An online game is a game that is played in a computer network, which almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology. The expansion of online gaming has reflected the expansion of global networks from small, local networks and the increased access to the Internet of more and more people. The online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously. Many online games have their own communities, making the computer play a form of socialization.
The growing popularity of the Flash platform and Java programming language, has led to a revolution on the Internet because Websites can use streaming video, audio files and a whole new set of interactivity between users. When Microsoft began to bundle Flash, which came pre-installed, as a component of Internet Explorer, the Internet began making the transition from providing information to offering entertainment services. This revolution paved the way for sites offering online games in such manner. Some online games based on these technologies, such as World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy charge a monthly fee for subscribing to their services, while, games like Guild Wars offer an alternative with no monthly fee. Many other sites rely on advertising revenues from their sponsors, but others, like RuneScape, let people play for free while leaving them the option to pay to unlock new content.
The term “online games” in many communities, is used strictly to describe the games that do not involve gambling, although many still use it as a synonym for gambling on the Internet. The online game uses different technologies, is played only by a player or by multiple players, this last form involving connected computers. One of the biggest advantages is the possibility of connection between many players, but it is also possible a single player game option.
With the development of the WWW and browsers, games started to be played using the Web browser as a client. Simple single player games could be played using HTML, especially JavaScript, PHP, MySQL and ASP. The development of graphics technologies such as Java and Flash enabled designers to create more complex online games. Many games that have appeared in the ’90s, were recreated using Flash.
