Where did it come from?

As most people know from todays activity in the "Online Gaming" world, it is like shopping at an international market. What I mean is, the diversity of the type of people you play with. This is the main reason that Internet Gaming has become so poular in todays society. People from ages 11 to 60 have taken advantage of the chance of getting to know people from other countries and try and defend "their countries honor" in the gaming world.

I did not start online gaming until early 2005. I was not even aware that gaming through the Internet was so popular. My first game to play online was Rome Total War. Designed by Creative Assembly, apparently it was one of many games they released and by far the most popular. I quickly went from only having American friends to calling a guy from Germany my "best friend." Most of the current success of online gaming can be attributed to the quick release of games with some of the most advanced graphics and gameplay. I can imagine that in a few years, we will be playing a First Person Shooter (FPS) game where when we fall down, the character falls down. The virtual reality is to become the next step in gaming evolution.

So, where did this all begin, and why does it spark the interest of millions of people on a daily basis? I would like to read your feedback on this topic and maybe together we can pin point our beliefs of "The Rise of Internet Gaming".