User:Testor Ploa/Wikipedia

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Wikipedia

Developer(s) Wikimedia Foundation, you
Designer(s) Jimbo Wales, Larry Sanger
Series Wikimedia
Engine MediaWiki
Version
  • WW: 1.43.0-wmf.3 (b671e57)
Platform(s) World Wide Web
Release date(s)
  • WW: 15 January 2001[1]
Genre(s) Fantasy MMORPG
Mode(s) Multiplayer, Online
Media/distribution Web browser
System requirements Any web browser, computer or smartphone and internet.

Wikipedia is a sequel to the game Nupedia, an encyclopedia-themed MMORPG in a hack and slash and "article roaming" style. It was released for the World Wide Web by the Wikimedia Foundation, and was developed by the community.

Gameworld[edit]

Wikipedia has an immersive gameworld with 47354267 players and 6820445 unique locations, including 58385 undiscovered secret areas, 39589 completely explored dungeons and 6484 boss levels. Magical items and powers can be found scattered over these locations, whose navigation is aided by maps of the game world. Some of these locations, as well as items and powers, become problematic, and unbalance the game world. Players will generally dislike these, and Game Masters respond by destroying them.

The in-game universe can take several years to explore completely, with several regions to explore. Dungeons within the game vary greatly in size. Some are so large that they can take hours to explore, whereas some as so small that players can see the entire dungeon at a glance.

Game mechanics[edit]

Players can accumulate EXP, allowing them to advance to higher levels. Players develop a unique distribution of stats, and can choose between a number of classes, such as Gunner, Arch Mage and Priest, as well as choosing from one of several races, such as gnomes, ogres and imps. In some cases, a player may choose to play with excessive summons, or play with multiple warriors at the same time. This provides an additional challenge, because they must avoid being caught by Bounty Hunters, who are tasked with rooting them out and destroying them.

The in-game currency (WikiMoney) has largely fallen out of use, and most players prefer to accumulate different types of stars and various icons which other players can award them. Players can take on quests, fight boss battles, enter battle arenas, and even take class change trials to become Game Masters. It is possible to stumble upon random encounters and defeat such monsters.

Non-player characters, (often abbreviated as NPCs) can also be found in the game. Wikipedia differs from other MMORPGs in that ordinary players may design their own NPCs, and submit them to be approved for inclusion in the game world. NPCs can be seen throughout the game world, doing tasks such as apprehending criminals, cleaning up taverns, and other helpful tasks.

Social[edit]

Every unique location in the gameworld has a tavern where players have the opportunity to interact with any other player in real time. Players often become friends with other players, and some have even arranged to meet in real life. Players may even build their own houses and receive messages from other players. On the darker side, some players become addicted, unable to leave the game, and spend all their waking hours on the site. It is often the most experienced players who end up spending the most amount of time in the gameworld.

Players with similar ideals will group together to form guilds, and raids may form to tackle exceptionally difficult quests.

People tend to play a given MMORPG for six to eighteen months at a high level of involvement; a similar pattern has been noted in hardcore Wikipedia players.

Battle[edit]

Trolls are one of the most common enemies in the gameworld, and often turn up in boss fights. Orcs, the natural enemies of the Trolls, who oppose trolls using methods which are equally unethical or destructive (such as baiting) can also be fought.

Weapons such as guns are used normally, but cannons and swords can be used to defeat an undefeatable enemy. Many players also carry a shield to protect themselves.

Guns can be used in places other than battle arenas for clearing the problems of a dungeon, but excessive use of guns will probably be censured by the Imperial Court of Justice.

Barbarian-fighting is a form of combat that has many similarities to a variation of spawn kill.

Illegitimate battle strategies are abundant. Sneaky players like to use excessive summons and bots to trick Game Masters.

There are also enemies such as WikiPorcupines, which shoot Toxic Spikes from their heads and also gang up in many groups in order to accomplish their goal. There are a similar species called WikiHedgehogs, but are Trolls' pets. They are also very blamey about New players entering their territory.

Players can also attempt to destroy, mangle or disrupt parts of the game world. Player-killing is strongly discouraged, but nevertheless happens. New players are most vulnerable. Game Masters attempt to control this by banning and blocking offending players, but more often than not, criminals end up being brought before the Super Game Masters, who have the final say in dealing with them.

Game Masters[edit]

Some Wikipedia players who successfully complete a class change trial manage to become Game Masters, a secretive clan[2] whose members have access to additional spells and items such as:

  • Cave-in – a powerful spell which causes a dungeon's walls to collapse, making it inaccessible to all but the most experienced adventurers.
    • Mining Toolkit – a number of mining tools such as a mining helmet and wooden support beams which enable Game Masters to explore collapsed dungeons and re-open them to others if they want.
  • Ice Block – encases another player or minion in a block of ice, preventing them from moving for a certain length of time. A similar version is the Freeze Lock, which locks gates from entry.
    • Thaw – thaws a frozen player or minion out. A similar item is the Key of Warmth, which is a magical key that allows Game Masters to enter through any gate, whether locked or not.
  • Magic Chains – seals the entrance to a dungeon with magical chains which can only be bypassed with special items.
    • Skeleton Key – a magical key given to all Game Masters which can remove any magical chains around a dungeon entrance for that player.
  • Cloak of Secrecy – quietens a player's footsteps, enabling them to avoid patrols. A more powerful version of the Boots of Stealth, which can be worn by most players.
  • Rapid-Fire – can massively subdue multiple attacks at once. A more powerful version of Single-Fire, which can be used by most players using guns. Rapid-Fire can be utilized by normal players by becoming Gunners, but only with the permission of Game Masters.

Wikipedia players can be promoted to Game Master by even more powerful users known as Overlords, who, in addition to having the power to appoint new Game Masters and Overlords, can summon many powerful minions to aid them in their adventuring.

Super classes[edit]

There exist several classes of users which have even greater powers and spells than already mentioned.

Super Game Masters
Also known as Arch Mages, the SGM are a clan of Game Masters with additional powers and spells. They can be asked to battle super-hard bosses that ordinary users may find difficult to defeat, and also deal with misbehaving users. One must be elected to be a Super Game Master, and can only serve for a limited time.
Knights
A clan of Game Masters with even greater powers and abilities than their colleagues. One must be elected by other players to be a Knight, and can only be a Knight for a year.
The Dark Lord
The master of Wikipedia. He patrols the game world, and in former times he has had complete and total authority. However, his power has been nerfed over recent years. Although he has become reluctant to use these powers, he still has methods of overriding the actions of Game Masters, and even Super Game Masters, by more subtle means.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Wikipedia: HomePage". Archived from the original on 2001-03-31. Retrieved 2001-03-31.
  2. ^ Their clan headquarters can be found here.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]