DinoRPG

Anybody who has been bored once in their life (most especially during younger days) has lived a moment of fantasy. Whether about making the game-winning buzzer shot, flying on a magic carpet or defeating hordes of invaders (or being the invader), we have all lived momentary roles in our minds. Sometimes these roles were made real through costume, or a group effort, while most often they were just in our heads, personally real.

With the emergence of technology, such role-playing has not been eradicated, but transformed and adapted. There are now other ways to fantasize, which give the reality factor a boost with greater "visuals". Role-playing games have now been translated into role-playing video games, where we can control the experience gained by our characters as if we are living alternate lives.

I recently encountered one such video game online called DINORPG, in which you buy a pet "dino/beast" from the "store" and you make it undergo missions and level-ups. Though playing the game is free, the game can be really time-consuming. The compromise is that you are given only a certain number of turns per day. You begin with a certain number of turns turns in which you can either move to a different location, fight or rest. Some locations give other options such as "speak to so-and-so" or something.

After the six turns are used up, you are forced to wait for a certain time until your turns are recharged. However this time around, you only get one turn per recharge. But, since each turn gains you experience AND money (not real money, of course), you can buy turns ate the flying shop for 900 coins. Also, if you are a bit more ambitious and rich, you can use real money to buy online money, thru a credit card. But then of course, this move is only for the true DinoRPG addict.

I am currently at level 14, after roughly 3 or 4 months in this.