What is an Internet game?
Internet games are games that make use of Internet technology to facilitate game play. There are a very wide variety of Internet games, and like the technology they rely on, they are rapidly evolving. For the purposes of this site, Internet games break down into roughly 4 categories:
- Games played by email.
- Games which can be played directly in a browser window simply by visiting a Web address.
- Text-based games played using IRC (Internet Relay Chat), Telnet, a MUD client, a Web-based forum, or something similar.
- Highly graphical video games that require stand-alone software packages and permit users to play with and/or against each other over an Internet connection, such as Counter-Strike, EverQuest, and World of Warcraft.
When did Internet gaming begin?
Although QuakeWorld did a lot to popularize online gaming in 1996, the Internet was clearly being used to play email games and MUDs (Multi User Dungeons) even as the Internet itself was still in it's infancy. Roy Trubshaw and Richard Bartle developed the first MUD at Essex University in 1978.
What do I need to start playing Internet games?
The first thing you will need is obviously an Internet connection. Then you will need to choose from a growing variety of hardware, ranging from personal computers to consoles, to play games on. This will depend in part on which games you want to play. Finally you will need the software that the game requires, and, if it is an online-only game, an account with the game providers. In some cases, a service such as GameSpy or Xfire is the most convenient way to find active game servers or hook up with other players.
What are the most popular Internet games?
If you include free games and browser games, it is difficult to answer this concisely. Card games, pool, arcade games, and gambling games are all extremely popular among Internet users. A short list of commercial titles that have been very successful online would include Half-Life, Quake, Counter-Strike, Ultima, Lineage, EverQuest, and World of Warcraft.
How do Internet games work?
This depends largely on what kind of game you're talking about, but in a nutshell, they use Internet technology to either allow people to play a game directly in a Web browser, allow two or more players to participate in the same game from remote physical locations, or both. If you want more technical information on Internet protocols, networking, and computer network hardware, try our Computer Networking site.
More Questions?
Posting on the forum is the best way to get a quick answer. Registering for the forum is easy and free. If you're not already a member click on "Register for Free!" The forum is a great place to exchange strategy tips, post the URLs of your favorite game sites, suggest an article, or just bring something to the attention of the online gaming community.
