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{{short description|Anime-centered social media and forum website}}
{{Refimprove|article|date=July 2007}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Mergefrom|Monthly Collectibles|Talk:Gaia Online#Merger proposal|{{date=November 2007}}}}
{{inappropriate person|article|date=December 2007}} {{Update|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Gaia Interactive, Inc.
| logo = Gaia Online logo.svg
| image_size = 220px
| type = ]
| foundation = {{start date and age|2003|2|18}}<ref name="official" /><ref name="lanzerinterview1" />
| key_people = {{ubl|James Cao (])|Derek Liu (])<ref name="lanzertakeover">{{cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Derek|title=Ask the Staff - 3 October 2017|url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/ask-the-staff-3-october-2017-closed/t.103243895_225/#225|website=Gaia Online|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>}}
| founders = {{ubl|Derek Liu | ] | Josh Gainsbrugh}}
| location_city = ]
| location_country = U.S.
| industry = {{ubl|] | ]}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.gaiaonline.com}}
| num_employees = 25<ref>{{cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Derek|title=Ask the Staff interview, 17 January 2017|url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/ask-the-staff-17-january-2017-closed|access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref>
}}
'''Gaia Online''' is an English-language, ]-themed ] and ]-based ] with ]-style animations. It was founded as go-gaia on February 18, 2003, by Derek Liu, ], Josh Gainsbrugh,<ref name="official">{{cite web |title=Gaia Intranet :: About us |url=http://corp.gaiaonline.com/about |work=Gaia Online |quote=Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading online hangout on the web |access-date=January 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112231419/http://corp.gaiaonline.com/about |archive-date=January 12, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="lanzerinterview1" /> and the name was changed to GaiaOnline.com in 2004 by its owner, Gaia Interactive. Gaia originally began as an anime ] and eventually developed a small community,<ref name="lanzerinterview1">{{cite web
|title = Interview: Derek Liu, Gaia Online Anime Community
|publisher = fif-flowers.com
|url = http://www.big-boards.com/int.php?n=60
|quote = ''Creation date of the board: February 18, 2003''
|access-date = January 8, 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081221141903/http://www.big-boards.com/int.php?n=60
|archive-date = December 21, 2008
}}</ref> but following a statement by founder Derek Liu, the website moved towards social gaming and<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?page=6&t=58021#425475898|title=Guest Authentication&nbsp;– Gaia Online|access-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> eventually became forum-based.<ref name="gigaom">{{cite web
|title = Move over MySpace, Gaia Online is here
|date = April 22, 2007
|publisher = GigaOmniMedia, Inc
|url = http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/
|access-date = June 10, 2007
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070601181105/http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/
|archive-date = June 1, 2007
}}</ref><ref>According to some sources, ] is the largest forum in the world.{{cite web |title=Japan Media Review -- Reining in the Web in Japan |url=http://ojr.org/japan/internet/1093543502.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607174657/http://ojr.org/japan/internet/1093543502.php |archive-date=June 7, 2007 |access-date=June 7, 2007}} </ref>


In 2007, over a million posts were made daily,<ref name="gigaom" /> and 7 million ]s visited each month<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/09/virtual-great-1.html |title=Virtual Worlds News: Virtual Greats' Snoop Dogg and Incredible Hulk Goods Launch in Gaia |access-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913221719/http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/09/virtual-great-1.html |archive-date=September 13, 2008 }}</ref> (with over 26 million total ]s). Gaia also won the 2007 ] 100 award in the Community category<ref>{{cite web
{{Infobox Company
| name = Gaia Online |title = Gaia Online: Webware 100
|publisher = CNET Networks, Inc.
| logo = ]Management (CEO)<ref name="gigaom" /><ref name="psfk">{{cite web
|url = http://www.webware.com/8301-13546_109-9729606-29.html
| title = "Gaia Online"
|date = June 18, 2007
| publisher = PSFK
|access-date = June 20, 2007
| url = http://www.psfk.com/2007/04/gaia_online.html
|url-status = live
| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref><ref name="lsvp">{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210613/http://www.webware.com/8301-13546_109-9729606-29.html
| title = "Kids and teens have pushed at least 6 immersive online worlds to over 2m UU/mth in the US"
|archive-date = September 27, 2007
| publisher = Lightspeed Venture Partners
}}</ref> and was included in '']'' magazine's list of 50 best websites in 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=50 Best Websites 2008|date=June 17, 2008|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1809858_1809954_1811342,00.html|magazine=]|access-date=January 20, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235915/http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1809858_1809954_1811342,00.html|archive-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> In January 2011, the company won the ] Best User experience Award for 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/mashable-awards-2010-announcing-the-winners/|title=Mashable|author=Mashable Team|website=]|date=January 7, 2011|access-date=June 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714045320/http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/mashable-awards-2010-announcing-the-winners/|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref>
| url = http://lsvp.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/kids-and-teens-have-pushed-at-least-6-immersive-online-worlds-to-over-2m-uumth-in-the-us/
| accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref>


==Avatars==
| type = ]
Members of Gaia Online, known as Gaians, receive a customizable ] when they sign up. Users have the ability to customize their avatar in many ways, including skin tone, eye style and color, hairstyle and color, gender, race (e.g. human, vampire, elf, zombies), and attire. Numerous clothing items and accessories for avatars can be purchased from a range of ]-run stores using the ], Gaia Platinum and Gaia Cash. Players may also gift one another clothing items and accessories. Avatars appear next to posts in the forums and profile comments (the post itself encapsulated in a "speech bubble"), and in Gaia Towns and Gaia rallies, and other environments the avatar appears as a movable character that can travel from place to place, interacting with the environment (catching bugs, shaking trees, digging for buried treasure, collecting trash and flowers, etc.) and other users. In February 2018, an avatar based on on '']'' (''DDLC!'') main ] ] was released to ''Gaia Online'' under the title "Just Dangerous Me", the addition of which has been criticised by ''DDLC!'' creator ] due to no permission having been sought and the skin being sold as ] without compensation to Team Salvato.<ref name="Salvato">{{cite tweet|user=dansalvato|author-link=Dan Salvato|number=967142147768987648|date=23 February 2018|title=Dan Salvato on Twitter: ".@gaiaonline I discovered recently that you stole my character design and sold it for money. I don't understand why you felt the need to do this. DDLC is a free game, even."}}</ref>
| foundation = ]
| location_city = ]
| location_country = ]
| industry = ]
| homepage =
| num_employees = 60 <ref name="AlwaysOn">{{cite web | title = AlwaysOn: Gaia Online Profile | publisher = AlwaysOn | date= 2007-06-02 | url = http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/14291 | accessdate = 2007-11-27}}</ref>
}}
'''Gaia Online''' (Pronounced geh-uh online) is an anime-themed ]-based website. Originally named "Go-Gaia", it was opened to the public on ], ]<ref name="lanzerinterview1" /> by ], Gaia first began as an "anime linklist with a small community,"<ref name="lanzerinterview1">{{cite web
| title = Interview: Derek Liu, Gaia Online Anime Community
| publisher =fif-flowers.com | url = http://www.big-boards.com/int.php?n=60
| accessdate = 2007-01-03}}</ref> but it was openly stated by founder Derek Liu (username "Lanzer") that the website was moving towards that of a social gaming one.<ref></ref> It eventually became the forum-based website it is now.
<ref name="gigaom">{{cite web
| title = Move over MySpace, Gaia Online is here
| publisher = GigaOmniMedia, Inc
| url = http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/
| accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref> Big-Boards.com reports Gaia is the largest forum on the Internet,<ref name="bigboards">{{cite web
| title = The largest Message Boards and Forums on the Web
| publisher = Big-Boards.com
| url = http://www.big-boards.com/
| accessdate = 2007-08-06}}</ref><ref name="bigboards2">Big-Boards.com only lists forums that contain accessible members and post counts. According to other sources, ] is the largest in the world. </ref> with over a million posts made daily,<ref name="gigaom" /> over a billion posts total,<ref name="gigaom" /> and over 2.5 million unique users each month.<ref name="gigaom" /><ref name = "lsvp" /> Gaia also won the 2007 Webware 100 award in the Community category.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Gaia Online: Webware 100
| publisher = CNET Networks, Inc.
| url = http://www.webware.com/8301-13546_109-9729606-29.html
| date= 18 June 2007
| accessdate = 2007-06-20}}</ref>


==Forums==
Users of the site create a ] for which they can purchase items using ] called Gaia Gold, which is earned by engaging in many activities, including: ] games, posting on the board, daily chance, fishing, the casino, voting in the arena, playing the market, and also shaking rocks, trees, and bushes in the gaia world. Gold can then be used to purchase online items, which can be equipped onto the user's avatar or car, stored in the user's inventory, or placed in the user's Gaia Home, a virtual, furnishable house.<ref name="aboutgold">{{cite web
There is a large variety of ] in which users can post it and communicate with one another. These forums are used for general discussion, news, ] announcements, ], general entertainment, and artist discussions.
| title = About Gaia Gold

==Economy==
===Currency===
The ] used in Gaia is known as "Gaia Platinum" (formerly, "Gaia Gold"). Platinum is regularly distributed to users as they browse around the website, post in the forums, play games, and participate in other various events and contests; the site also rewards users every day with random platinum or items from the Daily Chance. The former virtual currency was known as Gaia Gold, however, after a rapid increase in inflation after gold generating items were released, Gaia created Gaia Platinum and gave users the chance to switch to that currency.

In July 2007, Gaia released another virtual currency called "Gaia Cash", which can be purchased with real money. Gaia Cash can be bought through ] payments, or directly from Gaia itself.<ref name="aboutgold">{{cite web
|title = About Gaia Gold
|publisher = Gaia Interactive
|url = http://www.gaiaonline.com/info/about.php?info=gold
|access-date = December 30, 2006
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061227231624/http://www.gaiaonline.com/info/about.php?info=gold
|archive-date = December 27, 2006
}}</ref>

===AutoCash===
On September 13, 2010, Gaia announced the introduction of AutoCash.<ref name="Inside info on a new feature&nbsp;– AutoCash">{{cite web
|title = Inside info on a new feature&nbsp;– AutoCash
|date = September 3, 2010
|publisher = Gaia Online's Blog
|url = http://gaiainteractive.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/inside-info-on-a-new-feature-autocash/
|access-date = October 2, 2010
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101005160109/http://gaiainteractive.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/inside-info-on-a-new-feature-autocash/
|archive-date = October 5, 2010
}}</ref> AutoCash is an optional feature where GaiaOnline members can sign up to buy Gaia Cash on a reoccurring monthly schedule. The current cost per month for the feature is $10; users are given extra content for the monthly fee. Staying past three months offers users the bonus of receiving special items.

===Market===
Sales within the Gaian market can be divided into four areas: Gold Shops, Cash Shops, Trade, and Marketplace.
* ''Gold Shops'': Items from these stores can be bought with Gold or Gaia Cash (most users purchase with Gold), and can range from regular store items to upmarket items. These are various NPC-run stores that sell a variety of items, such as avatar clothing and accessories, furniture for Gaia Houses, and parts for Gaia Cars. Items found in the shops can also be sold back to the shop for 50% of the shop price.
* ''Cash Shops'': Items from these stores can be purchased with Gaia Cash only. The majority of Gaia Cash sales are from La Victoire, an NPC-run store that only accepts Gaia Cash. It specializes in high-end items such as "Evolving Items", "Random Item Generators", and "Monthly Collectibles". Most items from La Victoire are continuously rotated in and out of the store. Other Cash-Only stores include "Phin Phang" (Gaia Aquarium items), and "Back Alley Bargains" (power-up items for Gaia's ], "zOMG!").
* ''Trade'': Users can trade items and gold with other users. A majority of these trades are settled in the "Gaia Exchange" forum (and its sub-forums).
* ''Marketplace'': The Marketplace is a separate area of the site for users to buy and sell items. Rather than self-auctioning an item through a thread in the Exchange forum, users can either put their item up for immediate sale with a "Buy Now" price, or leave their item for auction with a starting "Bid" price. Users can have up to 10 items for sale at once until getting the Tycoon achievement. After that, users can sell 20 items at once, and each item can be listed for a maximum of 14 days. The cost of this convenience is a 5% tax on all gold earned from sales.

The site's virtual economy experienced hyperinflation after the introduction of more gold into circulation, partly due to the introduction of purchasable 'gold generators' which generated daily gold automatically. These were introduced by the site's then-owners in an attempt to boost the site's short-term revenue. To maintain that revenue, new and bigger gold-generators were frequently introduced and an arms-race ensued between site users. This would eventually lead to the collapse of the economy, coupled with large declines in the userbase, and the ultimate sale of the site. Later owners substituted a replacement currency, Platinum, currently pegged at 1 Platinum to 10 million of the old Gold currency, and have not returned to currency generators as a way to raise revenue.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/36307772|title=A Look into the Rise and Fall of Gaia Online|last1=Chan|first1=Nicole}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Lehdonvirta|first1=Vili|last2=Castronova|first2=Edward|title=Virtual Economies: Design and Analysis|date=May 9, 2014|publisher=MIT Press|page=219|isbn=9780262027250|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYyJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA219|access-date=September 3, 2014}}</ref> However, former COO Jason Loia has stated he didn't consider inflation as a significant issue.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Loia|first1=Jason|title=Air Traffic Controlling Digital Goods: Production Planning in Virtual Economy Based Online Communities|url=https://ieondemand.com/presentations/air-traffic-controlling-digital-goods-production-planning-in-virtual-economy-based-online-communities|publisher=Innovation Enterprise|access-date=January 21, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010135/https://ieondemand.com/presentations/air-traffic-controlling-digital-goods-production-planning-in-virtual-economy-based-online-communities|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Notable items===
====Monthly Collectibles====
'''Monthly Collectibles''' (previously known as '''Donation Items''', also referred on site as '''MCs''') are special items that can be bought with real money meant to support Gaia's maintenance and costs. Established in June 2003 after users of Gaia Online petitioned for a "donation system" in an attempt to increase site revenue, for every US$2.50 a user gives to the site,<ref name="gigaom" /> he or she receives an item known as a "Sealed Envelope" in his or her inventory.

Sealed Envelopes go on sale on the first day of every month and are released on the 15th of each month on. During August and September 2008, the envelopes were unsealed on the eighth, but on October 2, 2008, it was decided that the release date should be returned to the fifteenth. The Sealed Envelope disappears from the user's inventory and is replaced by a "Thank You Letter" for the current paid month (for example, a "Thank You Letter for August 2004" represents a payment made in that month of that year). Users are then able to open these virtual letters to choose one of two or three limited-edition items to be granted into their inventory from each letter. <!-- Please do not change the sentence about the number of items without first discussing on the talk page. Thank you --> These items were known as Donation Items until potential legal problems prompted the name change.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Liu
| first = Ereka
| title = Donation items name changed to monthly collectibles
| publisher = Gaia Interactive | publisher = Gaia Interactive
| date =October 30, 2006
| url = http://www.gaiaonline.com/info/about.php?info=gold
| url = http://gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19031035
| accessdate = 2006-12-30}}</ref><!-- apparently Gaia got 60% of the votes in this category, but only a Gaia Online admin post supports that, which isn't really an appropriate source. Once a good source for that is found, then we can add that claim to the article -->
| access-date = February 25, 2007 }}</ref> Monthly Collectible items and the "Thank You" letter items they are found in are specific to the month that they were released in: for example, the items found in the "Thank You" letter for April 2006 can only be found in that letter, and one could only purchase that letter in April 2006.


Letters can be purchased over the phone, with a ] from a mobile phone, via ], credit card, traditional mail or with Gaia Cash through the Cash Shop, "La Victoire". Envelopes and letters can be later bought and sold through user trades or through Marketplace. The production of these types of items were discontinued, with the final Monthly Collectibles released on March 15, 2017.
Users may also use real currency to purchase special items or in-game currency. This may be used to purchase special items.


====Evolving Items====
Evolving Items, commonly abbreviated to '''EIs''', are items that change or '''evolve''' over time. Items begin with one set of item poses, but with each new evolution, a different set of poses become available instead. Additionally, with each subsequent evolution a re-release of the item becomes available at the Cash Shop as a "next-generation" release. When the item has fully evolved all previous poses become available for the item. Times between evolutions are different for each EI, and can be anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. Recent additions of "Rapid Evolving Items" evolve twice a week. New evolution updates are noted in regular site announcements as "Evolving Item Reports" present by the NPC, Dr. Singh. All EIs are available from the Cash Shop "La Victoire", and can be later sold through trading or in the Marketplace. EIs are removed from the Cash Shop sometime after their final evolution becomes available.


====Chance Items/Random Item Generators====
With Chance Items, referred to as '''CIs''' (previously known as Random Item Generators, or '''RIGs'''), users play a chance mini-game and the item they are granted depends on their success with completing the game when they decide to stop playing and collect an item, or their failure to complete the game. Games will vary depending on the RIG&nbsp;– some may require users to choose a "correct" response, while some are simply a choice between continuing the game or stopping and collecting an item. RIGs are available from the Cash Shop "La Victoire" and are eventually rotated out of the shop.


===Gaia Houses===
Users are able to own their own Gaia House situated in Gaia Towns. Houses are available in three different styles: Round, Square, and Long. To purchase a house is free; however future changes to the style of the house cost an additional amount. Users are also able to relocate their homes to a different Town postcode for an additional cost. A range of decorative furniture items can be bought from the NPC-run store, "The Faktori", such as include floor and wall tiles, tables, chairs, lamps, among others. Rare housing items can be found in Enchanted Wooden Trunks and Enchanted Golden Trunks randomly found floating across site pages.


===Gaia Cars===
On June 18, 2007,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28475605
|title = Gaia Online announcement of Gaia Rally release
|date = June 18, 2007
|access-date = August 25, 2007
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825013119/http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28475605
|archive-date = August 25, 2007
}}</ref> Gaia Online and ] announced a partnership that allowed users to create a virtual Scion with customizable wheels, decals, fog lights, tail lights, and spoilers.<ref name="autochannel">{{cite web
|url = http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/06/19/052375.html
|title = Gaia Online and Scion Allow Teens to Pimp their Virtual Rides
|date = June 19, 2007
|access-date = August 25, 2007
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070819140121/http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/06/19/052375.html
|archive-date = August 19, 2007
}}</ref><ref name="Control">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/07/marketers-grapple-with-giving-teens-more-control-online198.html|title=Marketers Grapple with Giving Teens More Control Online&nbsp;– Mediashift&nbsp;– PBS|website=]|access-date=June 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114142626/http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/07/marketers-grapple-with-giving-teens-more-control-online198.html|archive-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> Other car choices available were the fictional Possum and Musculero. The Scion tC, Scion xD, ] and Kiki Car (which is available only with Cash)<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/community-announcements/rally-update-new-animated-parts-kiki-car/t.57060607/
|title = Rally Update: New Animated Parts & Kiki Car
|date = December 17, 2009
|access-date = June 26, 2010
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100123194341/http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/community-announcements/rally-update-new-animated-parts-kiki-car/t.57060607/
|archive-date = January 23, 2010
}}</ref> were later released, bringing the total to seven possible cars to choose from. Users can own up to 3 cars, which are stored in their Garage. Parts and decals for cars (such as paint color and antenna ornaments), as well as car bases, can be purchased from the NPC-run store, "Sam's Body and Parts". Cars are used as part of the Rally game available on the website.


==Special Events== ===Gaia Aquarium===
Users can maintain fish and other creatures in Gaia Aquariums. Fish and tank accessories can be purchased with both Gaia Cash and Gold from the NPC-run store, "Phin Phang". At certain times, the fish inside a tank (from a different owner, commonly as a signature under a post in the forums) will "glow", enabling the Booty Grab mini-game. Aquarium item bundles (which include various fish and tank items) can be purchased from the main Cash shop, "La Victoire". Items can also be bought at the marketplace.
Gaia has various special events during the year, ranging from special comic updates to interactive site qualities, often in a theme of the holidays (Halloween, Easter, Christmas, etc.). During such activities, users may sometimes take part in an active story line of updated plots, sometimes participating in multi-user interactive theme games. On rare occasions, Gaians may actually vote upon the plot during the event and change the outcome so as to appeal to popular demand, such as during the Trial of Ian.


===Arenas===
During all events, there are Gaian prizes of virtual items to be added to the customizable Avatars of users, obtainable through time spent on the site. Most Gaian events conclude after the duration of at least a week, usually longer.
There are four main arenas on Gaia Online: Housing, Art, Avatar, and Writing&nbsp;– with some of these arenas having subcategories. Members can vote in the arenas and comment on art, avatars, houses, or written works that have been submitted by other users.


The Avatar Arenas was a popular feature of the site that was first released on January 2, 2006. Each week, Users could spend 100 Gold to enter their current Avatar into Arenas and have fellow users vote for them using a 10-point system. On Sundays at 12:00 A.M. PST, the top ten entries with the highest average score would be rewarded with Gold based on their rankings and had their Avatar permanently featured in the Avatar Arena winner circle that is permanently archived in the Arena features. On September 30, 2008, the Avatar Arenas were separated into two categories. Users could enter Cosplay Avatars in one Arena and Original Avatars which did not qualify as a cosplay in the other. The voting system was changed to a 5-Star score that users could vote with. Entry fees into the Arenas increased after this to reduce the number of entries and currently cost 10,000 gold to enter.
==Features==
''Private Message System'': The private message system often referred to as "PM" is a way to communicate with another person. This may be to ask them if they would like to "trade" or join a "guild". This is sent like virtual e-mail.


Entering the Art and Housing Arena is free, and no prizes are awarded.
''Trade'': Gaia allows users to Trade with each other through the site. The user types in the name of the user that they wish to trade with and both users are able to trade the items that they have in their inventory.


===Sponsor Quests===
''Guilds'': Guilds are a group started by a user that pays 20,000 gold. The guild consists of captain, vice captain(s), crew(s), and the members. These members can communicate with each other in the guild's private forum.
<!--Please don't add more to this list of promoted items, this isn't meant to be exhaustive-->
The Gaia Quest system grants users items for performing certain tasks. Although previously quests for doing tasks around the website (similar to Gaia's current Achievement system), quests on the site are now for promotional purposes, granting items related to a featured movie, video game, or series for watching ] or advertisements.


Movies, video games, and other products that are promoted by the Gaia Quest system include ], '']'', '']'', ],<ref name="Control" /> '']'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2007/tc20070523_707199_page_2.htm |title=Bloomberg |work=Bloomberg.com |access-date=June 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125110631/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2007/tc20070523_707199_page_2.htm |archive-date=January 25, 2010 }}</ref> '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', among many others. Anime series and TV shows have also been promoted, such as '']'', '']'', and '']''. There are a few for games such as ''] Swords'' and '']''.
''Profile'': Gaia allows their users to create a unique profile that users can design and tell a little about themselves (this looks somewhat like a myspace profile. Instead of a picture their avatar is shown).


There are also some quests for products such as Crazy Cores ].


==Forums== ===Achievements===
Achievements are tasks that can be performed around the site. Completion of Achievements grants users Achievement Points. There are a variety of different Achievements that can be obtained&nbsp;– tasks to gain these can include posting in a thread, changing one's equipped avatar items (or equipping specific items), selling an item in Marketplace, among many others.
]
Gaia Online's ]s system is a modified ]-based<ref name="adminzone">{{cite web | last=Meadors | first=Brett | title = "Interview: Derek from Gaia Online-Largest Online Forum" | url = http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11135 | date= 2005-06-20 | accessdate = 2007-08-23}}</ref> collection of message boards, containing many main forums, which are further divided into subforums. Users' posts usually appear in a ] next to the poster's avatar. Gaia claims that its forums are the largest on the Internet, an assertion supported by Big-Boards.com.<ref name="bigboards" /><ref name="bigboards2" /> The forums generate the most site activity of all Gaia's attractions, comprising 25%<ref name="ypulse">{{cite web
| title = "Ypulse Interview: Craig Sherman, CEO of Gaia Online"
| date= 1 May 2007
| last = Goodstein
| first = Anastasia
| publisher = Ypulse
| url = http://ypulse.com/archives/2007/05/ypulse_intervie_7.php
| accessdate = 2007-06-16}}</ref> to 30% of site activity.<ref name="gigaom" /> Gaia Online's forum system also includes a ] system.


Users can use Achievements they earn to add titles under their Avatar.
==Donation Items/Monthly Collectibles==
]
] (formerly called ''Donation Items'') are limited-edition online items purchased with real currency. In June 2003, users of Gaia Online petitioned for a "donation system" in an attempt to increase site revenue, Gaia Online released its donation system, in which for every US $2.50 a user pays to the site,<ref name="gigaom" /> the user receives an item known as a "Sealed Envelope" in his or her inventory. On the 15th of every month,<ref>] were originally released on the 25th day of the month; now, this occurs on the 15th.</ref> the Sealed Envelope disappears from the user's inventory and is replaced by a "Thank You Letter" for the month in which the user made his or her payment (for example, a "Thank You Letter for August 2004" if the payment was made in that month of that year). Users are then able to "open" these virtual letters to choose one of two or three ] to be granted to their inventory from each letter. <!-- Please do not change the sentence about the number of items without first discussing on the talk page. Thank you --> These items were known as Donation Items until potential legal problems prompted the name change.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Liu
| first = Derek
| title = Donation items name change to monthly collectibles
| publisher = Gaia Interactive
| date= 2006-10-30
| url = http://gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19031035
| accessdate = 2007-02-25 }}</ref> Monthly Collectible items and the Thank You Letter items they are found in are specific to the month that they were released in: for example, the items found in the Thank You Letter for April 2006 can only be found in that letter, and one could only purchase that letter in April 2006.
Letters can be purchased over the phone or via ], credit card, traditional mail, Gaia Cash, or ].


==Games== ==Games==
Gaia Online currently offers a number of games where users can win different items or gold. These games constitute 10% to 15% of total site activity.<ref name="gigaom" /> In December 2020, Gaia removed ] from their website including games requiring Flash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=25193159&page=1|title = The Death of Flash &#124; Page 1 &#124; Answers, Sorted by Subject &#124; Guild Forums &#124; Gaia Online}}</ref> This was a large portion of their game selection.
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->
]
Gaia Online currently offers eight ] games: Fishing, Towns, Word Bump, Jigsaw, Slots, Cinemas, Cards, and most recently, Gaia Rally (which is sponsored by ]). These games comprise of 10% to 15% of total site activity<ref name="gigaom" />.


===zOMG===
In most games, users can win different items or online currency that can be exchanged for items. For example, in Gaia Fishing, users catch fish and garbage, which can be exchanged for fish-shaped hats or clothing made out of recycled garbage. Gaia is eventually going to be releasing a battle system, but the release date has not been set.
zOMG is a browser-based ] on Gaia where users battled monsters and participated in ]-style quests. The game utilized special rings to activate abilities, such as throwing fireballs or conjuring up a defense. Users did not level up the traditional way via experience points, but instead, through collecting Charge Orbs and empowering their rings with them. zOMG was made public and open to beta testing in November 2008, and a number of updates were made to the rings and flow of the game during its six-year duration on the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10044367-52.html|title=Focus testing Gaia's 'zOMG'|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=CNET|access-date=June 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102033442/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10044367-52.html|archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/04/interview-talki.html|title="Interview: Talking Gaia MMOG with Dave Georgeson, Sr. Producer"&nbsp;– Virtual Worlds News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406072330/http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/04/interview-talki.html|archive-date=April 6, 2010}}</ref> On November 6, 2014, the staff announced that due to hardware and engineering limitations, zOMG was to be permanently removed from Gaia Online.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/community-announcements/update-on-zomg-maintenance/t.94749579/ |title=Guest Authentication &#124; Gaia Online |access-date=November 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107050621/http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/community-announcements/update-on-zomg-maintenance/t.94749579/ |archive-date=November 7, 2014 }} "Gaia Online Update on zOMG Maintenance"&nbsp;– GaiaOnline</ref>


On February 28, 2017, it was announced that beta tests for a zOMG revival were underway.<ref>http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-news-updates/staff-updates/t.63632027_1858/#1858 "Gaia Online Update on zOMG Maintenance"&nbsp;– GaiaOnline</ref>
===Towns===
Gaia Towns (often simply called Towns) is an online world on Gaia where users' avatars may move and interact with each other, and collect gold and small items to make rare or common items. Users' homes are placed in Towns. Homes can be designed by getting different house items in the stores or marketplace.


On March 13, 2017, zOMG returned and is now open to play again. Members who played zOMG before the shutdown of the servers could pick back up where they left off, however, those who sold or discarded their rings and zOMG-related items did not have their items recovered.<ref>http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/announcements/zomg-will-be-back-on-march-13-2017/t.101958515/ "Gaia Online Update on zOMG Release"&nbsp;– GaiaOnline</ref>
===Rally===
On ], ],<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28475605
|title = "Gaia Online announcement of Gaia Rally release"
|date= 2007-06-18
|accessdate = 2007-08-25}}</ref> Gaia Online and ] announced their partnership, allowing users to create virtual Scions that they can customize with options like wheels, decals, fog lights, tail lights, and spoilers.<ref name="autochannel">{{cite web|
|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/06/19/052375.html
|title = "Gaia Online and Scion Allow Teens to Pimp their Virtual Rides"
|date= 2007-06-19
|accessdate = 2007-08-25}}</ref> and race and display them to other users in a Flash game called Gaia Rally.


===Cinemas=== ===Smashblox===
Smashblox is a game that is a part of The Playpen. Players destroy blocks and clear the board to score as many points as possible. Tournaments are held through the game, while Gaia Cash is required to play, and Gaia gold is rewarded as a prize for winning.
Gaia Cinemas was released in ], and allows users to sit in a virtual theater, and watch anime, education shorts, cartoons etc. with other Gaians. Users have the ability to throw tomatoes, fireballs, popcorn, as well as other things during a cinema session. The programs shown in Gaia Cinema are anime or cartoons shown with permission from Gaia Online's sponsors, films in the public domain, or films made by Gaia or by Gaians.
Gaia has old classic films as well as new anime in their theaters like ] and ].
Recently Gaia has created its own 3-D films, under the title of MMVII, that correlate with the Gaia ] storyline.
Quest movies also take place in cinemas, when you finish watching a trailer for a movie you will be able to get a free quest item. Recently released was Gaia VJ where Gaians can make a virtual living room cinema with play lists composed of videos from video-hosting sites including ].


===Gaia Battle=== ==Virtual worlds==
]


===Towns===
Gaia Online has announced it is developing an ] where users will be able to battle monsters and participate in ] style quests. The game will utilize special rings to simulate abilities. While a sub-forum for the battle system has been established, the official release date has not been announced. Also an informational site has been made for it, which can be viewed .
Gaia Towns (often simply called Towns) is a virtual world where avatars may move and interact with each other. While in Towns users can pick up various items. Insects, litter, and flowers can be collected while in Towns, and these items can be later made into other items for a small cost. Shaking trees, rocks, and shrubs can yield small amounts of gold to be collected. Users may use a virtual chat system while in the towns. Homes can be found throughout Towns and more than one user can visit someone else's home.

Towns 2, was launched in 2013. The regular updating of Towns and Towns 2 was discontinued because of the decrease in active, ]. Players can still use these Towns and visit their friends. In November 2020, an announcement was made that Gaia will be creating Towns 3 which is an entirely 3D environment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-discussion/towns-3-is-going-to-be-in-3d/t.109272282_1/|title=Guest Authentication &#124; Gaia Online}}</ref> Players should expect the release of a Towns 3 ] once they have completely removed ] from Gaia Online.

===Sponsored Worlds===
Since 2009, Gaia has been implementing virtual worlds, similar to Towns, for various site sponsors. These have included a rainbow-styled world for a ] sponsor, a castle for an '']'' film promotion, a large forest tree for the film '']'', and a tree house for the animated TV series '']'' among many others. Users can interact with certain NPCs in these areas, and are often awarded prizes for visiting these areas.

===App===


Gaia has also released multiple apps on iOS. Gaia on the Go, the main application<ref name="gaiaonline.com">https://www.gaiaonline.com/mobilegaia "Gaia On The Go Mobile App"</ref> allows users a streamlined way of accessing the forums and making minor avatar edits, as well as viewing the site's marketplace. Derek Liu announced that a new version of the application was being worked on. Gaia has also released one of their games, Switchem, and a virtual world, Rallys, as separate iOS applications.<ref name="gaiaonline.com"/>
==Market==
There is a full-fledged Gaia Market. Market is divided into four parts - Shops, Trade, Marketplace, and Gaia Cash Shop.
* ''Shops'': There are various shops where NPCs sell different items for avatars, house, cars, etc. These shops are of all types, upmarket as well as economy. You can buy items using gaia gold or gaia cash. Items found in the shops can also be sold back to the shop for 50% of the shop price.
* ''Trade'': Users can trade items and gold with other Gaians.
* ''Marketplace'': Users can have up to 10 items for sale at once in this ] like vending system. The cost of this convenience is a 2% tax on all gold earned from sales.
* ''Cash Shop'': The most recent addition to Gaia's economy sells items for Gaia Cash (which itself is bought with real money). It includes high end items and special "evolving" items, that change over time.


== See also ==
* ''Monthly Collectables'': These are rare items which can be bought with Gaia gold for around 5,000,000 gold.
*]
*], gained notability when she created videos for her Gaia friends.


==Quests== ==References==
{{reflist}}
The Gaia Quest system grants users items for performing certain tasks. Most quests on the site are for promotional purposes, granting items related to the featured movie or anime series for watching ]. Movies promoted by the Gaia Quest system include ], ], ], ], '']'' and '']''. Some quests are restricted to certain geographic areas.


==External links== ==External links==
<!-- Please do not add Tektek or similar sites to the External links list without first discussing on talk page. --> <!-- Please do not add Tektek or similar sites to the External links list without first discussing on talk page. -->
* {{Official website|name=Gaia Online official website}}
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===Creator interviews===
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Latest revision as of 05:37, 17 November 2024

Anime-centered social media and forum website

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2020)
Gaia Interactive, Inc.
Company typePrivate
Industry
FoundedFebruary 18, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-02-18)
Founders
HeadquartersSan Jose, California, U.S.
Key people
  • James Cao (CEO)
  • Derek Liu (CTO)
Number of employees25
Websitewww.gaiaonline.com

Gaia Online is an English-language, anime-themed social networking and forums-based website with Chibi-style animations. It was founded as go-gaia on February 18, 2003, by Derek Liu, Long Vo, Josh Gainsbrugh, and the name was changed to GaiaOnline.com in 2004 by its owner, Gaia Interactive. Gaia originally began as an anime linklist and eventually developed a small community, but following a statement by founder Derek Liu, the website moved towards social gaming and eventually became forum-based.

In 2007, over a million posts were made daily, and 7 million unique users visited each month (with over 26 million total registered users). Gaia also won the 2007 Webware 100 award in the Community category and was included in Time magazine's list of 50 best websites in 2008. In January 2011, the company won the Mashable Best User experience Award for 2010.

Avatars

Members of Gaia Online, known as Gaians, receive a customizable avatar when they sign up. Users have the ability to customize their avatar in many ways, including skin tone, eye style and color, hairstyle and color, gender, race (e.g. human, vampire, elf, zombies), and attire. Numerous clothing items and accessories for avatars can be purchased from a range of NPC-run stores using the site currencies, Gaia Platinum and Gaia Cash. Players may also gift one another clothing items and accessories. Avatars appear next to posts in the forums and profile comments (the post itself encapsulated in a "speech bubble"), and in Gaia Towns and Gaia rallies, and other environments the avatar appears as a movable character that can travel from place to place, interacting with the environment (catching bugs, shaking trees, digging for buried treasure, collecting trash and flowers, etc.) and other users. In February 2018, an avatar based on on Doki Doki Literature Club! (DDLC!) main antagonist Monika was released to Gaia Online under the title "Just Dangerous Me", the addition of which has been criticised by DDLC! creator Dan Salvato due to no permission having been sought and the skin being sold as downloadable content without compensation to Team Salvato.

Forums

There is a large variety of forums in which users can post it and communicate with one another. These forums are used for general discussion, news, Admin announcements, role-play, general entertainment, and artist discussions.

Economy

Currency

The currency used in Gaia is known as "Gaia Platinum" (formerly, "Gaia Gold"). Platinum is regularly distributed to users as they browse around the website, post in the forums, play games, and participate in other various events and contests; the site also rewards users every day with random platinum or items from the Daily Chance. The former virtual currency was known as Gaia Gold, however, after a rapid increase in inflation after gold generating items were released, Gaia created Gaia Platinum and gave users the chance to switch to that currency.

In July 2007, Gaia released another virtual currency called "Gaia Cash", which can be purchased with real money. Gaia Cash can be bought through cell phone payments, or directly from Gaia itself.

AutoCash

On September 13, 2010, Gaia announced the introduction of AutoCash. AutoCash is an optional feature where GaiaOnline members can sign up to buy Gaia Cash on a reoccurring monthly schedule. The current cost per month for the feature is $10; users are given extra content for the monthly fee. Staying past three months offers users the bonus of receiving special items.

Market

Sales within the Gaian market can be divided into four areas: Gold Shops, Cash Shops, Trade, and Marketplace.

  • Gold Shops: Items from these stores can be bought with Gold or Gaia Cash (most users purchase with Gold), and can range from regular store items to upmarket items. These are various NPC-run stores that sell a variety of items, such as avatar clothing and accessories, furniture for Gaia Houses, and parts for Gaia Cars. Items found in the shops can also be sold back to the shop for 50% of the shop price.
  • Cash Shops: Items from these stores can be purchased with Gaia Cash only. The majority of Gaia Cash sales are from La Victoire, an NPC-run store that only accepts Gaia Cash. It specializes in high-end items such as "Evolving Items", "Random Item Generators", and "Monthly Collectibles". Most items from La Victoire are continuously rotated in and out of the store. Other Cash-Only stores include "Phin Phang" (Gaia Aquarium items), and "Back Alley Bargains" (power-up items for Gaia's MMORPG, "zOMG!").
  • Trade: Users can trade items and gold with other users. A majority of these trades are settled in the "Gaia Exchange" forum (and its sub-forums).
  • Marketplace: The Marketplace is a separate area of the site for users to buy and sell items. Rather than self-auctioning an item through a thread in the Exchange forum, users can either put their item up for immediate sale with a "Buy Now" price, or leave their item for auction with a starting "Bid" price. Users can have up to 10 items for sale at once until getting the Tycoon achievement. After that, users can sell 20 items at once, and each item can be listed for a maximum of 14 days. The cost of this convenience is a 5% tax on all gold earned from sales.

The site's virtual economy experienced hyperinflation after the introduction of more gold into circulation, partly due to the introduction of purchasable 'gold generators' which generated daily gold automatically. These were introduced by the site's then-owners in an attempt to boost the site's short-term revenue. To maintain that revenue, new and bigger gold-generators were frequently introduced and an arms-race ensued between site users. This would eventually lead to the collapse of the economy, coupled with large declines in the userbase, and the ultimate sale of the site. Later owners substituted a replacement currency, Platinum, currently pegged at 1 Platinum to 10 million of the old Gold currency, and have not returned to currency generators as a way to raise revenue. However, former COO Jason Loia has stated he didn't consider inflation as a significant issue.

Notable items

Monthly Collectibles

Monthly Collectibles (previously known as Donation Items, also referred on site as MCs) are special items that can be bought with real money meant to support Gaia's maintenance and costs. Established in June 2003 after users of Gaia Online petitioned for a "donation system" in an attempt to increase site revenue, for every US$2.50 a user gives to the site, he or she receives an item known as a "Sealed Envelope" in his or her inventory.

Sealed Envelopes go on sale on the first day of every month and are released on the 15th of each month on. During August and September 2008, the envelopes were unsealed on the eighth, but on October 2, 2008, it was decided that the release date should be returned to the fifteenth. The Sealed Envelope disappears from the user's inventory and is replaced by a "Thank You Letter" for the current paid month (for example, a "Thank You Letter for August 2004" represents a payment made in that month of that year). Users are then able to open these virtual letters to choose one of two or three limited-edition items to be granted into their inventory from each letter. These items were known as Donation Items until potential legal problems prompted the name change. Monthly Collectible items and the "Thank You" letter items they are found in are specific to the month that they were released in: for example, the items found in the "Thank You" letter for April 2006 can only be found in that letter, and one could only purchase that letter in April 2006.

Letters can be purchased over the phone, with a text message from a mobile phone, via PayPal, credit card, traditional mail or with Gaia Cash through the Cash Shop, "La Victoire". Envelopes and letters can be later bought and sold through user trades or through Marketplace. The production of these types of items were discontinued, with the final Monthly Collectibles released on March 15, 2017.

Evolving Items

Evolving Items, commonly abbreviated to EIs, are items that change or evolve over time. Items begin with one set of item poses, but with each new evolution, a different set of poses become available instead. Additionally, with each subsequent evolution a re-release of the item becomes available at the Cash Shop as a "next-generation" release. When the item has fully evolved all previous poses become available for the item. Times between evolutions are different for each EI, and can be anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. Recent additions of "Rapid Evolving Items" evolve twice a week. New evolution updates are noted in regular site announcements as "Evolving Item Reports" present by the NPC, Dr. Singh. All EIs are available from the Cash Shop "La Victoire", and can be later sold through trading or in the Marketplace. EIs are removed from the Cash Shop sometime after their final evolution becomes available.

Chance Items/Random Item Generators

With Chance Items, referred to as CIs (previously known as Random Item Generators, or RIGs), users play a chance mini-game and the item they are granted depends on their success with completing the game when they decide to stop playing and collect an item, or their failure to complete the game. Games will vary depending on the RIG – some may require users to choose a "correct" response, while some are simply a choice between continuing the game or stopping and collecting an item. RIGs are available from the Cash Shop "La Victoire" and are eventually rotated out of the shop.

Gaia Houses

Users are able to own their own Gaia House situated in Gaia Towns. Houses are available in three different styles: Round, Square, and Long. To purchase a house is free; however future changes to the style of the house cost an additional amount. Users are also able to relocate their homes to a different Town postcode for an additional cost. A range of decorative furniture items can be bought from the NPC-run store, "The Faktori", such as include floor and wall tiles, tables, chairs, lamps, among others. Rare housing items can be found in Enchanted Wooden Trunks and Enchanted Golden Trunks randomly found floating across site pages.

Gaia Cars

On June 18, 2007, Gaia Online and Scion announced a partnership that allowed users to create a virtual Scion with customizable wheels, decals, fog lights, tail lights, and spoilers. Other car choices available were the fictional Possum and Musculero. The Scion tC, Scion xD, UFO and Kiki Car (which is available only with Cash) were later released, bringing the total to seven possible cars to choose from. Users can own up to 3 cars, which are stored in their Garage. Parts and decals for cars (such as paint color and antenna ornaments), as well as car bases, can be purchased from the NPC-run store, "Sam's Body and Parts". Cars are used as part of the Rally game available on the website.

Gaia Aquarium

Users can maintain fish and other creatures in Gaia Aquariums. Fish and tank accessories can be purchased with both Gaia Cash and Gold from the NPC-run store, "Phin Phang". At certain times, the fish inside a tank (from a different owner, commonly as a signature under a post in the forums) will "glow", enabling the Booty Grab mini-game. Aquarium item bundles (which include various fish and tank items) can be purchased from the main Cash shop, "La Victoire". Items can also be bought at the marketplace.

Arenas

There are four main arenas on Gaia Online: Housing, Art, Avatar, and Writing – with some of these arenas having subcategories. Members can vote in the arenas and comment on art, avatars, houses, or written works that have been submitted by other users.

The Avatar Arenas was a popular feature of the site that was first released on January 2, 2006. Each week, Users could spend 100 Gold to enter their current Avatar into Arenas and have fellow users vote for them using a 10-point system. On Sundays at 12:00 A.M. PST, the top ten entries with the highest average score would be rewarded with Gold based on their rankings and had their Avatar permanently featured in the Avatar Arena winner circle that is permanently archived in the Arena features. On September 30, 2008, the Avatar Arenas were separated into two categories. Users could enter Cosplay Avatars in one Arena and Original Avatars which did not qualify as a cosplay in the other. The voting system was changed to a 5-Star score that users could vote with. Entry fees into the Arenas increased after this to reduce the number of entries and currently cost 10,000 gold to enter.

Entering the Art and Housing Arena is free, and no prizes are awarded.

Sponsor Quests

The Gaia Quest system grants users items for performing certain tasks. Although previously quests for doing tasks around the website (similar to Gaia's current Achievement system), quests on the site are now for promotional purposes, granting items related to a featured movie, video game, or series for watching trailers or advertisements.

Movies, video games, and other products that are promoted by the Gaia Quest system include Gracie, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Golden Compass, Nancy Drew, The Last Mimzy, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Kung Fu Panda, Bee Movie, Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, The Sims 3, Sonic and the Black Knight, Harry Potter, PopStar Guitar, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, among many others. Anime series and TV shows have also been promoted, such as Naruto, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and The Hills. There are a few for games such as Dragon Quest Swords and Naruto: Ultimate Ninja.

There are also some quests for products such as Crazy Cores Skittles.

Achievements

Achievements are tasks that can be performed around the site. Completion of Achievements grants users Achievement Points. There are a variety of different Achievements that can be obtained – tasks to gain these can include posting in a thread, changing one's equipped avatar items (or equipping specific items), selling an item in Marketplace, among many others.

Users can use Achievements they earn to add titles under their Avatar.

Games

Gaia Online currently offers a number of games where users can win different items or gold. These games constitute 10% to 15% of total site activity. In December 2020, Gaia removed Flash from their website including games requiring Flash. This was a large portion of their game selection.

zOMG

zOMG is a browser-based MMORPG on Gaia where users battled monsters and participated in RPG-style quests. The game utilized special rings to activate abilities, such as throwing fireballs or conjuring up a defense. Users did not level up the traditional way via experience points, but instead, through collecting Charge Orbs and empowering their rings with them. zOMG was made public and open to beta testing in November 2008, and a number of updates were made to the rings and flow of the game during its six-year duration on the site. On November 6, 2014, the staff announced that due to hardware and engineering limitations, zOMG was to be permanently removed from Gaia Online.

On February 28, 2017, it was announced that beta tests for a zOMG revival were underway.

On March 13, 2017, zOMG returned and is now open to play again. Members who played zOMG before the shutdown of the servers could pick back up where they left off, however, those who sold or discarded their rings and zOMG-related items did not have their items recovered.

Smashblox

Smashblox is a game that is a part of The Playpen. Players destroy blocks and clear the board to score as many points as possible. Tournaments are held through the game, while Gaia Cash is required to play, and Gaia gold is rewarded as a prize for winning.

Virtual worlds

Towns

Gaia Towns (often simply called Towns) is a virtual world where avatars may move and interact with each other. While in Towns users can pick up various items. Insects, litter, and flowers can be collected while in Towns, and these items can be later made into other items for a small cost. Shaking trees, rocks, and shrubs can yield small amounts of gold to be collected. Users may use a virtual chat system while in the towns. Homes can be found throughout Towns and more than one user can visit someone else's home.

Towns 2, was launched in 2013. The regular updating of Towns and Towns 2 was discontinued because of the decrease in active, unique players. Players can still use these Towns and visit their friends. In November 2020, an announcement was made that Gaia will be creating Towns 3 which is an entirely 3D environment. Players should expect the release of a Towns 3 demo once they have completely removed Flash from Gaia Online.

Sponsored Worlds

Since 2009, Gaia has been implementing virtual worlds, similar to Towns, for various site sponsors. These have included a rainbow-styled world for a Skittles sponsor, a castle for an Alice in Wonderland film promotion, a large forest tree for the film Legend of the Guardians, and a tree house for the animated TV series Adventure Time among many others. Users can interact with certain NPCs in these areas, and are often awarded prizes for visiting these areas.

App

Gaia has also released multiple apps on iOS. Gaia on the Go, the main application allows users a streamlined way of accessing the forums and making minor avatar edits, as well as viewing the site's marketplace. Derek Liu announced that a new version of the application was being worked on. Gaia has also released one of their games, Switchem, and a virtual world, Rallys, as separate iOS applications.

See also

References

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