Gaia Online

Gaia Online (also known informally as Go-Gaia, or simply "Gaia") is a roleplaying site founded on February 18, 2003 by Derek Liu (Gaia username Lanzer), Josh Gainsbrugh (username L0cke), Long Vo (username VO) and a team of their friends, Studio XD artists, and programmers/web designers. The site currently revolves around its forum, avatars, and in-game currency, but is expanding to include features such as games and user-versus-user dueling. Gaia's forum, the largest English forum-based community on the internet, has over 250 million posts (plus over 191 million in storage), 2 million registered users, and usually has 20,000 or more people online at any given time during the day. The most users ever online numbered approximately 34,093 on Monday 26 September at 5:50pm.

On Gaia Online, each user can create their own virtual character and customize it through clothing and accessories located in virtual shops throughout the site. The customizations begin with choosing gender, skin tone, eyes, mouth, and hair style and color. From there, the user tries to earn "Gaia gold" by doing everything from chatting on the plethora of forums to choose from, rating art in the art gallery, answering polls, and more. In fact, almost everything one does on the site can earn a user gold. Once gold is earned, the user can buy clothing and accessory items from the site-run shops as well as from individual users. With the use of these items, the user's avatar can be further customized, reflecting the personality of the user. As with many forums, there is a clear subculture for Gaia Online.

Gaia Online is free to play and is currently in the Alpha Testing stage. The release date of the Beta stage is currently unknown, but was previously planned for November 2004.

Gaia Online Feature List

Gaia Link List - A list of links to other websites. It's located in Barton Town, in the library. The administrators have announced that it might be taken down and replaced by a repository of Gaia-specific information.
Gaia Art Arena - Is located in the arena, in Barton Town. It serves as an art community/forum where artists can share their latest creations in a friendly and sometimes competitive environment while earning Gaia gold.
Gaia Bank - This is where users are able to trade items or gold. The bank is located on Isle de Gambino.
Item List - The item list is no longer being updated.
Rare Items System - This is a system which grants the users special items or gold at random via containers such as giftboxes or glowing site links.
Gift Wrapping - Allows you to disguise an item by giftwrapping it.
Jewelry Engraving - Allows you to customize a jewelry item by adding a small message to the description. Currently unavailable.
Gaia Marketplace & Vending System (v.2.0) - An auction-style market where users can sell up to four items at a time. The marketplace is located on the Isle de Gambino.
Gaia Store - A store featuring real-world Gaia merchandise, requiring real-world money.
Gaia Guild Network (v.2.0 beta) - Allows users to create, administrate, and maintain their own forums.
Gaia Friends List - Allows users to flag another user as either a friend, making it easier to see their posts, or as ignored, hiding their posts.
Gaia Journals (v.1.0) - This is a type of weblog. It is used for users to post their personal thoughts about everything and nothing.
Thread Subscription - A user-specific list of favorite threads that allows easy location of commonly-visited places.
Gaia Standard Time (GST) - Simulates the progression of time on the site in a 12-hour cycle.
Avatar System (v.3.0) - Each user is given an avatar to represent their account on the site. Avatars may be posed and given items to customize their look.
Password Retrieval System - A standard system for recovering lost account passwords.
Gaia Fishing (v.1.5) - A small Flash-based minigame that allows users to fish on the site, either alone or in groups. Users can fish at Bass'ken Lake, the Port of Gambino, and the Durem Reclamation Facility.
Reporting System - A forum feature that allows users to submit reports easily for posts that break forum rules or the Terms of Service.
Going Postal - A small display of user fanart about the site.
Gaia Hangouts - A small, Instant Messenger style feature where users can communicate in a two-way chat. This feature has been removed from the site.
Gaia Housing (v.1.2.5 beta) - Allows users to have a customizable home on Gaia.
Gaia Downloads - Provides content and images related to the site for the benefit of the users.
Gaia Casino ~ Gaia Slots - Another small Flash-based minigame, based on slot machines. The users are able to bet special tokens to win tickets, which they can then exchange for prizes exclusive to the casino. Single-player and multiplayer modes.
Optional Word Filters - Allows users to choose a customizable level of profanity filtration on the site.
Inventory Organizer (v.0.38 alpha) - Allows users to more efficiently move and sort their Gaian items.
Gaia User Ads - Allows users to advertise Gaian threads on the site for real-world money.
Gaia Towns (v.0.989e) - Using a Flash based system, Users are able to 'walk' outside of their Gaia Homes and interact with other individuals, and can enter houses of others, and engaging in live chat. Towns are made of neighborhoods, and each neighborhood can have up to six houses. Users have to 'warp' to other towns by way of a user directory. Also, you can catch Bugs, and pick up Trash when walking around. To get to towns, enter the Train Station in Barton Town. This is only a pre-release and when the next version of Towns is released all the houses will be removed so users can move in again.
Post Templates & Actions - New Post Templates have been added so now when making a post you can use the default speech bubble, or you can use several extra borders, or display your friends/inventory at the top of the post. Post Actions can now be used to generate random numbers and dice rolls, making it easier to run lotteries and games.
New Profile System - With the new Profile System comes the features, Social Networking, About Me, Currently Equipped Items, Quick access shortcuts, Wishlist, Comments, and Multimedia. This new feature(s) are still in the "Beta Pre-Release"-stage.
Guild Subforums - This new update to the GGN allows Guild Captains and Vice Captains to create Guild Sub-forums for a fee of 2500g.

Gaia Gold, Random Events, and Items

Gaia gold is the currency of Gaia Online forums site. It is earned in several different ways.

Making new threads
Replying to current threads
Voting on polls
Clicking around the site, also known as "lurking"
Submitting one's art to the Art Arena
Voting or commenting on art in the Arena
Selling art or services in the "Mini-Shops" forum
Donations from other users
Selling fish caught in the Fishing mini-game to other users or the fishing store
Selling Tickets obtained by gambling at the Casino
Selling unwanted items to other users or back to the stores
Buying items then selling them for more making a profit (known as "exchange whoring")

In addition, one can get random events. One example is the "Pink link". This is when a specific thread in any of the forums glows neon pink. When it is clicked, the user gets one thousand bonus gold. Other examples include the Enchanted Trunk, which holds a random uncommon item, a Pink Giftbox, which contains a random rare item, and the Blue Giftbox, which can give a user anything of the other events (1000 gold, a rare item, or an uncommon item). Blue Giftboxes also hold a few of their own unique treasures, which are not obtainable in the other rare event boxes. During the April Fool's Event of 2004, when the box was first seen, the boxes exploded in the face of the user, causing soot to cover the avatar's face. It wasn't until later that they were re-released as the total random event giver.

Once a user has earned gold, they can use it to buy items to dress up their avatar. The items range from "normal" clothing like gloves or socks to fantastic accessories such as tails, fairy and butterfly wings, or halos. New hairstyles can be purchased at the Salon. The "better" or "rarer" items cost more gold.

The option of donating to Gaia is also available. For every $2.50 one donates, one receives a "donation letter". Around the 25th of every month the letter will open, revealing a choice of two new items available only to those who donated. Users can sell these "donation items" for gold to other players or keep them for wearing if they prefer. Some rare donation items that have been released in the past include a Halo, DJ/portable headphones, a devil tail/angelic sash (a white scarf that defies gravity and floats around one's avatar), and the OMG/AFK hats (fuzzy little hats that look like creatures). The administrators of the site have promised that these items will never be rereleased on Gaia. Due to the limited amount of them and the increase in users, these items tend to rise in value rather quickly. However, through recent conventions, Administrators give users who show up a chance to spin a wheel which offers a small chance of receiving an old donation, rares, uncommons or a store item.

In addition, Gaia also holds events for Easter, April Fool's Day, Halloween and Christmas. Sometimes, an item is won, and it becomes super-rare a few years later and is worth a lot more than it was in the past. These items, as well as the rare donation items, have become somewhat of a status symbol in recent years. Other user-run events are often run during the year, such as a Summer carnival that was held on June 19 and the ball that is being held in October. Events like these have no administrator interaction, and are completely run by a user.

Gaian NPC Characters' Storyline

The Gaia storyline, a plot revolving characters created by (and roleplayed by) Gaia's staff members, has progressed already to some extent. Characters include the shopkeepers of Gaia's item stores, a reporter who covers plot "news" as it develops, and figures who only appear on holidays (such as the Easter bunny).

The First Gaian Anniversary Ball - Johnny K. Gambino was first introduced as the 'most powerful man on Gaia', alongside his son Gino Gambino. The two hosted a celebration of the site's first anniversary. Attendees got a first-look at the inside of Gambino's Mansion. Several shopkeepers from around Gaia were present as well, including Ian & Rufus, Ruby, and Sasha. (February 18 2004)
The Second Annual Gaian Ball - At this user-organized event, Gino appeared and introduced G-Pins by giving them out to users who attended the ball. These items play a significant part in the future. Gino warns the receivers of the pins to be quiet about the gifts, as he was not supposed to be giving them out. (March 5 2004)
Gaia Olympics 2004 - Johnny K. Gambino hosted the first annual Gaia Olympics. From each town, two NPC's were chosen to participate in the competition, which was a race from Isle De Gambino to Durem, and back again. From Gambino, Sasha and Gino participated. From Barton, Ian and Leon participated. From Durem, Moira and Edmund participated. Each character had their own weaknesses and strengths, and competition was tight. Many thought that Edmund, a swift and strong contestant, would win the race, but was unfortunately distracted by an attractive woman in Durem, and then disqualified in Barton when he decided to 'have fun' with Vanessa in the Personals building. Sasha easily got lost at several points in the race, and Ian couldn't stop himself from taking advantage of good deals in the shops around Gaia. Moira ended up taking the win, earning her the Gold Medal. Sasha ended up taking the Silver while Ian was stuck with the Bronze. Gino, who had been under severe pressure from his father to win, suddenly went missing from the race, nowhere to be found. Later on, Gino reappeared, finishing the race dead last, much later then all of the other contestants that were still qualified, but still finishing (August 29 2004)
Introduction of G CORP - The mysterious organization known as G CORP, the world's largest manufacturer of biological medicines and advanced technology, first appeared, owned by none other than Johnny K. Gambino. The organization included many lab technicians of great variety in social patterns, work ethics, and moods. The events that were described in the journals found throughout the guild were extremely odd and shrouded in mystery. Up until Halloween, strange incidents occurred, including the death of Labtech 013, the strange behavior of several Labtechs, and the many strange experiments conducted. A few Labtechs made efforts to escape from the impending danger that they sensed, yet failed. (October 18 2004)
Halloween 2004 - Before Halloween, a strange individual known only as 'Labtech X' appeared in the Marketplace selling strange vials of a green, unknown liquid. Users, noting the strangeness of this, rushed to purchase the vials from the NPC. Users were left in suspense until Halloween, when Gambino opened up his mansion to host the event. At some point, a false alarm occurred, causing the mansion's alarms to go off and a lock down to occur. Gambino made an announcement of it being just a false alarm, and everything went back to normal. Then, several Labtechs showed up at the celebration to have a retirement party for Labtech 062. Suddenly, Labtech 013, supposedly deceased for quite some time, rose from the dead and attacked several Labtechs, quickly initiating their transformation into zombies. The condition quickly spread, infecting all Labtechs, except Labtech 123, who suspiciously didn't show up. Now the real alarm went off. The Labtechs, who during the retirement celebration were in a separate closed room, quickly broke free and started attacking the Gaia users who were attending the event, causing them to take on the zombie status as well. Gambino, who was starting to feel rather uncomfortable, issued shotguns to anyone who was not a zombie, and thus started a battle between humans and zombies. As it turned out, the mysterious vials were the key to fighting the disease, each vial having the healing power to get rid of the viruses that could be found in one bite. However, even with the weapons and vials, the virus spread too quickly and Gambino's head of security, by the name of Bucho, initiated the Silent Flash protocol. This caused a large missile to be launched from an unknown location on a course for the source of the threat, Gambino's mansion. The missile made impact, and the mansion was destroyed, ending the zombie threat. Cindy Donovinh, from GAIA 9 Action News, made her first appearance, and gave a report on the situation. Besides the events at the mansion, the shopkeepers all dressed up in costumes for Halloween, and gave out candy. If one collected enough candy, they would then be able to trade it to Jack, a mysterious figure who represents the spirit of Halloween since 2003, for a grab bag containing a prize, but only after finding him wherever he was hiding in the world of Gaia. (October 31 2004)
Christmas 2004 - This is when Gambino was first seen after the explosion of the mansion (see above). During this time, his journal was showing his adventures around Gaia looking for his lost son, Gino. On the map, you could go and click on Gambino, and wish him good luck. For this he would thank you. In the end, Gino saved his father when Gambino was about to throw himself into Durem's reclamation facility, but it turned out that Gino did not remember who his father was. Also, before Christmas, users could sing carols to nine NPCs in their various shops in order to earn presents from them. The presents could not be opened until Christmas.
The Second Gaian Anniversary Ball - The Von Helson Sisters, Anna Corinne and Marie, made their first appearance. The "Two Most Powerful Women in Gaia" hosted the party at their Durem mansion. Various NPCs showed up, and Gaia Anniversary Balloons and Hats were handed out. The sisters also handed out two-part V Pins. Gambino, who had crashed the party by arriving before the sisters with the amnesic Gino, garnered support by handing out G Pins again. The NPCs also dropped various bits of information, and Liam of the then-unreleased town, Aekea, made his first appearance. LabTechX and LabTech123 both appeared as well, having not been turned into zombies. X had some shady dealings with the sisters. Then, while Cindy Donovinh continued to report, the Von Helsons kidnapped Gino and forced Johnny K. Gambino into a confrontation. In return for Gino, Gambino had to promise to leave Durem and never return.
Gambino Donation Drive/Tower of Gambino - Gambino appeared at the base of his blown-up mansion, asking for donations to bring it back. Then the "mansion" became a tower, and the tower grew and grew until it had three maps to itself, not including the base on island. The finishing touch was the old Gambino mansion and G CORP logo on top of the extremely tall tower. Cindy Donovinh reported on its construction. In response, the Von Helson sisters began to sell Anti-Gambino Picket Signs for 500 gold outside their Durem mansion. Gambino reappeared at the top of his mansion, more egotistical than ever and somewhat insane. Those who donated during the Donation Drive received one free Anti-Von Helson Picket Sign. Those who had not donated could buy one for 1000 gold.
Easter 2005 - The Von Helson sisters hosted the Easter party at their mansion. Inside the mansion were hidden Easter eggs, Eight of which could be traded in for a basket from a cybernetic Easter Bunny. When you received it, you could open it to either retrieve a Bunny Mask or a Chick Mask.
April Fools 2005 - As Gambino continued his maniacal power trip on top of his tower, Gino connected the crazed evil exhibited by Gambino with the father he had known, regaining his memory. Gino's recognition snapped Gambino back to reality, and the two ran to each other, arms outstretched. Just before they hugged, a shot rang out. Gambino had been shot by a sniper in Durem, who is still of unknown origin. In shock, Gambino fell off of his tower and into the sea, bouncing off of the side of the tower on the way down. Gambino's tower fell with him, revealing new maps (Barton Coast, Great Wall of Gambino, and Durem Reclamation Hub), but many of the maps from Durem to the Isle were clouded with dust. The top of the tower also smashed directly into the Von Helson mansion. The dust took a week to clear. When it did, it was revealed that the fall of the tower was likely planned, as there was a new Gambino mansion on the Isle and a second one took the place of the Von Helson mansion.
Gino Returns/August 5 2005 - Sasha and Ian's store speechbubbles changed to include references to each other a short while before the event, and a manga was released in sections that detailed the beginning stages of this plot update. Sasha and Ian were walking on the Gambino beach, enjoying the sun, and Ian wandered off to find Sasha some pretty seashells. While Ian was absent, Sasha discovered Gino Gambino washed up on the beach. He wasn't breathing, so she gave him mouth to mouth rescue breathing, presumably causing him to breathe on his own again. Ian returned during Sasha's rescue attempt and was shocked, perceiving the rescue breathing as a kiss and becoming jealous. Sasha berated him for this and then took Gino back to her house. Later that day, a shadowy figure with a strong resemblance to Ian came to Sasha's house, wielding a kitchen knife.
Gino Returns - Part 2/October 11 2005 - Recent story events included a manga with it, this happened again on October 11. The story takes place immediatally after the last manga on August 5, just as Ian walks in where Gino is sleeping, holding a kitchen knife. "In everyone's lives, there comes a time when one needs to act. Some acts can cause much pain and suffering-- Some acts-- --Are just blown out of proportion in our minds." Ian is shown slicing a piece of bread with Sasha making complaints on the bread size. Sasha brings Gino in lunch while he is in bed, talking to Doctor123, formally LabTech123, on his bedside. Doctor123 is now working for the local free clinic, helping people who are in need for no charge. He said that Gambino understood that power the most, those with great power have the ability to help those who are less fortunate. In the morning Bucho came to get Gino, just as soon as he heard it was 'OK' to get him. Gino says goodbye to Sasha and Ian, thanking them for saving his life. Sasha gives Gino his father's pocket watch which she found on the beach. Of course in the background, Ian jealous. Gino then returns home in Isle De Gambino, the mansion empty of any life. He stands at the balcony, looking out to the island Gambino, wondering how he will ever fill his father's shoes. Later in Barton pub Ian, Sasha, Moira, Liam, and Vanessa all were sitting at a table chitchatting about the recent events between Sasha and Gino. After Sasha told everybody about the 'mouth-to-mouth' with Gino, Moira pops in with a 'you're not getting the only action' and tells everybody about someone she's seeing, then points out Vanessa is also seeing someone new. At around 6:30 Ian somehow, by himself, walks into Sasha's bedroom, and find pills near the bed where Gino was sleeping, then saying the words. "I knew it. I've got you now Gino!"

To be continued

Features to Come

Tattoos and Piercings - A tattoo and piercing store will open in an unknown location and will be run by two NPCs named Devin and Natasha. As some tattoos will cover the head, bald avatars will be an option.
Contact Lens - Because of the exploit of the new wishlists, contact lenses have been leaked out. The release date is unknown, but rumor has it they will be released nearing Halloween 2K5.
Barton Flowershoppe - A new store is rumored to be opening in Barton East, where users will be able to trade flowers found in Gaia Towns in for flower-related items. It is assumed that bugs and trash will also be traded here, but that has yet to be confirmed.
Class System - Even before the Battle System comes out, users will be able to choose their job class. No definite classes are known. A significant amount of weapons and fantasy/role-playing related clothing may be released alongside the class system. Some currently released items, such as the Staff of the Angels, Demonic Pitchfork, and Fire/Ice Gauntlets, have been confirmed as probable weapons. It was recently mentioned that Gaia-specific classes, such as "Spammer" may be added in addition to traditional RPG professions.
RPG/Quests - The Gaia Online role-playing game will allow users to participate in both individual and group/guild quests, where they may possibly gain exclusive items. Some of these items may be parts used in combinations to create equipable items for the user's avatar. Some confirmed quest items are angelic and nitemare back wings. The RPG will be tied into the ongoing Gaia storyline, and the origins of the Gaia world will be revealed with its release.
Casino - The Casino has been released but it has been made clear that other games will be released. The only currently available game is slot machines, however the admins stated at Otakon 2005 that they hope to add blackjack and poker at a later date.
Battle System - A fully-functional battle system designed to allow users to engage in interactive battles against monsters, and later on possibly even other users. Said to be based off of Final Fantasy Tactics, the battle system will likely be isometric grid-based, much like how Gaia Homes are. The battle system will incorporate the class/job system and weapons which can be equipped to the user's avatar. While many users are eagerly anticipating the release of the battle system, just as many others are worried about the influx of new users that this will bring to the site, causing inflation in the pixelated items. Many users are also worried about the server issues that both the new feature and the aforementioned increase in new users will probably bring. There has been no confirmed information about the structure or flow of the battle system.
Personals - While the Personals were open in the past, they were closed due to difficult moderation of illegal acts such as cybering. In the future a newer, efficiently designed and reconstructed Gaia Personals will be released (Note: this is only a rumor).
Pets - Even as a vast amount of users on Gaia Online are anti-pets due to the belief many have of the inefficiency of NeoPets, an equally vast amount of users on Gaia Online are interested in a pet system being introduced. The user L0cke, a member of the administrative staff, has stated that the pet system Gaia Online will have to cater to the audience of Gaia Online, not NeoPets, as they understand that each site appeals to different audiences (note: this does not mean pets will be released on Gaia, it is not confirmed).
Guild Halls - At Otakon 2k5 the Gaia administrators stated that Guild Halls will be released in the future, these places will be huge Homes in the town system for the entire guild to live in.
Digging Game - Originally there was to be a digging game that was hosted by an old miner named Reinhart. Currently it has been cancelled because it was too similar to Minesweeper, however Reinhart is supposed to still be released. As to whether or not the digging game will eventually be released is unknown.
Journal Store - One idea for Gaia Journals is to have a store where you can by various upgrades for it. Some of the upgrades would be the ability to change the background color on certain templates, like how the beta test moderators were allowed to (Note: this is only a rumor).
Music Store - Not only will there be a store to buy musical instruments for your avatar, but it's rumored that you will be able to buy 'music notes'. With these notes it might be possible to put together a tune for inside your house (note: this is only a rumor).
Quest System - Coming soon after Gaia Towns will be a quest system. Here you will do task for various NPCs. Two Quest items have already been confirmed. Angelic and Demonic Backwings will be earned through a difficult quest.
Avatar Voting - A new feature is currently under development, sort of like the Avatar Spotlight and Art Arena combined. It will basically be a giant Avatar Contest, set up similar to the Art Arena, this has been confirmed by Lanzer through the new Town System.
Gaia Locations - Not much is known about this feature, except that a beta version was illegally accessed by a user.
Library - It has been said that Gaia Online has grown away from its link list and the current location of the link list will be removed and replaced with a library, where it it believed that past events, history, NPC profiles and similar data will be located for new users.
Housing Rares - Rares for housing will also come with the upcoming housing 1.5 upgrade. The items are still unknown, though.
Gaia Locations - Little is known about Gaia locations. I wanna know. *domo*

- §ŢΣ ((ş²³))

List of Gaian NPCs

DON'T WORRY! WE ARE ALL RETARDS!!!
Johnny K. Gambino
Gino Gambino
Marie Von Helson
Anna Corinne Von Helson
LabTech013
Labtech023
LabTech062
LabTech101
LabTech123 (Doctor123)
LabTech126
LabTech137
LabTech138
LabTech247
LabTech722
LabTech909
LabTech912
LabTech957
LabTechX
Grunny
Cindy Donovinh
Liam
Ian
Leon
Agatha
Edmund
Vanessa
Ruby
Peyo
Jack
Moira
Sasha
Rina
Ribateau
Blodeau
Bildeau
Josie
Meredith
Logan
Lex
Becky
Easter Bunny
Reinhart (to be released at an unspecified time)
Devin (to be released with the tattoo parlor)
Natasha (to be released with the tattoo parlor)
Bucho
Bogie (towns bug collector)
Feebie (towns junck collector)
Yappie (towns flower collector)

Gaia Online Feature List

Gaia Gold, Random Events, and Items

Gaian NPC Characters' Storyline

Features to Come

List of Gaian NPCs

See also