Posts tagged free

Advances in Online Gaming

A century ago, the term ‘games’ would have referred to either field sports or games like Chess. With the advent of technology and more recently, the Internet, the term has taken a new meaning. Online gaming has gained massive popularity over the last few years. People no longer play games in the comfort of their homes but also in cyber cafes and, as techies will vouch for it, in offices!

Online gaming offers a lot of flexibility to gamers – flexibility to decide where to play, when to play, what to play, with whom to play. With this kind of gaming, gamers do not need to install games on their computers or game consoles anymore. Furthermore, most of the online games are available for free. Online gaming is becoming increasingly popular as it sets a stage for social networking. Multi-players games make gaming competitive, hence more interesting. The latest trend in online gaming is community gaming. This April, Cafe website opened a social gaming service.

In August last year, Park Associates, a market research and consulting firm, published a report from its research on online gamers in the US. Based on its findings, the firm categorized gamers into six segments, namely, occasional gamers, incidental gamers, leisure gamers, dormant gamers, social gamers and power gamers. The report also declared that online gaming will become a 4-billion dollar industry by 2010 in the US alone.

The interactive world of the Internet was revolutionized by Flash and Java, making online gaming a lucrative and rewarding activity for netizens. The standalone computer games and video game parlors though still hold their ground, it is online gaming that is gradually cementing its roots in the ground.

Most of the online game portals generate their revenue from advertisements. Is it easy to host games online? Have you noticed the video game consoles lined up outside restaurants or in shopping malls? Have you even been to a game parlor? The coin-operated machines there are the original arcade game units. With the advent of the Internet, they took shape into online games, now easily facilitated by Flash, making it easier for websites to host such games.

Recently, big-shots like EA Sports have entered the online gaming market. Social networking websites are adding games to their features to attract gamers. Last year, in a report by the market research company, NPD Group revealed that sixty-two percent of all gamers play games online. In a recent report, it revealed that forty-two percent of the US population plays games online.

According to a February 2008 report by MMOGCHART, World of Warcraft, an online game devised by Blizzard has continued to dominate the subscriptions in the online-games’ market, with 62.3 percent of the subscriptions market share, with RuneScape following next with 6.9 percent.

Currently, with one-fourth of online gamers in the age group of 2-12, it is evident that this segment of gamers will demand more advanced and innovative games in the years to come, promising a tremendous rise in the online gaming market.

Warcraft III: Battle Chest – Mac/Windows $39.99 SynopsisWarcraft III: Battle Chest gives you everything you need to enjoy the complete Warcraft III experience. This edition includes Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne expansion pack and the official BradyGames strategy guides for both titles. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos takes place nearly fifteen years since the war between the orcs and humans ended. A darker shadow has recently fallen over the world, threatening to extinguish all life. The drums of war play upon the winds once again, rising urgently toward the inevitable hour when the skies will rain fire and the world will tremble before the coming of the Burning Legion. With four unique races, cutting-edge 3D animations and online support, you’ll thrill to an intense and immersive fantasy experience. Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is an expansion pack that revisits the war-torn world of Azeroth several months after the Burning Legion and the battle of Mount Hyjal. Are you ready for a complete Warcraft experience?

Warcraft III Battlechest PC Game BLIZZARD $34.99 The eternal battle between Humans and Orcs just got more complicated in the sequel to the critically acclaimed Warcraft 2. In the real-time-strategy game Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos for PC, a new enemy called the Undead Scourge invades the already battle-weary world of Azeroth, threatening the existence of Humans, Orcs, and their distrusting neighbors, the Night Elves. Can these three long-term enemies put their differences aside to defeat the evil Undead Scourge? Or will they destroy each other first? Players play as all four races- The Human Alliance, The Orcish Horde, The Night Elves, and the Undead Scourge. Each race’s story is told in the form of a campaign, composed of about 10 levels. Players who finish each campaign move to the next race until all four campaigns are completed. Players who desire a challenge may try multiplayer mode, provided by Blizzard’s free Battle.net service. The Warcraft 3 Battle Chest is a real treasure, containing Reign of Chaos, The Frozen Throne expansion pack, and the official Brady Guides for both games. It’s a must-have for Warcraft and RTS fans alike. ESRB Rating: T – Teen Genre: Strategy System Requirements: Computer: 400 MHz Pentium II or equivalent, or a 400 MHz G3 processor or better. Operating Systems: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Warcraft III requires Mac OS 9.0 or higher, or Mac OS X 10.1.3 or higher. Memory: Warcraft III requires 128 MB of RAM. Virtual Features: Defend the world of Azeroth from the demonic Burning Legion and the dark forces of the Undead Lich King in the ultimate WarCraft III collection. In addition to full versions of WC III: Reign of Chaos and WC III: The Frozen Throne, this massive box set contains two official strategy

Warcraft $5.43 Buy and sell [Warcraft] at great prices.

Warcraft $60.95 Buy and sell [Warcraft] at great prices.

World of Warcraft – Mac/Windows $19.99 SynopsisFour years have gone by since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and a tension smolders through the world of Azeroth. As the races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world. Return to Azeroth for a journey with thousands of players in a massively multiplayer online world. Take on the role of a Warcraft hero and begin a quest across this vast world. There are more than 1,000 handwritten quests to be completed. Battle against the fiery dragons of Blackrock Spire, cleanse the undead from the ziggurats of Stratholme and take part in many other adventures. Explore environments that immerse you in this unique and legendary land. You will join with thousands of other players in one world and either join forces or battle against each other. The content of the game will constantly change from month to month with new challenges and adventures created by a dedicated live team. Begin your own epic quest in a unique online world.

Activision World of Warcraft – PC, Mac $18.99 Four years have passed since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and a great tension now smolders throughout the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the battle-worn races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world once again. World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being Massively Multiplayer, World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.

SteelSeries World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse $105.99 World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse World of Warcraft T-shirt for $5 USD World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Loot Card Discount Coupon for World of Warcraft Strategy Guide Mouse Right-handed Only 8.07″ Height x 8.46″ Width x 37.40″ Depth 62006 http://www.steelseries.com The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse was designed specifically for World of Warcraft by Blizzard and SteelSeries. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse provides remarkable benefits to all MMO gamers, regardless of level or play style. The mouse features incredible customization options to accommodate personal preferences. Seamless integration between software and hardware will provide an amazing in-game experience that provides superior performance, comfort and control. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse is fully scalable to meet and exceed the requirements of even the most discerning World of Warcraft gamer. 3200 dpi 1 Year 15 oz SteelSeries ApS World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse Retail SteelSeries Wired Not Applicable Yes RoHS WEEE 79″ 15 15 USB Scroll Wheel

SteelSeries World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse $119.99 World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse World of Warcraft T-shirt for $5 USD World of Warcraft Trading Card Game Loot Card Discount Coupon for World of Warcraft Strategy Guide Mouse Right-handed Only 8.07″ Height x 8.46″ Width x 37.40″ Depth 62006 http://www.steelseries.com The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse was designed specifically for World of Warcraft by Blizzard and SteelSeries. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse provides remarkable benefits to all MMO gamers, regardless of level or play style. The mouse features incredible customization options to accommodate personal preferences. Seamless integration between software and hardware will provide an amazing in-game experience that provides superior performance, comfort and control. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse is fully scalable to meet and exceed the requirements of even the most discerning World of Warcraft gamer. 3200 dpi 1 Year 15 oz SteelSeries ApS World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse Retail SteelSeries Wired Not Applicable Yes RoHS WEEE 79″ 15 15 USB Scroll Wheel

World of Warcraft Game Card – Mac/Windows $29.99 Four years have gone by since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and a tension smolders through the world of Azeroth. As the races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world. Return to Azeroth with thousands of players in a massively multiplayer online roleplaying world. To enjoy your Warcraft journey, you’ll need time for your account. This Game Card provides a prepaid, 60-day subscription to World of Warcraft. Extend your gameplay time without needing a credit card.

Nvidia Gift – World of Warcraft $56.98 Features: Free Game Form NVIDIA

Free Dollarstuff From America Online $11.38 Buy and sell [Free Dollarstuff From America Online] at great prices.

Preschool Children And Free Play $35.43 Buy and sell [Preschool Children And Free Play] at great prices.

Free Gift for Online Orders $3.49 Get a free pack of Happy Face Sparkle Name Tags with your online order of $10 or more! Use special offer code GM7122 in your shopping cart. Your free gift will automatically be added to your cart. (You don’t need to add this item to your shopping cart manually.)This offer expires December 31, 2007.

World of Warcraft PC Game BLIZZARD $19.99 Enter the world of Azeroth and join the adventure that has made Blizzard’s MMORPG World of Warcraft such a hit with customers across the world. Start as one of the eight playable races and grow up in a fantastic land of lush forests, sun baked desserts and snowbound valleys. Select one of 9 classes to play including warriors and spell tossing mages and then craft your own items to use and sell in one of many professions. As you travel from the racial homelands to the capital cities and beyond meet fellow players and create friendships. There is nothing like a dungeon crawl or an epic raid for bonding together, but a word of caution, never argue with a dwarf over the length of his cloak, they can wield a mean axe! Circles of friends grow and soon form guilds each with their own heraldry. Warriors, wizards, priests and rogues ride into battle with colors and symbols emblazoned on guild cloaks. Players traverse the continents by griffins, horses, boats and goblin zeppelins finding adventure wherever it waits. The vistas of this world are as boundless as the imagination of its creators. Sitting astride a griffin and swooping over the lands or riding your own horse down the roads and paths that traverse the continents you will share the rewards of friendship and the memories epic quests in this amazing MMORPG. ESRB Rating: T – Teen Genre: MMORPG System Requirements: Minimum System Requirements: Windows System 2000/XP OS: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz or AMD Athlon 800 MHz 512 MB or more of RAM 32 MB 3D graphics card with Hardware Transform and Lighting, such as NVIDIA GeForce 2 class card or above DirectX 9.0c (included) and latest video drivers 6.0 GB available Features: 4 years have passed since the aftermath of Warcraft III & a great tension now smolders throughout the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the battle-worn races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient & ominous, arise to plague the world once again. World of Warcraft is an

World of Warcraft: Battle Chest PC Game BLIZZARD $36.99 Enter the World of Warcraft with everything you need to fight for the Horde or the Alliance effectively! Jump into the fight and land with both feet with the original World of Warcraft game and the acclaimed expansion pack The Burning Crusade. You’ll be slaying enemies, crafting weapons and armor and fighting over loot in no time. Don’t worry about joining the game and not knowing what you’re doing. This Battle Chest comes with guides to give you the competitive edge you need to create an epic character. So what are you waiting for? Azeroth beckons and the war is far from over. ESRB Rating: T – Teen Genre: MMORPG Features: Enter the Online Game with the complete collection of World of Warcraft. This epic value contains the original Game of the Year and its blockbuster first expansion set, The Burning Crusade. Also included are Battle Chest Guides from BradyGames, detailing the tips, tricks, and strategies that will aid your quest

Blizzard Entertainment Worlds of Warcraft Drums of War Blister Pack $3.99 Explore the depth and excitement of the World of Warcraft universe in a new way with this trading card game based on the popular MMOG. Drums of War, the seventh set in the World of Warcraft trading card game, exposes you to new dimensions of gaming thrills. This World of Warcraft Drums of War pack allows you to expand your trading card gameplay. Each blister pack contains 19 cards for the Drums of War set. Randomly inserted online “Loot” cards offer the potential for even greater adventure.

World of Warcraft: Battle Chest – Mac/Windows $39.99 SynopsisIf you’ve always been curious about the World of Warcraft saga, here’s your chance to take a look. World of Warcraft: Battle Chest includes the original World of Warcraft, the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade expansion pack and strategy guides for both. Make your way through the vast environments and master your character’s powers in this magic-filled world. Even veteran players can increase their knowledge and discover secrets for becoming even more powerful in the game. Begin the epic journey and immerse yourself in this mystical online role-playing adventure. Don’t be confused by the many choices of skills, weapons and armor both included guides provide extensive details and ways to maximize the potential of your in-game persona. You’ll have the freedom to roam the continents on your own, but joining parties and guilds makes it possible to defeat foes too strong to take on alone. The excitement grows as you learn and level up until you’ve become a sought-after force.

SteelSeries World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse – USB – 15 x Button – Retail $109.99 The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse was designed specifically for World of Warcraft by Blizzard and SteelSeries. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse provides remarkable benefits to all MMO gamers, regardless of level or play style. The mouse features incredible customization options to accommodate personal preferences. Seamless integration between software and hardware will provide an amazing in-game experience that provides superior performance, comfort and control. The World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse is fully scalable to meet and exceed the requirements of even the most discerning World of Warcraft gamer.

World of Warcraft: Battle Chest PC Game BLIZZARD $39.99 ESRB Rating: T – Teen Genre: MMORPG Features: Enter the Online Game with the complete collection of World of Warcraft. This epic value contains the original Game of the Year and its blockbuster first expansion set, The Burning Crusade. Also included are Battle Chest Guides from BradyGames, detailing the tips, tricks, and strategies that will aid your quest

NFL GameDay 2003 (Online) $28.99 Do you have what it takes to lead a football team through a season and into the playoffs? Show off your football skills with NFL Game Day 2003. Ultra realistic gameplay, amazing player models and unparalleled presentation make this an amazing football experience. Features: New, 60 frames per second gameplay puts the power and athleticism of the NFL in the palm of your hand. Feel the most responsive control over extremely detailed and fluid animation including 300 new tackles, catches and blocks. Over 70 new break tackle animations mean the outcome of each and every play will be different to ensure the highest replay value ever. Revamped catching, blocking and passing systems put you on the field and simulate the action of a real NFL game. New high resolution player models recreate the NFL player in intricate detail. All new textures and lighting make sure your favorite player jumps off your TV screen like never before. 180 new player faces allows you to see players not only celebrate, but tell their opponent how they beat them for the game winning touchdown. Challenge an opponent from anywhere in the country with the new Online Mode. Create your own buddy list and chat online while battling out on the gridiron. Kick off the 2002 season with all 32 NFL teams including the expansion Houston Texans. Updated team rosters include the latest free agent signings and draft picks from the 2002 NFL draft.