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As broadband Internet becomes more accessible we are seeing an increase in the amount of people that are entering the online gaming sphere. The Internet is allowing people from all over the world to play all sorts of games against and with one another. But while it can certainly be a lot of fun to pit your skills against a stranger you will probably never meet on the other side of the planet, there are some things that you need to keep in mind about online games.

 

We are not talking about the requirements to play online games. These most people will realise by now include a stable ADSL connection and a computer capable of playing the game in question. This time around we are looking at the more, for lack of a better word, human aspect of online games.

 

With online games it is quite easy to forget that you are actually interacting with another living, feeling person. The anonymity offered by the Internet can cause many people to act in ways they would never dream of acting in normal society. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) notice is there for a reason and warns people that as soon as they go online their gaming experience may change – and not for the better.

 

People can be incredibly rude online so it is important to develop a relatively thick skin when dealing with other players. Insults, blame and general verbal abuse is slung around easily online where a person is generally free from the repercussions of such behaviour. Often when things go wrong the in-game chat becomes little more than a screaming match as people blame and insult one another like children.

 

As with most social interaction it is important to remain polite at all times. Only the most uneducated players will continue to be rude in the face of a person who keeps their cool and doesn’t rise in reaction to taunts and insults.

 

Another danger to be aware of in online games is scammers. As in the real world, there are people trying to make a quick buck off of other people – whether it be real money or the virtual money of the game. Be very careful in replying to people that offer to sell you in-game money (gold, credits, etc.) for real money. These ‘gold-sellers’, as they are known, pose a double threat.

 

In the first instance, buying in-game money is often against the game’s End User Licence Agreement (EULA) and can lead to your account being banned if it is discovered that you are buying virtual money for real money. These gold-sellers may not always be as trustworthy as they seem, either, and you may discover that you never receive the gold or credits you paid for.

 

The second danger is account theft. When you log on to gold-seller websites, they may try to install spyware on your system that is used to hack into your game account. Once inside they can cause all manner of havoc on your account without your knowledge.

 

Online games can be a fun and interesting pastime if you play it safe. There is very little you can do against other players that don’t have the capacity to act decently towards other human beings, but you can protect yourself against the scammers. Be vigilant and play safe.

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