Monday 2 May 2011
The many applications of the internet: Gaming and Free time - A paradox?
The many applications of the internet: Gaming and Free time - A paradox?: "First of all, a big hello to blogger, and a thank you to you, the reader. The internet is a fast evolving collection of information a..."
Gaming and Free time - A paradox?
First of all, a big hello to blogger, and a thank you to you, the reader.
The internet is a fast evolving collection of information and a portal for people like myself to enjoy a spot of casual gaming, or others to take part in a more immersive gaming experience.
I, like many others, enjoy a fair amount of free time, but what to do with it is the real question. Now, blogging is one way, hence this material you are reading, but another I have discovered is the vast array of free online games websites. The plethora of genres makes this low intensity gaming available to anyone, and websites such as www.miniclip.com and www.freeonlinegames.com are a great place to start. The attraction is simple. You are bored, a game is entertaining. You play for 10 minutes and move on. It is simple and, moreover, fun!
However, where the gaming online really takes off is massive multiplayer online role playing games, or MMORPGs. These titans, such as Runescape and World of Warcraft have been running for quite some time, and have a huge fan base (peak time on Runescape can have upward of 250,000 people playing), but what makes them so attractive? The answer is simple. Ease.
"EASE?!?!" I hear the hardcore Mages and Warriors amongst you cry! Yes, ease. Your levels have not been achieved by skill. The thing that sets players apart on these MMORPGS is time. If you are willing to sit in front of a screen for extended periods of time, even hours, you will become better than most on these games, and that is the attraction of the game : the more time you spend on it, the better you become. You could argue that that is the case with anything, however, most games require some tiny level of skill, but these MMORPGs require none. All they need is time.
This blog started with me talking about free time and how I use it. However, when you start playing an MMORPG, I argue that the time is no longer free. What may start as a leisure activity may become a compulsion, 'One more hour here, and I'll be able to do that quest'...
The world of online gaming is a fun one, and a resource that is mostly harmless and enjoyable. However, we must regulate ourselves, to make sure that although it is awesome to have a skill cape in Runecrafting, we can do other things than game.
Thank you for reading, and look out for the next blog, on how the internet has changed our outlook on media!
Yours merrily,
Part time genius.
The internet is a fast evolving collection of information and a portal for people like myself to enjoy a spot of casual gaming, or others to take part in a more immersive gaming experience.
I, like many others, enjoy a fair amount of free time, but what to do with it is the real question. Now, blogging is one way, hence this material you are reading, but another I have discovered is the vast array of free online games websites. The plethora of genres makes this low intensity gaming available to anyone, and websites such as www.miniclip.com and www.freeonlinegames.com are a great place to start. The attraction is simple. You are bored, a game is entertaining. You play for 10 minutes and move on. It is simple and, moreover, fun!
However, where the gaming online really takes off is massive multiplayer online role playing games, or MMORPGs. These titans, such as Runescape and World of Warcraft have been running for quite some time, and have a huge fan base (peak time on Runescape can have upward of 250,000 people playing), but what makes them so attractive? The answer is simple. Ease.
"EASE?!?!" I hear the hardcore Mages and Warriors amongst you cry! Yes, ease. Your levels have not been achieved by skill. The thing that sets players apart on these MMORPGS is time. If you are willing to sit in front of a screen for extended periods of time, even hours, you will become better than most on these games, and that is the attraction of the game : the more time you spend on it, the better you become. You could argue that that is the case with anything, however, most games require some tiny level of skill, but these MMORPGs require none. All they need is time.
This blog started with me talking about free time and how I use it. However, when you start playing an MMORPG, I argue that the time is no longer free. What may start as a leisure activity may become a compulsion, 'One more hour here, and I'll be able to do that quest'...
The world of online gaming is a fun one, and a resource that is mostly harmless and enjoyable. However, we must regulate ourselves, to make sure that although it is awesome to have a skill cape in Runecrafting, we can do other things than game.
Thank you for reading, and look out for the next blog, on how the internet has changed our outlook on media!
Yours merrily,
Part time genius.
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