Roblox: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:57, 30 November 2013

Revision as of 21:03, 30 November 2013

Line 13:

| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[iPad|iPad 2+]], [[iPhone|iPhone 4+]], [[iPod touch|iPod touch 5th generation]]

| released = 2005

| genre = [[MMORPG]], Physicsphysics-based [[Sandboxsandbox game|sandbox]]

| modes = [[Multiplayer]]

| media = [[Digital distribution]]

| coding = [[Lua 5.1]]

}}

'''Roblox''', stylized as '''RŌBLOX''', is a successful [[MMORG|massively multiplayer online game]] created and marketed toward children and teenagers aged 8–18. In the game, players are able to create their own [[virtual world]], in which they or other [[online]] members may enter and socialize within the blocks of varying shapes, sizes, and [[color]]s.<ref name="cnet">{{cite news|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|date = 14 June 2011|last = Needleman|first = Rafe}}</ref> Games on Roblox can be [[script (computing)|script]]ed using a [[Sandbox (computer security)|sandboxed]] edition of [[Lua (programming language)|Lua 5.1]], to affect events that occur in-game and create different [[scenario]]s. The game has been known to be quite educational as children will learn computer programming, stocks, ratios, the advertising world and marketing throughout their choices on Roblox{{Citation needed|date = November 2013}}. The company's main source of [[revenue]] comes from the "''Builders Club''" virtual benefits, in which users who have created an [[User (computing)|account]] may purchase either ''Builders Club'', ''Turbo Builders Club'', or ''Outrageous Builders Club'', otherwise known by users as ''BC, TBC, and OBC'', respectively.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Shedletsky|first=John|title=Builders Club is Coming…|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2007/08/builders-club-is-coming/|publisher=Roblox Corporation|date = 2 August 2007}}</ref>

== History and development ==

Line 86:

In 2010, Roblox began creating body shapes which ''Builders Club'' members could purchase using virtual currency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2010/05/do-you-need-any-body/|title=Do You Need Any Body?|date = 14 May 2010|last = Shedletsky|first = John|publisher = Roblox Corporation}}</ref> These body shapes were available in the catalog as packages, which included many items that were all obtained when the package was bought. These packages varied in size and price and occasionally went on sale.

In 2011, more than 5.4 million games were created by users.{{Citation needed|date = November 2013}}

At the ''Roblox Game Conference'', Roblox released a system that allowed members with a premium membership to ''trade'' collectible items with other users who have ''Builders Club''. Over time, other features have been added to the system such as increasing the value of a trade, adding Robux to a trade, and owning and trading multiple copies of the same collectible item.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2013/04/purchase-and-trade-multiple-copies-of-limited-items/ |title=Purchase and Trade Multiple Copies of Limited Items Today |publisher=Roblox Corporation |date=16 August 2013 |accessdate=26 June 2013|last = Venugopal|first = Sairam}}</ref>

Line 92:

On 5 June 2012, Roblox announced that a new water material was released to add to the existing collection of "high scalability" terrain cell materials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2012/06/the-water-is-running-in-roblox/ |title=The Water Is Running in ROBLOX |publisher=Roblox Corporation |date=5 June 2012 |accessdate=26 June 2013|first = Andrew|last = Haak}}</ref>

On 11 December 2012, Roblox released the ability to play games on iOS.<ref>{{cite news|title=ROBLOX Mobile Is Out of Beta: Download and Play Today!|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2012/12/roblox-mobile-is-out-of-beta-download-and-play-today/|publisher=Roblox Corporation|accessdate=14 December 2012|date = 11 December 2012|last = Bromley|first = Dylan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/mmo-family-roblox-ceo-david-baszucki-talks-mobile-app-plans-fo|title = MMO Family: Roblox CEO David Baszucki talks mobile app, plans for the future|last = Bryan|first = Karen|publisher = Massively|date = 26 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://venturebeat.com/2012/12/12/roblox-mobile-ipad-iphone-now/|title = Roblox goes mobile in time for the holidays|publisher = VentureBeat|date = 12 December 2012|last = Grubb|first = Jeffrey}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.maclife.com/article/news/roblox_brings_millions_user_created_games_ios |title=ROBLOX Brings Millions of User Created Games to iOS |date=12 December 2012 |website=Mac{{!}}Life |last=Clark |first=Matt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2012/12/12/the-worlds-most-popular-kids-site-take-its-games-mobile/|title = The World’s Most Popular Kids Site Takes Its Games Mobile|date = 12 December 2012|publisher = Forbes|last = Konrad|first = Alex}}</ref> The current iOS devices compatible with running Roblox games are the iPad 2 and newer devices including mini, iPhone 4 or newer, and the iPod touch 5th generation. The mobile Roblox application gives users the ability to customize their character, shop in the virtual catalog, play games, view their profile, and respond to messages. Previous to the release of the mobile Roblox application, the company created 20 virtual Roblox tablets. Players who purchased one received a brand new [[iPad 3]].{{Citation needed|date = November 2013}}

On 21 December 2012, featherweight parts were introduced. This feature enhanced game performance heavily by decreasing the usage of file space for each part in a place.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.roblox.com/2012/12/featherweight-parts-one-million-parts-one-roblox-world/ |title=Featherweight Parts: One Million Parts, One ROBLOX World |publisher=Roblox Corporation |date=21 December 2012 |accessdate=26 June 2013|first = Simon|last = Kozlov}}</ref>