6 ms·

I'm having a hard time understanding what roblox is, even when looking for a gameplay video. For an older analogy, would it be fair to compare it to something

I'm having a hard time understanding what roblox is, even when looking for a gameplay video. For an older analogy, would it be fair to compare it to something like TinyMUCK with graphics?

ehsankia 7y ago
Same here. I generally am fairly well versed in games and tech, even the more obscure stuff, but I'm surprised about how little I've seen about this game over the years. I've heard the name here and there but never really looked into it. So far, it looks close to VR chat? I'd also like if someone could explain: 1. What the appeal is (I'm guessing mostly community?) 2. How do they monetize (purchasable cosmetic content?) 3. Where most of the demographic is (country, age, gender)
- abrookewood 7y ago
  So it's a browser based gaming 'portal', that includes chat, profiles, cosmetic items etc and which allows users to create their own basic games. The appeal is that the games are fairly simple, often social and don't require a ton of investment (i.e. casual). They make money on in game currency which can upgrade both cosmetic and non-cosmetic items in both a users profile and in-games. Demographic is probably pre-teen, both genders.
  - ehsankia 7y ago
    Ah, did not realize it was a browser game. I can see how that really increases the demographics, thanks!
- DanBC 7y ago
  Roblox is an umbrella term that covers the programming stuff and the game portal stuff. It's a game engine that allows people to create games using a visual language builder. Here's the Roblox quick start: https://developer.roblox.com/en-us/quick-start https://developer.roblox.com/en-us/quick-start It's also a multi-platform portal to games developed by users and small companies. A user will load roblox, and then select a game to play, and then the roblox backend will find a server with available slots and join the player to that game. There are a lot of microtransations. These can be used to buy player avatar decoration items such as clothing. They can also be "pay to win" items in games. There are very many "incremental games", usually called Something-Tycoon. The player hits a button a few times to increment a counter, then uses that counter to buy another button which increments the counter faster. The IAPs in these games are sometimes in the form of pets that multiply the counter-increments. If you get a chance have a look at something like Bubble Gum Simulator. This combines an incremental game with an irritating parkour, and then a bunch of lootbox mechanics on top. Firstly, try to find this by searching the roblox website. https://www.roblox.com/games/?Keyword=bubblegum https://www.roblox.com/games/?Keyword=bubblegum Most of those are not the game I'm talking about. This is some indication of the piss-poor quality control on Roblox. This is the game I'm talking about. Here's their store. https://www.roblox.com/games/2512643572/HUGE-SALE-Bubble-Gum-Simulator#!/store https://www.roblox.com/games/2512643572/HUGE-SALE-Bubble-Gum... If I wanted to buy everything it would cost 3550 robux in the 50% off sale or 7100 robux at the normal price. In the UK on Xbox One I can buy 400 robux for £4.99, or 4500 robux for £48.99 or 10,000 robux for £99.99. Here's some gameplay of Bubble Gum Simulator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-H1eXg9DIs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-H1eXg9DIs (I haven't watched all of this).
  - ehsankia 7y ago
    I went to try it out but realized you need to install something to play, but that video did an amazing job. It seems like some of these minigames combine every sort of addictive game mechanic that exists, with saturated bright shiny colors. Perfect combination for getting kids to spend hours and hours playing.
Bootwizard 7y ago
It's basically this generation's Second Life, but targeted at kids...seemingly without strict rules on user created content.

I'm having a hard time understanding what roblox is, even when looking for a gameplay video. For an older analogy, would it be fair to compare it to something like TinyMUCK with graphics?

ehsankia 7y ago

Same here. I generally am fairly well versed in games and tech, even the more obscure stuff, but I'm surprised about how little I've seen about this game over the years. I've heard the name here and there but never really looked into it. So far, it looks close to VR chat? I'd also like if someone could explain: 1. What the appeal is (I'm guessing mostly community?) 2. How do they monetize (purchasable cosmetic content?) 3. Where most of the demographic is (country, age, gender)

abrookewood 7y ago
So it's a browser based gaming 'portal', that includes chat, profiles, cosmetic items etc and which allows users to create their own basic games. The appeal is that the games are fairly simple, often social and don't require a ton of investment (i.e. casual). They make money on in game currency which can upgrade both cosmetic and non-cosmetic items in both a users profile and in-games. Demographic is probably pre-teen, both genders.
- ehsankia 7y ago
  Ah, did not realize it was a browser game. I can see how that really increases the demographics, thanks!
DanBC 7y ago
Roblox is an umbrella term that covers the programming stuff and the game portal stuff. It's a game engine that allows people to create games using a visual language builder. Here's the Roblox quick start: https://developer.roblox.com/en-us/quick-start https://developer.roblox.com/en-us/quick-start It's also a multi-platform portal to games developed by users and small companies. A user will load roblox, and then select a game to play, and then the roblox backend will find a server with available slots and join the player to that game. There are a lot of microtransations. These can be used to buy player avatar decoration items such as clothing. They can also be "pay to win" items in games. There are very many "incremental games", usually called Something-Tycoon. The player hits a button a few times to increment a counter, then uses that counter to buy another button which increments the counter faster. The IAPs in these games are sometimes in the form of pets that multiply the counter-increments. If you get a chance have a look at something like Bubble Gum Simulator. This combines an incremental game with an irritating parkour, and then a bunch of lootbox mechanics on top. Firstly, try to find this by searching the roblox website. https://www.roblox.com/games/?Keyword=bubblegum https://www.roblox.com/games/?Keyword=bubblegum Most of those are not the game I'm talking about. This is some indication of the piss-poor quality control on Roblox. This is the game I'm talking about. Here's their store. https://www.roblox.com/games/2512643572/HUGE-SALE-Bubble-Gum-Simulator#!/store https://www.roblox.com/games/2512643572/HUGE-SALE-Bubble-Gum... If I wanted to buy everything it would cost 3550 robux in the 50% off sale or 7100 robux at the normal price. In the UK on Xbox One I can buy 400 robux for £4.99, or 4500 robux for £48.99 or 10,000 robux for £99.99. Here's some gameplay of Bubble Gum Simulator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-H1eXg9DIs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-H1eXg9DIs (I haven't watched all of this).
- ehsankia 7y ago
  I went to try it out but realized you need to install something to play, but that video did an amazing job. It seems like some of these minigames combine every sort of addictive game mechanic that exists, with saturated bright shiny colors. Perfect combination for getting kids to spend hours and hours playing.

Bootwizard 7y ago

It's basically this generation's Second Life, but targeted at kids...seemingly without strict rules on user created content.