What's Unique About Riata?
So, we all know that one of the problems in running a game is in making your game new and in making sure that newer sim-games don't rip off the ideas that older and more established games originated, thought of, planned, and implemented. Apparently copying is the highest form of flattery and while that's well and good, we thought we'd take a moment to highlight some items that we're pretty sure are unique to Riata. Some of these ideas were taken from the Horse Country games, we admit, but since HC isn't around and most of the HC players are in Riata, and since we started right after HC, we still feel these are all unique ideas to the current incarnation of dime-a-dozen sites that started after we did. Chances are if you see these ideas elsewhere they came from this game. Why join a copycat site when you can join the original?
Our Equine Database
While the idea of an Equine Database isn't original to Riata (we first saw it in HayLand after leaving HC), our database is truly one of a kind. It was written completely from scratch using PHP and MySQL to be easy to use, to keep neat-o records, and to make registering and transferring horses within the game very easy. Since the database was created specifically for this game and isn't available anywhere else, this is something very unique to Riata. The database itself has received rave reviews and it's actually quite a lot of fun to play around with.
The Breeding Barn
Before Riata, people were generally capped at the Private or Boarding Barn. Riata's Breeding Barn idea allowed people who felt that breeding and large barns were an important part of the game to prove that they were knowledgeable breeders and then to give these players larger and, eventually, unlimited breeding, creation, and horse limits. This breeding exam brings an entirely new dimension to the game for many players and adds a level of difficulty that many choose to embrace.
The REAA
This is, admittedly, an idea we took from Horse Country, we can't take credit for the original idea. What we can do, however is to take credit for bringing it back from the dead. After HC closed, many games moved to a silly points schedule for different awards and we felt this was just as we said before - silly. Awarding horses set awards based on nothing more than achievements merely encouraged overshowing and doing silly things all in the name of achievements. The REAA allows us to recognize truly fantastic horses with well-thought-out personalities, developed histories, and strong performance records regardless of the opportunity that exists in the game for lots of showing. This puts all horses on equal footing and allows to recognize all sorts of really terrific horses in the game.
The Game Ladder
Riata has implemented a unique set of steps that allows players to climb as much (or as little) of the game's "corporate ladder" as they please. If your goal is to become an admin, there are a number of ways you can get there - from a unique Advisory Board (players on a committee address issues within Riata, represent their player groups, and submit policy and game changing proposals to the admin) to being moderator of a forum, and more. No more is the last place to go in a game that of the barn status. There are virtually unlimited opportunities in Riata for advancement and new challenges at every single corner!
Trainer's Licensing
In Riata, we take the acquisition of knowledge very seriously. After all, if you think a horse can compete in more and more disciplines as he gets older and that any horse can compete in any discipline, well, that's not really very realistic, is it? In Riata, we offer you the opportunity to actually learn more about horses and various disciplines while still have a great time through our trainer licensing program. Players complete various exams which then allow them to train other people's horses for money. Completing a trainer's exam doesn't mean that you have to, it's merely another avenue for players to expand their participation, knowledge, and appreciation of horses!
The Thank You Board
The thank you board exists to recognize players for doing something large or small that deserves a thank you. We firmly believe that saying a simple thank you is a spectacular way of making everyone - players and admin included - feel appreciated. Appreciate galore!
Assignments
These are completely optional but, like all of our other programs, assignments are designed to be fun ways to more completely experience the game. In additional, completing assignments gets you member points, which can get you money, creation credits, and so much more!
