Internet Games
A terrorist from the online game Counter-Strike: Source
Internet games refer to online video games that are played over the Internet. These include browser games, play-by-email games, MMORPGs, MUDs, and competitive multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Halo. Internet games usually allow people to play together, although in the case of some browser games this is sometimes limited to a shared high score list. Many Internet games have associated online communities, making Internet games a form of social activity beyond single player games.
Earlier in PC Gaming
Most online games in late 1980's were MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon/Dimension). These text based games served as entertainment to early users of the Internet who spent time in BBS forums. Scripted AI simulated the fantasy tabletop role-playing game rules and dice system from games like Dungeons & Dragons. (D) from MUD refers a tribute to this game. Players could connect to scripted fantasy worlds inspired by other fantasy settings, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's popular Lord of the Rings series. During that time mostly 4800b and 9600b modems were used to make proper connection to BBS in order to join MUDs.
Beginning of the Modern Online PC Gaming
Since late 90's online gamers are growing in positively due to access to broadband internet in countries. Especially in early developed countries like Sweden, Netherlands, Germany in Europe, US in America and as same fast growing Asia. First gaming communities established to play online with other real players all around the world.
Timeline
1995
- Many PC games published include the feature of playing the game in a local area network.
1997
- Blizzard Entertainment launches an online gaming service Battle.net, at the time making it possible to play Diablo in the internet.
- Half-Life: Counter-Strike is published and becomes very popular.
- The first MMORPG, Ultima Online is published. The game's subscription based membership costs around 10 dollars per month at the time.
1998
- StarCraft is published and becomes the most selling game. Online battles are officially started at Battle.net for Diablo and Starcraft. Profitable success of Blizzard encourages developers to develop online PC gaming further.
1999
- StarCraft is incredibly popular in South Korea. StarCraft matches are broadcasted on Korean television.
2000
- WCG Challenge tournament has held in Korea with the participation of 49 countries. Players from all around the world were met for the first time. Most of them knew each other from gaming networks such as Battle.net or Quake.net. IRC is the main communication tool for online gaming related discussions and online match schedulings. 64/128K ADSL, Cable modems are in favorite. Y2K Syndrome.
2001
- First inter-continentally successful video game console networking devices were brought to market by sixth generation era gaming consoles, as Sony released a network adaptor for PlayStation 2 in Japan (on 2002 in North America and on 2003 in Europe), Microsoft supplied their newly released Xbox with a built-in internet connector and Nintendo added the networking support for GameCube.
2004
- Half-Life 2, along with it's official mod Counter-Strike:Source is released.