Gaming is more than just a pastime, at this point. It is a cultural phenomenon that spans more than half a century, from the time Physicist William Higinbotham created the first electronic game Tennis for Two right down to the Golden Age of Arcade Video Games, when gamers saw a rapid evolution in gaming technology.
And today, players are being introduced to a new and rather perplexing concept called the metaverse, which is touted as the next stage of the gaming industry that will make video games far more immersive than ever before.
One of the timeless gaming platforms that players recognize globally is Roblox, which develops tools that allow creators to build retro and futuristic gaming experiences suitable for any age. After building competency in the industry, Roblox did not fail to give everyone new exposure to the metaverse, as it appears to be betting heavily on this budding industry.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is a virtual platform that brings billions of players together to build the future of the gaming metaverse. It is home to diverse developers who design games that allow the community to imagine, create, and interact with everyone while exploring advanced 3D experiences with limitless possibilities.
Most events in Roblox happen to be games, but players can also enjoy other types of activities like attending concerts, participating in awards shows, socializing with friends, and more. The playable characters, called avatars, are also customizable, allowing users to create virtual representations that match their style and personality. Players can obtain wearable items by purchasing them with Roblox’s in-game currency.
By allowing user-generated content, Roblox is able to offer various gaming and other types of experiences limited only by creators’ imagination. The website claims to have nearly 12 million cumulative developers and over 30 million experiences for players to try.
Robux: The In-Game Currency
Robux serves as the in-game currency of Roblox, allowing users to purchase items within the platform. Players can either earn or buy Robux.
How to Acquire Robux
- Robux can be purchased on mobile phones, computer browsers, and Xbox One applications of Roblox;
- Players who gain a membership account will get Robux as a stipend;
- Players who have a membership account are also allowed to sell the Roblox clothes and get a portion of the sales;
- Experience builders can earn Robux by engaging premium members. Payouts use a metric called premium player playtime which reflects the user’s behavior in the last 28 days and not on the daily game duration.
Additionally, Roblox emphasizes that players should be aware of the free Robux scam. Making false claims of purchases and duping other players in order to steal their in-game currency violate Roblox’s Terms of Use, and could get your account terminated.
Game Pass
A Roblox game pass is a unique type of pass that enables Roblox creators to provide players special access to a restricted region of their game, a virtual item, or a permanent power-up. A game pass can only be bought once per player account.
Creators can make a Game Pass using a Lua code called the Script. Note that it is a lot easier to buy than to create one.
Why Roblox is So Popular
Roblox is a well-known platform worldwide, and its growth has skyrocketed in the past years, with its value soaring since the start of the pandemic. In the present time, players and creators seem to continue having fun using the platform.
Free to Play
Players can install Roblox without worrying about paying upfront because it is free to play. Although there are some in-game items that can only be purchased, gamers can still enjoy the platform without spending anything, which provides an opportunity for all players regardless of income.
Cross-Platform Availability
Roblox is literally for anyone, regardless of the type of device you have. Gaming enthusiasts can use personal computers, XBOX, tablets, smartphones, and even virtual reality devices. The project team developed a platform that can run on most modern devices, but its performance will also vary depending on the type of game.
Large Gaming Library
Roblox allows the community to access various game modes, types, and genres. The platform has a vast library of various types of games and content, encouraging players to have fun and experience gaming environments in creative ways. Think of Roblox as an endless source of entertainment, kind of like Youtube but in a gaming format.
Brings Out Creativity
Roblox is home to game makers who are empowered to build and utilize the full depths of their imagination through the Roblox Studio, the platform’s immersive game builder tool. It encourages its creator community to bring out their creativity and let their ideas flow as they build what could later become “the metaverse.”
Beginners eager to learn can also ask for guidance from other developers within the platform. After all, Roblox is a thriving community built on shared experiences.
Massive Social Features
Social interaction is one of the essential aspects of gaming metaverses as it allows a gaming community to bond with others that share similar interests, cultivate friendships, and explore digital worlds together.
Roblox has a record of more than 54 million daily active users, paving the way for gaming enthusiasts to establish connections in the virtual realm. With this figure, it is evident that Roblox provides a space for massive interaction among players.
Creator Monetization
The community is responsible for creating games within the platform as it rewards successful developers through the Developer Exchange Program (DevEx). There are specific requirements that developers should meet to be eligible to receive real money but aspirants should know that earning a remarkably high reward takes a great level of success. Considering this, developers should not look at Roblox as a get-rich-quick scheme but as an avenue to express their creativity and run wild with it.
How to Play Roblox?
Roblox is composed of worlds having different sizes, themes, and styles. Since the company developed the platform for all ages, the steps involved in starting the game are made easy. In fact, there are only four very short steps involved.
Create Your Roblox Account
Go over to the Roblox website and create your account. Remember to fill up the necessary information to proceed to the next step.
Download and Install the Platform
After completing the required steps, you need to download the game to whatever device you like to play with. Note that this process has varying requirements depending on the device used. What is required from a PC user may be different from a mobile iOS user, and vice versa.
As long as you’re device is not too old, chances are that it’ll work fine.
Make Your Avatar
Avatars function as players’ digital representation in the metaverse, which they can use to explore games. You’d best customize your avatar according to your preference first before playing. You may follow your style or create according to who you want to become. The choice is in your hands.
You may visit the Avatar Shop on the website or app to customize your digital self.
Explore the World of Roblox
After setting up an avatar, PC users only need to use the arrow keys to move. Mobile and consoles might be slightly different, but you’ll be able to explore the games in the same way. You can also add friends to your accounts and go on adventures with them.
Best Roblox Games
After 16 years of experience in the industry, it is not surprising that Roblox now consists of a prodigious lineup of games. No surprise that it became a hit with players, creators, and streamers across the board. But like anything else, not all Roblox games are created equal.
While some games garner hundreds of thousands of active users and billions of visits, others barely see the light of day. With millions of games to try, here is a rundown of some of the games that became crowd favorites.
Adopt Me
Adopt Me is a role-playing game where players can adopt and raise pets, which fall under different rarities: common, uncommon, rare, ultra-rare, and legendary. Players can purchase the pets from owners or buy eggs and wait for them to hatch. Some pets can only be collected in limited-time events.
Two creators founded Adopt Me in 2017: NewFissy as the Tech Director and Bethink as the Creative Director. It currently has more than 29 billion visits, over 24 million favorites, and 118 thousand active players.
Brookhaven RP
Brookhaven RP falls under the Town and City genre, which is known for its simple yet addictive gameplay that allows players to own properties and explore a virtual city, as well as hang out with other citizens. The game utilizes Robux as the currency, which players can use to purchase additional items.
Wolfpaq hit new records in Roblox thanks to Brookhaven RP as it continues to dominate the platform, with 21.3 billion visits, 14.5 million favorites, and almost 270 thousand active gamers.
Tower of Hell
Tower of Hell is a game where players are tasked to reach a six-section tower in just a few minutes. Note that there are no checkpoints, so if you don’t make it, you’ll have to start from scratch again. However, the speed of the timer runs faster for players who make it to the top. Beating the towers will allow players to earn coins they can use to buy items available in the shop.
YXCeptional Studios is the team behind the Tower of Hell. Since 2018, the game has already accumulated 18.7 billion visits, over 10.1 million favorites, and more than 20 thousand active players.
MeepCity
MeepCity is another gaming metaverse that allows users to chat, play mini-games, earn coins, and customize their virtual estate. Players can engage in different activities to choose from, such as racing and star ball. MeepCity Racing is played similarly to the famous Mario Kart series, where they can use items for offensive or defensive strategies, customize their properties, and gain coins.
The game was created by alexnewtron in 2016. Today, it has a record of 14.1 billion visits, 14.5 million favorites, and more than 37 thousand players.
Piggy
Piggy is a survival game in the horror genre, designed similarly to Peppa Pig with gameplay like Granny. The game has numerous modes such as player, bot, player and bot, infection, traitor, swarm, and tag, allowing participants to enjoy the experience in various ways. Since it became a massive hit, MiniToon introduced a sequel to it known as Piggy: Book 2.
MiniToon introduced the game in 2020 and has gained massive interest from community members worldwide in two years’ time. Now, it has 10.8 billion visits and more than 16,000 active players.
Adopt Me, Brookhaven RP, Tower of Hell, MeepCity, and Piggy were only some of the highly played Roblox games. The platform offers millions of experiences, and there are more of them currently under development by independent game creators.
Roblox and the Metaverse
Roblox offers one of the most advanced gaming metaverse platforms at present, as it continues to capture the attention of gamers and enthusiasts by hosting massive virtual events in collaboration with the world’s top brands, artists, and celebrities. These events enable artists and fans to interact in an environment where anything is possible.
Humans will no longer be confined to the limitations of the real world as virtual reality could augment our senses to deliver ground-breaking experiences like no other. Rapper Travis Scott, who happens to have pulled off one of the most top-selling virtual concerts ever, states it plainly:
I could go from being myself to underwater, the stage could go underwater without anybody getting hurt — all of the things I would want to do in real life. We can fly; we can do all of these things.
Travis Scott, referencing his performance on Roblox rival, Fortnite.
Here are some of the remarkable partnerships and collaborations that happened over time:
NIKELAND
NIKELAND is a virtual space for sporty players introduced by Nike in collaboration with Roblox in 2021. The virtual sports playground is free to use, allowing gamers and sports enthusiasts to unlock their sports superpowers, customize avatars with Nike collections, play mini-games like Basketball, socialize, create mini-games, compete against other players, and do all sorts of virtual activities.
Although Nikeland encourages its community to play its provided classic games with new twists, the platform also empowers members to experiment with their own creations and build the future of the sports metaverse.
Spotify Island
Another notable partnership in the metaverse is between Roblox and Spotify. Spotify Island allows fans and artists to hang out in a virtual environment and experience a music-filled adventure, as well as obtain exclusive merch.
Recently, Spotify Island introduced K-Park, which allows players to journey to the world of K-Pop that initially features artists like SUNMI and Stray Kids. The virtual park also has a lounge and café where players can get a glimpse of South Korea’s culture.
Lil Nas X Concert
Roblox surprised the virtual world with the two-day concert of Lil Nas X in 2020, garnering 30 million visits and serving as one of the early proof of concept for virtual concerts.
Lil Nas X began the concert by performing “Old Town Road” and finished his entire album throughout the event. His avatar was able to dance with other fans, who were able to dance along and share the experience with him.
Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience
The Roblox metaverse also presented a musical adventure with Twenty One Pilots in 2021. Fans came from more than 160 different countries, and for the first time, were able to decide the songs to play. The fans became unstoppable with their radiating energy as Tyler and Josh performed. Aside from the music and dancing, Roblox also designed some challenges to make the virtual gig more engaging.
Additionally, the Twenty One Pilots Experience became one of the nominees in the newest MTV VMA category, “Best Metaverse Performance.” This only proves that the metaverse trend is going strong, and Roblox appears to be on the right path.
David Guetta DJ Party
David Guetta hosted a DJ party on Roblox in February 2022, showing an intergalactic theme. The event welcomed the attendees with a futuristic space, bright lights, and high-quality electro-dance music. While the performance lasted for less than an hour, players were able to enjoy other exciting activities like dance competitions, puzzles, and seeing the displayed virtual merchandise.
Roblox has been developing the building blocks for the metaverse long before the term became a buzzword. Nike and Spotify are only two of several dozen brands that have recognized the opportunities of creating virtual worlds, which Roblox provides.
Roblox Frequently Asked Questions
What Platforms Support Roblox?
Roblox can run on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Xbox. Note that Android also includes VR devices like Quest 2.
Can Roblox Be Played Offline?
No, Roblox is an online gaming platform designed with player-to-player interaction as a basic function. Thus, it cannot work offline.
How Does Roblox Make Money?
Roblox operates on a freemium model and makes money through the sale of Robux (its in-game currency), advertising deals with brands like Marvel and Spotify, licensing agreements with companies, and royalty fees taken from all products and experiences created by independent Roblox developers.
How Does Roblox Premium Work?
Roblox Premium membership comes in three distinct packages with auto-renewal features:
- $4.99/mo – Offers players 450 Robux every month
- $9.99/mo – Offers players 1,000 Robux every month
- $19.99/mo – Offers players 2,200 Robux every month
Apart from that, premium gamers can also avail themselves of an extra 10% from the store at no additional cost. They also have the privilege to resell in-game items and earn additional Robux. Furthermore, premium members can trade digital items with other premium members.
Will Roblox IP Ban Users?
The platform is known to IP ban players who commit severe violations of its Terms of Service, such as spreading nudity, pornography, and gore. IP banned users typically won’t be able to access their accounts for seven days and will see a 403 error: Access Denied. The best course of action here would be to wait it out and not do anything that would exacerbate the ban, such as using a VPN or changing your IP address.
When Was Roblox Made?
Roblox was founded in 2004 but was only released on September 1, 2006.
Who Created It?
Roblox was developed by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, the founders of Roblox Corporation.
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