1980s paved way for the
release of a very popular dungeon crawler, Rogue. A
deep system of gameplay was observed in the settings,
items, and monsters. Because of this, new genres of
“roguelike” clones were made.

Dungeons and Dragons is the most influential among the
role playing games made. Improvements were made since
its release. In 1988, SSI formed a series of “Gold
Box” Computer Role Playing Games with Pool of
Radiance. These were based on the Advanced Dungeons
and Dragons rules and featured an overhead tactical
display for combat and a first-person display for
movement.

The initial role playing games presented only a single
player experience for its players. However, with games
such as Diablo, multiplayer modes of the games quickly
became popular in the mid-1990s. These in turn, grew
to massively multiplayer online role-playing games
(MMORPGs) with the dawn of the internet. Everquest and
many other games were fashioned into MMORPGs.

The game mechanics and the settings found in newer
role playing games were derived from their traditional
counterparts, most especially Dungeons and Dragons.
Almost all game stories involve a party or a group of
characters that join forces to complete a “quest” or a
mission. Numerous enemies and challenges await the
players. As the game progresses, these challenges
become more and more difficult to overcome. Usually,
these obstacles are dragons, monsters, or evil persons
that are inspired by mythology, science fiction, and
more commonly, fantasy.

Character Building

It is dependent on the players how they want their
characters, or avatars, to look like and be like. They
can also modify them based on their skills,
attributes, equipment, special abilities, and
personalities. More often than not, improvements can
be given as gifts or prizes when the player or the
party achieved a certain goal or completed a mission.
In short, they have to earn these rewards in order to
for their characters to become a better player in the
next challenge.

There are different ways of rewarding the characters
of the game for accomplishing the tasks and achieving
their goals. These are based on: the training system
(skill-based system), the skill point system
(level-free system), and the experience system
(level-based system).

Progress Charts

Characters possess a variety of features such as hit
points. A status screen is traditionally displayed on
the player’s monitor. However, unlike the usual video
games, role playing games use numerical values to
describe the character or the game’s status. They do
not make use of the simpler abstract graphical
representations such as bars and meters that video
games utilize.

Interactive Fun

Online role playing games differ from it traditional
RPG counterparts in the sense that it offers both a
single and multi user experience. All online games
allow you to chat with each player no matter where he
or she is. Multiplayer games allow you to be part of a
group as well, playing with or against each other in
order to complete your quest or mission. However, if
you choose to be a single player, you will still be
part of a small group. Being an online player for
sometime, you will find yourself being the leader or
influential member of the group.

With revenues exceeding more than a billion dollars
each year, it is then, with no doubt, that online
gaming encompasses other role playing game genres.

Wishes


A wish can be something a child or even an adult wants to happen. It can be something very unrealistic such as a certain event never ending or a love one coming back to them who has died. A wish can be to get a date with the boy you have a crush on or to earn enough money to buy a car before you go off to college. Some wishes are out of our reach while others we can work to make happen.

There are many different types of events that occur in our world that lead a person to wish. Most of us don’t stop to question why such beliefs take place but we follow them anyway. There are wishing wells that you toss coins into and make your wish. Fountains of this nature are also found in many locations.

Some people say you should make a wish when you see a star falling from the sky. Another popular time is when you are blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. Most people believe that you should never share the wishes you make with others. They are yours and yours alone to believe in.

Making wishes can be fun and they can help to keep us young at heart. The amount of faith that a person has in such wishes though can often determine many things in their life. Some wishes you can be very optimistic about and make a conscious effort to work towards them. Others are merely things you wish could be even though it is very likely it will occur for you.

There are some organizations out there that work hard to make wishes come true for people though. For example they have programs to help families buy their first home. This may seem like a simple wish but if you don’t have one it is a huge thing to think about. For others it may be to get something for Christmas and that can happen through generous donations.

There are foundations out there for dying individuals who want to have one last wish. They work hard to make it happen regardless of what it is. This could be going to Disneyland, meeting a celebrity, or seeing their favorite professional football team playing a game. There is no limit to the wishes a person can have and most of us have a few we would like to see come true.

Role Playing Games - And The Fan Base Grows

Role Playing Games

Players or participants of Role Laying Games assume
the role of different fictional characters, more
popularly known as avatars, and try to make these
characters victorious with each challenge it faces.

These avatars can be customized and built according to
the preferences of the player. They may determine
where their character may excel. However, as the game
progresses, the character may built up more strength
and powers or otherwise.

Online role playing games also have guidelines and a
formal system of rules and mechanics that needs to be
met. Working around these rules, participants can
shape the outcome and direction of their games.

Background

It was in the mid 1970s when it all started. Online
role playing games was developed from its traditional
counterparts (computer role playing games and video
games). In this year, the earliest multi user games
started to appear. In 1980, Rogue, a very famous
dungeon crawler was released. It was quite different
back then because monsters, items, and settings were
represented by letters. Form then, development of a
new genre of similar clones.

One of the most influential games among all online
role playing games is Dungeons and Dragons. It has a
big effect in the development of online RPGs. The
success of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest console
games divided the genre of role playing games into
two: the console role playing games and the computer
role playing games. Cultural differences are the
reason behind this classification. Game consoles are
produced primarily for personal computers in Japan and
role playing games in the Western World.

When it was introduced, Online Role Playing Games
began as single player games. However the arrival of
the internet and the virtual world made developments
in online role playing games. After that, players from
all over the world began to enjoy the games in this
genre. They were able to participate in multiplayer
games with players from all parts of the globe.

These games have grown to be an online gamer sensation
that RPG companies discover ways to make it better.
These improvements led multiplayer gaming into
massively multiplayer online role playing games
(MMORPGs) that continued to make online gaming more
popular each year.

Challenges

These games are centered on stories which are more
often than not, adventure and fictional in type. There
are also centered on fantasy and mythological genres.
Players have to reach a certain goal or complete a
mission in order to advance further into the game.
These missions and challenges are often called
“quests”.

Some of these involve chasing off dragons, fighting
evil wizards and masters, and saving damsels in
distress. The outcomes of these games are dependent on
the characters strengths, characteristic, and skills.

Little More About the Avatars

As stated, players have the power to customize their
characters according to their preferences. However,
the improvement of there characters are highly
dependent on the course of the game. Enhancing their
character’s skills, attributes, equipment, and special
abilities are important so as to achieve the goal of
the game.

Improvements and achievements are often given as
rewards for accomplishing their quests and overcoming
obstacles. In short, these rewards have to be earned.

Multiplayer Modes

Among the online role playing games, Diablo was the
first to come up with multiplayer options. Multiplayer
modes became popularity during the mid1990s. Then
after, they became massively multiplayer online role
playing games (MMORPGs) because of its popularity.