Roblox: Difference between revisions

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|publisher = Roblox Corporation
|publisher = Roblox Corporation
|distributor = Roblox Corporation
|distributor = Roblox Corporation
|engine = [[OGRE|OGRE3D]]<br />ImPlicitNgine and G3D
|engine = [[OGRE|OGRE3D]]<br />ImPlicitNgine


|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Windows XP|XP]]/[[Windows Vista|Vista]]/[[Windows 7|7]], [[Mac OS X]]
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Windows XP|XP]]/[[Windows Vista|Vista]]/[[Windows 7|7]], [[Mac OS X]]
|released = 2006 (Alpha/Beta in 2005)
|released = 2005
|genre = [[MMOG]], [[MMORPG]], Physics-based [[Sandbox game|sandbox]]
|genre = [[MMOG]], [[MMORPG]], Physics-based [[Sandbox game|sandbox]]
|modes = [[Multiplayer]]
|modes = [[Multiplayer]]
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}}
}}


'''Roblox''' is a [[massively multiplayer online game]] (MMOG) user-generated virtual playground and workshop designed for children aged 7 and over. Players can create virtual worlds (named ''Places'') with blocks of various shapes, sizes, and materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmohut.com/browser-games/roblox|title=Roblox Game Review - MMO Hut|publisher=MMOHut|accessdate=13 November 2009}}</ref> User-created worlds can have interactive {{Peacock term|date=March 2012}} content with [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]], a scripting language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kidslike.info/roblox_using_roblox_as_an_educational_programming_language |title=Roblox as an educational program language |publisher=Kids Like |accessdate=24 January 2009}}</ref>
'''Roblox''' is a [[massively multiplayer online game]] (MMOG) user-generated virtual playground and workshop designed for children aged 7 and over. Players can create virtual worlds with blocks of various shapes, sizes, and materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmohut.com/browser-games/roblox|title=Roblox Game Review - MMO Hut|publisher=MMOHut|accessdate=13 November 2009}}</ref> User-created worlds can have interactive {{Peacock term|date=March 2012}} content with [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]], a scripting language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kidslike.info/roblox_using_roblox_as_an_educational_programming_language |title=Roblox as an educational program language |publisher=Kids Like |accessdate=24 January 2009}}</ref>


Players also have the ability to customize their virtual character with hats and clothing and communicate with one another through groups, built-in instant messaging, and private messaging. Like its competitor ''[[Minecraft]]'', ''Roblox'' has been claimed to be community-driven as virtual worlds are created and hosted by players of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20070969-250/roblox-a-virtual-world-of-lego-like-blocks/ |title=Roblox: A virtual world of Lego-like blocks |publisher=[[CNET]] |accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
Players also have the ability to customize their virtual character with hats and clothing and communicate with one another through groups, built-in instant messaging, in-game chatting, and private messaging. Like its competitor ''[[Minecraft]]'', ''Roblox'' has been claimed to be community-driven as virtual worlds are created and hosted by players of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20070969-250/roblox-a-virtual-world-of-lego-like-blocks/ |title=Roblox: A virtual world of Lego-like blocks |publisher=[[CNET]] |accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>


''Roblox'' is funded by ''Altos Ventures'' and ''[[First Round Capital]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2011/06/14/kids-game-site-roblox-raises-4-million.html |title=Kids game site Roblox raises $4 million |publisher=San Francisco Business Journal |accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref>
''Roblox'' is funded by ''Altos Ventures'' and ''[[First Round Capital]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2011/06/14/kids-game-site-roblox-raises-4-million.html |title=Kids game site Roblox raises $4 million |publisher=San Francisco Business Journal |accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref>
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===Character customization===
===Character customization===
Players can customize their virtual characters with [[Hat|hats]], head shapes, body shapes, [[clothing]], and a handheld item, or known as gear. Although publishing new hats, head shapes, body shapes, gear is prohibited unless if uploaded by an developer, clothing in the virtual catalog is made by the players.
Players can customize their virtual characters with [[Hat|hats]], head shapes, body shapes, [[clothing]], and a handheld item, or known as gear. Although publishing new hats, head shapes, body shapes, or gear is prohibited unless if uploaded by an administrator, clothing in the virtual catalog is made by the players.


===Social interaction===
===Social interaction===
Players have been granted the option join community groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2009/07/social-feature-bonanza/|title=Social Feature Bonanza!|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref> Since its release many updates to groups have been made, such as group advertising<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/02/advertise-this-group/|title=Advertise This Group|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>, group relations<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/04/group-relationships-feature/|title=Group Relationships Feature!|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>, and primary groups<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/04/group-theory-2/|title=Group Theory|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>.
Players have been granted the option join community groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2009/07/social-feature-bonanza/|title=Social Feature Bonanza!|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref> Since its release many updates to groups have been made, such as group advertising<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/02/advertise-this-group/|title=Advertise This Group|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>, group relations<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/04/group-relationships-feature/|title=Group Relationships Feature!|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>, and primary groups<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2011/04/group-theory-2/|title=Group Theory|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>.


There is a feature where a player has a choice to organize friends into a category for best friends. Unlike the friends list with no limits of how many people it can hold, the best friends list is limited to a number. Players can set their profile status for their best friends to view on their news feed, and best friends and friends alike can view statuses when going to their profile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2009/07/status-updates-best-friends-and-feeds-oh-my/|title=Status Updates, Best Friends, and Feeds, oh my|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>
Players can organize friends into a category for best friends. Unlike the friends list with no limits of how many people it can hold, the best friends list is limited to a number. Players can set their profile status for their best friends to view on their news feed, and best friends and friends alike can view statuses when going to their profile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2009/07/status-updates-best-friends-and-feeds-oh-my/|title=Status Updates, Best Friends, and Feeds, oh my|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=2012-02-23}}</ref>


===Game development===
===Game development===
[[File:RobloxMain.png|thumb|right|Roblox Studio editing ''Ultimate Paintball''.]]
[[File:RobloxMain.png|thumb|right|Roblox Studio editing ''Ultimate Paintball''.]]
⚫
Players construct games with building blocks, varying in size, shape, and color using Roblox Studio, a software resembling [[Microsoft Visual Studio]] used for building and Lua programming. Plugins can be made in Lua for Studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/roblox-lego-meets-webkinz-equals-fun-games/|title=Roblox - A Cool Lego-Based Free Virtual World for Kids|publisher=makeuseof.com|accessdate=11 October 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Roblox Terrain.png|thumb|Voxel Terrain in Roblox]]
⚫
Players construct games with building blocks, varying in size, shape, and color using Roblox Studio, a software resembling [[Microsoft Visual Studio]] used for complicated {{Peacock term|date=March 2012}} building and Lua programming. There is also something called plugins that users can code in Lua (unsandboxed) to help the user do repetitive actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/roblox-lego-meets-webkinz-equals-fun-games/|title=Roblox - A Cool Lego-Based Free Virtual World for Kids|publisher=makeuseof.com|accessdate=11 October 2009}}</ref>


===Economy===
===Economy===
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Robux is earned daily by premium members, in varying amounts, depending on the user's type of membership. Robux can be earned through sale of virtual goods or can also be purchased with real money.
Robux is earned daily by premium members, in varying amounts, depending on the user's type of membership. Robux can be earned through sale of virtual goods or can also be purchased with real money.


On November 21, 2008, the ''Roblox'' currency exchange was introduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/440|title=It’s the Economy…|accessdate=19 July 2010}}</ref>
Currency can be converted from tickets to robux and vice-versa through the trade currency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/440|title=It’s the Economy…|accessdate=19 July 2010}}</ref>


==Upgrades==
==Upgrades==
Although ''Roblox'' claims to be [[F2P|free-to-play]], ''Roblox'' gives the option for players to pay for premium upgrades such as Builders Club. There are three versions of Builders Club: '''Builders Club''', '''Turbo Builders Club''', and '''Outrageous Builders Club'''. Builders Club allows players to have more places and get exclusive {{Peacock term|date=March 2012}} items.
Although ''Roblox'' is [[F2P|free-to-play]], ''Roblox'' gives the option for players to pay for premium membership, referred to Builders Club. There are three versions of Builders Club: '''Builders Club''', '''Turbo Builders Club''', and '''Outrageous Builders Club'''. Builders Club allows players to inherit more features than what a free-to-play player would be able to do.
===Game cards===
⚫
''Roblox'' gives people the option to pay by purchasing game cards,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/3112|title=ROBLOX Cards now available at Toys R Us! |publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=5 October 2010 | date=26 September 2010}}</ref> which can be be used for upgrades such as Builders Club or Robux. Currently, the cards are only sold in the US, Canada and the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/3085|title=ROBLOX Cards Now Available at 7-Eleven! |publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=5 October 2010 | date=1 October 2010}}</ref>


==Reception==
===Game cards===
⚫
''Roblox'' gives people the option to pay by purchasing game cards,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/3112|title=ROBLOX Cards now available at Toys R Us! |publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=5 October 2010 | date=26 September 2010}}</ref> which can be be used for upgrades such as Builders Club or Robux. Currently, the cards are only sold in the US, Canada and the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.roblox.com/archives/3085|title=ROBLOX Cards Now Available at 7-Eleven! |publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=5 October 2010 | date=1 October 2010}}</ref>
Although ''Roblox'' generally has okay reception, it has been criticized numerous times because users can swear and get it away with it, as users have the possibility to exploit the game files and modify it so you can copy (without permission) one's place. It also has been known that the community can dislike one another, and the internet slang word ''[[Newbie|noob]]'' has been used as an insult. Like all forums, [[flame wars]] in the forums have occasionally broken out.
In mid-2011, a feature named Builders Club only games was introduced. The developers received large amounts of criticism from the users from the update, usually expressed on the forums. Also, the YouTube video advertises ROBLOX as free, but quite a lot of features on ROBLOX require the user to purchase a membership.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:10, 25 March 2012

Roblox
Roblox logo
The Roblox logo
Developer(s)Roblox Corporation
Publisher(s)Roblox Corporation
EngineOGRE3D
ImPlicitNgine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X
Release2005
Genre(s)MMOG, MMORPG, Physics-based sandbox
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Roblox is a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) user-generated virtual playground and workshop designed for children aged 7 and over. Players can create virtual worlds with blocks of various shapes, sizes, and materials.[1] User-created worlds can have interactive [peacock prose] content with Lua, a scripting language.[2]

Players also have the ability to customize their virtual character with hats and clothing and communicate with one another through groups, built-in instant messaging, in-game chatting, and private messaging. Like its competitor Minecraft, Roblox has been claimed to be community-driven as virtual worlds are created and hosted by players of the game.[3]

Roblox is funded by Altos Ventures and First Round Capital.[4]

History and development

Roblox was created by founder and co-founder David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004.[5] The name was a portmanteau of the words robots and blocks.[6]

In mid-2007, Roblox considered a new character concept to allow for more complex clothing such as hairpieces to blend with the character.[7] This was however rejected later for the minifigure design which was already in use. Since 2010, Roblox started creating body shapes which players could buy using virtual currency.[8]

Gameplay

Roblox lets its users customize their own world with a sandboxed edition of Lua and also lets them use marketing and commerce with a virtual stock market primarily to convert currencies.[9]

Character customization

Players can customize their virtual characters with hats, head shapes, body shapes, clothing, and a handheld item, or known as gear. Although publishing new hats, head shapes, body shapes, or gear is prohibited unless if uploaded by an administrator, clothing in the virtual catalog is made by the players.

Social interaction

Players have been granted the option join community groups.[10] Since its release many updates to groups have been made, such as group advertising[11], group relations[12], and primary groups[13].

Players can organize friends into a category for best friends. Unlike the friends list with no limits of how many people it can hold, the best friends list is limited to a number. Players can set their profile status for their best friends to view on their news feed, and best friends and friends alike can view statuses when going to their profile.[14]

Game development

File:RobloxMain.png
Roblox Studio editing Ultimate Paintball.

Players construct games with building blocks, varying in size, shape, and color using Roblox Studio, a software resembling Microsoft Visual Studio used for building and Lua programming. Plugins can be made in Lua for Studio.[15]

Economy

Roblox has ownership of a virtual economy, with two different types of currency: tickets and robux.

Tickets are earned when other users visit a person's places, the first time a player logs in each day, and when other users buy the player's virtual items. These items include shirts, pants, and t-shirts. They can be sold for either a set price in tickets, or in robux, allowing the buyer to choose which currency they pay with.

Robux is earned daily by premium members, in varying amounts, depending on the user's type of membership. Robux can be earned through sale of virtual goods or can also be purchased with real money.

Currency can be converted from tickets to robux and vice-versa through the trade currency.[16]

Upgrades

Although Roblox is free-to-play, Roblox gives the option for players to pay for premium membership, referred to Builders Club. There are three versions of Builders Club: Builders Club, Turbo Builders Club, and Outrageous Builders Club. Builders Club allows players to inherit more features than what a free-to-play player would be able to do.

Game cards

Roblox gives people the option to pay by purchasing game cards,[17] which can be be used for upgrades such as Builders Club or Robux. Currently, the cards are only sold in the US, Canada and the UK.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Roblox Game Review - MMO Hut". MMOHut. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Roblox as an educational program language". Kids Like. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Roblox: A virtual world of Lego-like blocks". CNET. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Kids game site Roblox raises $4 million". San Francisco Business Journal. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Roblox Info on BusinessWeek". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Interview with Telamon". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Roblox Developers' Journal >> More Character Visuals". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Do You Need Any Body?". Retrieved 11-07-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Roblox Lets Kids Build Their Own Worlds Online". Forbes. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  10. ^ "Social Feature Bonanza!". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  11. ^ "Advertise This Group". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  12. ^ "Group Relationships Feature!". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  13. ^ "Group Theory". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  14. ^ "Status Updates, Best Friends, and Feeds, oh my". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  15. ^ "Roblox - A Cool Lego-Based Free Virtual World for Kids". makeuseof.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  16. ^ "It's the Economy…". Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  17. ^ "ROBLOX Cards now available at Toys R Us!". Roblox Corporation. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  18. ^ "ROBLOX Cards Now Available at 7-Eleven!". Roblox Corporation. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
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