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| developer = Roblox Corporation
| developer = Roblox Corporation
| publisher = Roblox Corporation
| publisher = Roblox Corporation
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blog.roblox.com/2014/07/roblox-arrives-on-android/| title=Roblox Arrives on Android| first=Andrew| last=Haak| date=July 16, 2014| publisher=Roblox Corporation}}</ref> [[Xbox One]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/24/roblox-helps-you-make-your-own-xbox-one-games|title=Roblox Helps You Make Your Own Xbox One Games|last=McCaffrey|first=Ryan|date=September 24, 2015|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=March 12, 2016}}</ref> [[PlayStation 4]] (in development),<ref name="twitch.tv/roblox" />
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blog.roblox.com/2014/07/roblox-arrives-on-android/| title=Roblox Arrives on Android| first=Andrew| last=Haak| date=July 16, 2014| publisher=Roblox Corporation}}</ref> [[Xbox One]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/24/roblox-helps-you-make-your-own-xbox-one-games|title=Roblox Helps You Make Your Own Xbox One Games|last=McCaffrey|first=Ryan|date=September 24, 2015|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=March 12, 2016}}</ref> [[PlayStation 4]] (in development),<ref name="twitch.tv/roblox" />
| released = 2005 (beta)<br>February 2006 (public release)
| released = 2005 (beta)<br>February 2006 (public release)
<!-- The game was entirely rebuilt between July 2005 and February 2006, so don't remove that-->
<!-- The game was entirely rebuilt between July 2005 and February 2006, so don't remove that-->

Revision as of 20:22, 5 August 2017

Roblox
Roblox's logo as of 2017.[1]
Developer(s)Roblox Corporation
Publisher(s)Roblox Corporation
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android,[2] Xbox One,[3] PlayStation 4 (in development),[4]
Release2005 (beta)
February 2006 (public release)
Genre(s)Massively multiplayer online game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Roblox is a user-generated massively multiplayer online social gaming platform developed and published by the Roblox Corporation and released in 2006; the first demos of the game were tested in 2004 under the name DynaBlocks.[5][6]

In the game, players are able to design their own games within the platform.[7] Games on Roblox can be designed using a sandbox edition of the programming language Lua. Their in-game currency, Robux, can be rewarded to users and developers, or bought, and which in turn can be converted to cash through the Developer Exchange program.[8] The game is designed to be family-friendly, with the ability of running on a wide variety of devices and platforms, including PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox, and Oculus.

As of 2016, Roblox has 30 million active monthly players.[9][10][11][12]

Gameplay

One of the default character models
A fourth generation (4.0) Roblox character, a commonly used package.

Nearly all Roblox games are created by the Roblox community, with the exception of some created by Roblox staff.

Players can customize their virtual characters with various hats, head shapes, body shapes, clothing, and gear. Players may also create their own articles of clothing. They can also collect and trade items, especially limited edition collector items.

Social interaction

Players can add other people they meet in the game to their friends list. This feature was also added to games in 2011. [13][14] On February 4, 2015, a new update to replace the Friends and Best Friends system, named Friends and Followers, was introduced.[15] This update allows a maximum of 200 friends and infinite followers. Players also have the option to join community groups.[16] After joining, players can then advertise their group, participate in group relations, and set their primary group.[17][18][19]

Building

A car on a road in Roblox Studio 2013
Editing using Roblox Studio 2013

The game development and building is done via an application called Roblox Studio. It is a free program that comes with Roblox.[20]

Players use the Roblox Studio built-in building system to construct places with bricks from varying colors and shapes. Players can also browse the Roblox Library and find models and scripts, which use a derivative of Lua 5.1 .Roblox also created an Official Model Maker system where talented model makers are able to create and make their creations visible on the front page of the Roblox Library model section.[21]

Players can use the programming language Lua to dynamically change the environment of the game.[22] Also, plugins can be developed with Lua to be used in Roblox Studio.[23]

Development

Roblox was created by co-founders David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004. Roblox – a portmanteau of the words "robots" and "blocks", launched in beta version that year. The website was officially launched in 2006.[24][25][26]

The game's original currency was 'Roblox Points', which were later replaced with Robux. During 2006 and 2007, Roblox added features that included a messaging system, a search system, and avatar customization.[27] Roblox badges were first introduced on December 22, 2006.[28][29][30] In March 2007, Roblox became compliant with COPPA, with the addition of safe chat, a change that limited users under the age of thirteen to communicating by selecting predefined messages from a menu.[31][32] In August 2007, Roblox added the Builders Club, a premium membership, and applied server improvements.[33][34]

In 2011, more than 5.4 million games were created by users.[35] The first Roblox conference, called the Roblox Rally, was held on August 1, 2011, at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California. This was then renamed to the Roblox Game Conference, and then again to Bloxcon in 2013, which was held in multiple cities.[36] In December 2011, Roblox also held their first Hack Week, an annual event where Roblox developers work on innovative outside-the-box ideas for new developments to present to the company.[37][38][39]

On December 11, 2012, Roblox released an iOS version of the game.[40][41][42][43][44]

On April 1, 2012, Roblox was hacked, with hackers gaining access to moderators' accounts, reducing the price of some items in the catalog, while also taking away from or awarding Robux to users. The website was taken offline after the attacks, and administrators were able to undo all the changes, reverting the entire currency system back to before the hacks[45] In December 2013, an animation plugin was released. Users also became able to insert basic humanoids through the interface of the studio.[46]

On October 1, 2013, Roblox released the Developer's Exchange. The feature allows users to exchange their Robux into USD. The requirements to use the program are a minimum threshold of 100,000 Robux, membership in the Outrageous Builders Club, and a valid Paypal account. As of November 29, 2016, the current trade ratio is 500 Robux to $1.[47][8] [48]

On May 31, 2015, a feature named Smooth Terrain was added, increasing the graphical fidelity of the terrain and changing the physics engine from a block-oriented style to a smoother and more realistic style.[49] On November 20, 2015, Roblox was launched on Xbox One, with an initial selection of 15 games chosen by Roblox staff.[50][51] New Roblox games for this console will have to go through an approval process, and are subject to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board standards.[52][53] In Summer 2015, all combat-related badges were discontinued.[54]

On April 14, 2016, Roblox removed their secondary currency, called Tickets. During the thirty days before it was removed, in-game items were released that could only be bought with Tickets as exclusive, commemorative items. The Trade Currency system was removed to coincide with the removal of Tickets, as it was no longer required. [55] In April 2016, Roblox launched Roblox VR for Oculus Rift. At the time of release, more than ten million games were available in 3-D.[56][57] In June 2016, the company launched a version compatible with Windows 10. While the game has had a PC presence since 2004 with its web version, this is the first time it was upgraded with a standalone launcher built for Windows.[58] The following month, during an episode of The Next Level, it was announced that Roblox would be ported to the PlayStation 4.[4]

In April 2016, Roblox had 30 million monthly active users, and a peak of 900,000 concurrent users. [59] On September 28, 2016, Roblox released R15, a new joint system for avatars that uses 15 joints instead of 6.[60] Around the same time period, the safe chat feature was removed and replaced by a system based on a whitelist with a set of acceptable words for users under 13 years old and on a "black list" for other users. This new system allows users under the age of 13 to create content on the website, which they were not able to do previously.[61]

On January 10, 2017, Jazwares unveiled designs for toys based on Roblox characters. The characters are similar to Lego minifigures, having interchangeable body parts, clothes, and tools. The toys were released on February 5, 2017[62][63]

Charitable giving

Roblox has donated a portion of its sales to a number of charitable causes, including relief for the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, as well as for research into finding cures for cancer and ALS. A sale of 23,935 in-game hats generated $10,445.80 for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in just two days.[64][65][66][67][68]

References

  1. ^ Baszucki, David (January 10, 2017). "Introducing Our Next-Generation Logo". ROBLOX Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  2. ^ Haak, Andrew (July 16, 2014). "Roblox Arrives on Android". Roblox Corporation.
  3. ^ McCaffrey, Ryan (September 24, 2015). "Roblox Helps You Make Your Own Xbox One Games". IGN. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Hendrik, Jack (July 1, 2016). "The Next Level: 150k Celebration". Twitch.tv. Retrieved February 20, 2017. PS4, soon, it's in production, that has been confirmed, we are working on it for PS4.
  5. ^ Neil C., Hughes (July 15, 2016). "How This User-Generated Video Game Is Leading The Way With Innovation and VR". Inc Magazine.
  6. ^ Fennimore, Jack (July 12, 2017). "Roblox: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  7. ^ Needleman, Rafe (June 14, 2011). "Roblox: A virtual world of Lego-like blocks". CNET. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Kain, Erik (November 29, 2016). "Roblox Is Giving Young Video Game Developers A Chance To Shine (And Make Big Money)". Forbes.
  9. ^ Wolverton, Troy (October 20, 2016). "Roblox: Is unusual virtual playground the next Minecraft?". The Mercury News.
  10. ^ Lechner, Ido (December 14, 2016). "Startup Makes VR Available Across All Platforms". psfk.
  11. ^ Hughes, Neil C (July 15, 2016). "How This User-Generated Video Game Is Leading The Way With Innovation and VR". Inc.
  12. ^ Takahashi, Dean (December 20, 2016). "At 10, Roblox surpasses 30 million monthly users and 300 million hours of engagement". Venture Beat.
  13. ^ "Friends". Roblox Corporation.
  14. ^ "Status Updates, Best Friends, and Feeds, oh my". Roblox Corporation. July 30, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  15. ^ "Friends and Followers Makes ROBLOX More Social, and Even More Fun". Roblox Blog. ROBLOX Corporation. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  16. ^ Brown, Tim (July 30, 2013). "Social Feature Bonanza!". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  17. ^ Shedletsky, John (February 3, 2011). "Advertise This Group". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  18. ^ Herndon, Becky Lee (April 8, 2011). "Group Relationships Feature!". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  19. ^ Sims, Tony (February 7, 2013). "Interview With David Baszucki, Founder & CEO of Roblox". Wired. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "ROBLOX Studio page".
  21. ^ "ROBLOX Library page".
  22. ^ "Roblox as an educational program language". Kids Like. December 9, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  23. ^ McDowell, Guy (June 29, 2009). "Roblox - A Cool Lego-Based Free Virtual World for Kids". makeuseof.com. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  24. ^ "Roblox Info on BusinessWeek". BusinessWeek. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  25. ^ Herndon, Becky Lee (September 14, 2009). "Interview with Telamon". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  26. ^ "Roblox". Keen Gamer. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  27. ^ Shedletsky, John (May 8, 2007). "More Character Visuals". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  28. ^ Baszucki, David (December 22, 2007). "ROBLOX Badges". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  29. ^ Shedletsky, John (January 1, 2007). "2006 in Review". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  30. ^ Shedletsky, John (January 12, 2007). "Blox. James Blox". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  31. ^ Shedletsky, John (March 27, 2007). "A New Day Dawns…". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  32. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (June 23, 2015). "SuperAwesome and Roblox join forces on kid-safe advertising". kidscreen.
  33. ^ Shedletsky, John (August 16, 2007). "Builders Club is Here!". Roblox Corporation.
  34. ^ LaRouche, Brandon (March 31, 2012). Basic ROBLOX Lua Programming. Double Trouble Studio. p. 237. ISBN 9780985451301.
  35. ^ Baszucki, David (February 23, 2012). "5.4 Million Games Created in 2011". Roblox Corporation.
  36. ^ Fackler, Alan (June 29, 2013). "BLOXcon Is Coming Which Staff Will be Where". Roblox Corporation.
  37. ^ "Hack Week: The Series!". Roblox Corporation. January 13, 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  38. ^ Milian, Mark (December 2, 2012). "Hackathons move beyond Silicon Valley". SFGate. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  39. ^ Chaykowski, Kathleen (August 31, 2012). "Lua language helps kids create software". SFGate. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  40. ^ Bromley, Dylan (December 11, 2012). "ROBLOX Mobile Is Out of Beta: Download and Play Today!". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  41. ^ Bryan, Karen (December 26, 2012). "MMO Family: Roblox CEO David Baszucki talks mobile app, plans for the future". Massively.
  42. ^ Grubb, Jeffrey (December 12, 2012). "Roblox goes mobile in time for the holidays". VentureBeat.
  43. ^ Clark, Matt (December 12, 2012). "ROBLOX Brings Millions of User Created Games to iOS". Mac|Life.
  44. ^ Konrad, Alex (December 12, 2012). "The World's Most Popular Kids Site Takes Its Games Mobile". Forbes.
  45. ^ Baszucki, David (April 1, 2012). "Site Issues". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  46. ^ D'Amelio, Vince (October 2, 2013). "New Movements Set the Stage for Keyframe Animation System". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  47. ^ Justus, Brad (October 1, 2013). "Introducing Developer Central and the Developer Exchange". Roblox Corporation.
  48. ^ "Roblox Infographic September 2016" (PDF). Roblox. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  49. ^ "Roblox user-generated world moves from blocky terrain to smooth 3D". VentureBeat. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  50. ^ Woods, Ben (September 24, 2015). "Roblox's community-made games are coming to Xbox One". The Next Web.
  51. ^ Grubb, Jeff (September 24, 2015). "Roblox comes to Xbox One, joins Minecraft in the growing player-made content space on consoles". VentureBeat.
  52. ^ Grubb, Jeff (January 27, 2016). "Roblox launches on Xbox One with 15 player-created games — watch us play them". VentureBeat.
  53. ^ Parrish, Robin (September 25, 2015). "Roblox Comes to Xbox One In December". Tech Times.
  54. ^ "Combat badges discontinued". Roblox. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  55. ^ David, Baszucki (March 15, 2016). "Saying Goodbye to Tickets". ROBLOX. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  56. ^ Hendrik, Jack (April 22, 2016). "ROBLOX Enters the VR Space with Launch on Oculus Rift". ROBLOX. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  57. ^ Gaudiosi, John (April 15, 2016). "This Company Just Introduced 20 Million People to Oculus Rift". Fortune. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  58. ^ Grubb, Jeff (June 10, 2016). "After Xbox One success, Roblox now has a dedicated Windows 10 app". VentureBeat.
  59. ^ Takahasi, Dean (December 20, 2016). "At 10, Roblox surpasses 30 million monthly users and 300 million hours of engagement". VentureBeat.
  60. ^ [username], tarabyte. "The R15 Avatar is Here!". ROBLOX Blog. ROBLOX. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  61. ^ "Roblox". Australian Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  62. ^ Takahashi, Dean. "Roblox launches toys based on its user-generated games". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  63. ^ Evangelista, Benny. "Roblox turning user-designed video game characters into toys". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  64. ^ Shedletsky, John (January 21, 2010). "ROBLOX Players Raise $5479.00 For Haiti Disaster Relief". Roblox Blog. Roblox Corporation. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  65. ^ Baszucki, David (March 17, 2011). "Generosity by the Thousands for Japan!". Roblox Blog. Roblox Corporation. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  66. ^ Baszucki, David (February 15, 2013). "Erik Cassel Apparel: Proceeds go to Cancer Research". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  67. ^ Justus, Brad (November 18, 2013). "$3,330.30 Raised for Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda Relief". ROBLOX Corporation. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  68. ^ Hendrik, Jack (August 4, 2014). "ROBLOX Community Raises Over $6,000 for ALS Research". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
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