Roblox
| Roblox | |
|---|---|
 Roblox's Logo | |
| Developer(s) | Roblox Corporation |
| Publisher(s) | Roblox Corporation |
| Designer(s) | Roblox Corporation |
| Engine | ImPlicitNgine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | June 2005 |
| Genre(s) | MMOG, Physics Sandbox |
| Mode(s) | Online multiplayer, Solo editing |
Roblox (stylized as "RŌBLOX") is a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) virtual playground and workshop designed for children aged 6 and over. It can be played for free, though several features are omitted unless you purchase a subscription to the game. The game is made up of building bricks of various shapes and sizes. Players can build anything and share their creations with the Roblox community.[1] Roblox users script the places they create with a modified version (which is commonly reffered to as RBX.lua) of Lua 5.1.[2] Roblox is part of the TRUSTe privacy program[3] and the Better Business Bureau.[4][5]
History and development
Roblox was created by David Baszucki in Silicon Valley, California and is based in Portola Valley, California.[6] The name is a portmanteau of the words "Robots" and "Blocks".[7] In mid-2007, Roblox considered the concept of a Megablocks-style character to avoid infringements on any copyrights held by Lego Group and allow for more complex clothing such as hairpieces to blend with the character.[8] This was however rejected later for the minifigure design which was already in use. In mid-2008, Roblox added a feature to allow non-registered users to enter places with restricted functionality.[9] Roblox has raised $2.3 million in funding after an equity issue.[10] On 21 January 2010, Roblox donated $5472 to relief efforts for the Haitian Earthquake, allowing players to buy one of two virtual items: the Red Hat for Haiti, which contributed 65 cents for every person who bought it, or the Blue Hat for Haiti that contributed 10 cents for every person who bought it.[11] Roblox has recently been featured on Click, the BBC’s flagship technology programme.[12]
Character Customization
Players customize their characters with items in the Catalog. The Catalog contains Roblox created, and user created items such as clothing, images, models, and gear.
Models
Players can add their creations to the Roblox catalog, where the model can be commented on, taken (if it is public domain) and favourited by other players. Dependent on what the model contains, the model's icon differs.
Places
Players in Roblox have the ability to construct up to 100 places, depending on membership type, using an unlimited supply of virtual building blocks. Bricks can then be interacted with by a Lua script. Competitive places are the most common games.
Games
Users have a choice of over 8,000,000 (eight million) possible games to play, (based on number of users, as of 5-17-2010) varying in design from what the creators of the places want to make. Most of them are made from free models (sometimes referred to as Public Domain) and are obstacle games, otherwise known as obbys.
Roblox Studio
Roblox Studio is a program very similar to Microsoft Visual Studio, used to build and test places.[13] Users use this program in order to do things such as scripting and advanced building.
Economy
Roblox has its own virtual economy. Players earn and trade money currencies, called Robux and Tickets. Users are awarded Tickets when other users visit their virtual places, and when they log in once a day. Users can sell their creations to others for a price or for free. Members paying for a Builders Club subscription receive an additional daily allowance of Robux every day, even if they don't log in. Also, Builders Club is a paid service which costs $5.95 a month. Turbo Builders Club is 11.95 a month with added benefits. Outrageous Builders Club is $19.95 a month.
See also
- Blockland - Similar online computer game
- LEGO Universe - An upcoming MMOG in development by NetDevil, endorsed by LEGO.
- List of MMOGs
References
- ^ "Roblox Game Review - MMO Hut". MMOHut. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
- ^ "Roblox as an educational program language". Kids Like. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- ^ "Roblox at TRUSTe". TRUSTe. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
- ^ "BBB Review of ROBLOX in Redwood City, California". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ "Better Business Bureau Accredited". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Roblox Info on BuisnessWeek". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "Interview with Telamon". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "Roblox Developers' Journal >> More Character Visuals". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- ^ "Be Our Guest; Buy Our ROBUX". Roblox Corporation. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Roblox Raises 2.3M". VentureBeat. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "ROBLOX Uses Virtual Goods to Help Kids Donate to Haiti". Earthtimes. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "Webscape on games site Roblox and Please Rob Me". BBC News. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ "Roblox - A Cool Lego-Based Free Virtual World for Kids". makeuseof.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.