Shot Online

Shot Online is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which features character development and golf simulation. It is developed by the San Jose-based game developer OnNet USA and published under their game portal website, GamesCampus. Although there is no subscription fee or cost to download and play the game, additional items may be purchased using real currency through the games website. The game is also distributed through retail stores such as Amazon.

Lack of Customer Service
In the United States, OnNet is the publisher of Shot Online and has a deep history of poor customer service and failure to communicate with their customers regarding gameplay bugs and glitches and problems with nProtect's Gameguard (9) which is used as a anti-hacking utility in the game. Some of these past issues include poor coding allowing people to abuse an auction house glitch that resulted in ruining Shot Online's in game economy (8), items that people bought with their money just disappearing at random, and paying customers unable to log on due to server and or Gameguard issues. Players with issues are requested to send in a Direct Question & Answer (DQnA) which are at most times not answered for months or are deleted without replying. More info on these type of issues and more can be found using the ShotOnline Forums. (10)

History
Shot Online was originally created as a Korean title and then later marketed to the United States. Debuting in 2004 as a free online download, this game worked its way onto store shelves in 2006 when a retail version was made available.

Game updates are pushed through an update server with major improvements scheduled every six months. Using this method the developer can make rapid fixes or game changes such as the addition of auction houses to the game. Game developers have promised updates such as graphical improvements in the future.

Publishing
The game has been made in four different languages. OnNet USA publishes the English version under their game portal banner, GamesCampus. Other available languages are published under the MMO gaming portal gamigo. Retail versions of the game are published by both OnNet and SyNet Entertainment. SyNet Entertainment is the U.S. arm of a Korean company currently located in New Jersey. GamesCampus no longer honors the PPCards that come with the Retail Edition.

Introduction
The golf simulator allows up to four players to tee-off together on several fictional and non-fictional courses, while The Square allows a player's avatar to interact with NPCs and make trades with other players. For each hole completed, the character earns both experience points and in-game currency called NG ("Not Gold"). When the player accumulates enough experience points, their character will advance to the next level. NG can be used to purchase items such as clubs, balls, clothing, greens fees, and club repair fees.

Characters
Shot Online is similar to many other MMORPGs in the sense it uses a mixture of player experience and items to increase a players skill. All characters are designed in anime. The game classifies players as Beginner, Amateur, Semi-Pro, Tour-Pro, Senior, and Master-Pro. This classification is based on both a player's level and handicap achievements on specific courses. As you progress, more options become available such as the ability to create guilds or use better equipment.

Seven character classes are also available which will give a player different starting abilities based on different character skills. Two character types are only able to be created with a Gold Plus membership. The basic character types are Zygmunt, Shaoring, Erda, Belzebuit, and Wotan. The two Gold Plus characters are Albus and Camilla. Basic characters have a distribution of 18 stat points. Albus has 20 and Camilla has 22.

Courses
There are a wide variety of courses based on real-world locations and fictional designs. Courses have different green fees, and playing them provides varying bonuses and experience points depending on the difficulty.

Tournaments
Tournaments are offered, which can be played at any level. Currently a string of seasonal tournaments are being hosted. In addition to these seasonal tournaments, free tournaments are also offered. Instead of any head-to-head play like in a real tournament, your score is registered upon completion of the course. When the tournament ends winners are declared from the submitted scores.