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 theirfavorite 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.