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Community of Million Gamers – Online Gaming Communities

Are online gaming communities the new members’ clubs or will the next generation of online gamers will be lacking any social skill who cannot recognize a three dimensional object even if it falls on his head? Looking at some of today’s online games shows that despite all the gloomy prophecies, virtual games create a new, bigger, world-wider form of communities based on human interaction.
One of the most ancient and common claims against online gaming was directed towards its anti social nature. Internet opponents saw online gaming as the community enemy, which causes people to prefer the solitary act of playing internet games over taking part in more traditional types of social activities such as playing sports games, visiting the local bingo hall, etc.
However, the growth and the development of online games, made this claim a little bit irrelevant. About ten years of broadband internet access proves the opposite: online gaming is a social activity by nature. From classic card, board, puzzle, and sports games to massive multi player online games (Second life, World of Warcraft, etc), online games are nothing but isolated and/or antisocial.
Let’s take online backgammon for example. Backgammon, the ancient board game, was traditionally played in backgammon clubs as a one-and-one game or a tournament.Backgammon rules used to be spread around in the old fashioned viral marketing – by word of mouth.
But what would do a small town backgammon player who has no backgammon clubs nearby? Online gaming solved this dilemma. The largest online backgammon rooms host hundreds of thousands of players who can practice backgammon games against each other, chat with one another, discuss game tactics and strategy, share information, gossip and do whatever members of community do when gather together.
Another game that proves the importance of the social aspect in today’s online games is Second Life. The relatively new game has become a phenomenon. Although defined as a game, Second Life had shed all traditional characteristics of a game: it has no rules, no strategy and no actual competition or goal.
Instead, Second Life players, excuse me, residents, can keep themselves occupied in various social activities including buying and selling stuff, throwing parties or being invited to ones, exhibiting art objects or visiting art exhibits and involve in other life like behaviors. At the same time they can make new friends and/or foes and experience the entire scope of human emotions towards one another.
These were only two extreme examples – the classic board game turns virtual and the embodiment of the cyberpunk authors’ visions. However, online gaming communities are far richer. Online gaming communities can be based on a shared interest in a certain game or on the abstract idea of interaction. Either way, the basic need in human communication did not pass from the world with 3D web technologies.

Internet Backgammon Available Around the Clock

The backgammon board game has been a firm favorite of all ages for at least five thousand years — an unbeatable record. Even non-players immediately recognize the familiar backgammon set up with the board divided into twenty- four narrow triangular divisions almost invariably colored black and white, the circular black and white checkers and the dice cup and dice. Few other games have achieved such a high profile. However, backgammon’s popularity has had its ups and downs, for example, the developing of the doubling cube in America in the 1920’s boosted interest in backgammon, in particular the game played in casinos. By the 1980 backgammon was in the doldrums. Some people associated it with an outdated image and it didn’t seem in tune with a youth-culture that valued fast moving games with an abundance of noise and action. The appearance on the gaming scene of the Internet backgammon games came just in time to revive backgammon’s fortunes.

Internet or online backgammon offers a backgammon download that brings free backgammon onto your computer screen. All that the player requires is an Internet connection and they can log into one of sites offering free backgammon and download a virtual backgammon board, There is no need to spend time arranging the counters since the computer has already made the backgammon setup on your behalf. The attractive appearance of the downloaded backgammon set compares favorably with the latest game sets on sale in the stores. The speed of the game, and sound effects, and the chance of playing against a powerful backgammon computer appeal to a younger audience who were not drawn to the traditional backgammon game in the local café or backgammon club.

Among the many other attractive features of Internet backgammon is the way it allows players to have a game at a time that fits in with their work or leisure schedule and does not involve them having to even leave their home or office. Although some social commentators protest against a generation seeking instant delivery of products or services, the fact remains that the continual availability of backgammon games on the Internet is a major factor encouraging the growing patronization of these sites.

In addition to being able to play a game of backgammon at a convenient time and location, the online sites fulfill a role in providing backgammon instructions, and their backgammon computers allow games to be set at different skill levels which is very helpful for new players to improve their skills at the game and develop a good backgammon strategy. The chance to make money by online gambling is also certainly a key factor in encouraging people to login to Internet backgammon. The prizes available for the taking exceed those available in most local games. Furthermore, the social side of Internet backgammon has become important to many patrons. It provides a link between players throughout the world, and allows them to compete with each other as well as share their interest in the game in a friendly way.