Remember playing browser based MMO games as a teenager? One could say they are a precursor to bigger and better MMO’s. Many gamers think browser based games are “simplistic”. However, browser games have evolved since their were first introduced. They can compete with their big brothers in many ways. Sure they may lack the detailed textures and graphics, but they can contain just as many quests, npc’s, monsters, well… you get the hint.
Introducing: Travian
The objective: To build and upgrade a World Wonder to level 100.
Gameplay: Players begin with a village containing only one building. Players gather wood, clay, iron, and wheat as resources. With good resource production players can begin to add and upgrade buildings. At some point players will need to forge alliances and declare enemies. At this point the gameplay involves not only your village but neighboring players and factions.
Factions: Romans, Gauls, and Teutons.
The Romans are your all around jack of all trades, master of none. Romans get faster upgrades, powerful infantry, and a so-so cavalry.
Gauls are fast and geared towards defensive rather than offensive. Their speedy horses are great for ambushing.
Teutons are very aggressive. The units are cheap and powerful but lack nearly all elements of defensive abilities.
Pros:
- Players can play on normal or speed3x servers.
- Great support including Forum, Chat, E-mail, IRC, and more
- Constantly updated. Up to version 3.5 now!
- Supports many languages
- FREE!!!
Cons:
- Players can purchase in game currency and other abilities that some players believe gives them an unfair advantage.
- Enemies can pillage your village… Oh wait, that’s part of the game.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s impressive that they have nearly 100,000 registered players.
What is not impressive is how simple the graphics are. Maybe that’s part of the charm, but JavaScript web based games have come a LONG way in the past few years. Take http://worldofsolitaire.com for example. It’s 100% JavaScript. I certainly think travian could enhance their graphics/interface and get a LOT more players that way.
By the way, I’m not saying they need to enhance their graphics. I still play nethack now a days and that has just ascii graphics. So I’m certainly in the camp that gameplay is king. However having nicer graphics AND great gameplay will get people from both sides of the fence.
Thanks for commenting Robert. I definitely agree that graphics on nearly all browser games are simplistic at best. Some browser games have taken the next step. For example QuakeLive is a First Person Shooter that can be played on browsers. It’s based off of the Quake III multiplayer game. The graphics are absolutely stunning for a browser game.
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There is another game you might be interested in. It is a browser game called Farmersi. It does not deal with large scale economies, but rather small ones. That is the main feature really. It is really interesting to see how things work out in the goal to develop the best farm against competitors in the scenarios. Sometimes the markets are brutal!
Please check it out at http://farmersi.net
I’m just a player trying to get more English players into the game.
Let me know what you think!