Posts tagged games

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 $6.62 Based on the worldwide online gaming phenomenon, Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy, this epic adventure spans the realms of the Orcs, Humans, Elves, and the Undead.

Warcraft $7.9 Warcraft

The Warcraft Civilization $17.01 An exploration of the popular online role-playing game World of Warcraft as a virtual prototype of the real human future.

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

Free Play $8.49 Free Play

Online Worlds $78.22 Virtual worlds are persistent online computer-generated environments where people can interact, whether for work or play, in a manner comparable to the real world. The most popular current example is World of Warcraft, a massively multiplayer online game with eleven million subscribers. However, other virtual worlds, notably Second Life, are not games at all but internet-based collaboration contexts in which people can create virtual objects, simulated architecture, and working groups. This book brings together an international team of highly accomplished authors to examine the phenomena of virtual worlds, using a range of theories and methodologies to discover the principles that are making virtual worlds increasingly popular, and which are establishing them as a major sector of human-centred computing.

World Of Warcraft $8.93 As the 9 million players of World of Warcraft (the most popular multiplayer online game) eagerly await the games new expansion, WRATH OF THE LICH KING, WildStorm and Blizzard have created this hardcover graphic novel that takes readers inside this new realm.Written by Blizzard Creative Director Micky Neilson and featuring art by Ludo Lullabi and Tony Washington, this rollicking adventure follows as the Lich King’’s plague of undeath ravages the human kingdom of Lordaeron. Hidden away, a mighty blade is forged from a dark orb! In the hands of Highlord Alexandros Mograine, the blade will become legend. In time, both blade and man will become . . . Ashbringer.

World of Warcraft : The Adventure Game $7.92 In the World of Warcraft, there are many heroes and many perils. As each foe falls, a new enemy is revealed – as each hero falters, a new champion stands forth. Now, new heroes have risen to take their place in the Hall of Legends! The Brandon Lightstone character pack contains: 1 complete new character for World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game, including a miniature, 4 character cards, 9 character tokens, a complete 23-card ability deck, 28 new challenge cards, 4 new quests, and 4 new discovery tokens to add to the game. A copy of World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game is required to play.

World Of Warcraft: The Adventure Game $7.27 In the World of Warcraft, there are many heroes and many perils. As each foe falls, a new enemy is revealed – as each hero falters, a new champion stands forth. Now, new heroes have risen to take their place in the Hall of Legends! The Dongon Swiftblade character pack contains: 1 complete new character for World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game, including a miniature, 4 character cards, 9 character tokens, a complete 23-card ability deck, 28 new challenge cards, 4 new quests, and 4 new discovery tokens to add to the game. A copy of World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game is required to play.

World of Warcraft : The Adventure Game $7.76 In the World of Warcraft, there are many heroes and many perils. As each foe falls, a new enemy is revealed – as each hero falters, a new champion stands forth. Now, new heroes have risen to take their place in the Hall of Legends! The Zowka Shattertusk character pack contains: 1 complete new character for World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game, including a miniature, 4 character cards, 9 character tokens, a complete 23-card ability deck, 28 new challenge card, 4 new quests, and 4 new discovery tokens to add to the game. A copy of World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game is required to play.

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.

Preschool Children and Free Play $72.77 Preschool Children and Free Play

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.

Hacking World of Warcraft $18.99 Get crafty! Veteran WoW player and creator of the most popular World of Warcraft add-on (Atlas) Dan Gilbert guides you through making your stay in the world of Azeroth more exciting. Whether you’re human, dwarf, elf, or orc, you’ll feast on numerous unique hacks such as combat, artwork and model, map, interface, loot, chat, raid, PvP, and more. You’ll also learn to create and use skins and themes, write your own macros, create add-ons, and work with frames and XML so that you can improve your experience with the hottest online game on the planet–planet Earth, that is.

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 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.

WarCraft 1 $7.15 WarCraft 1