What's with this whole ".io" gimmick?

[Deleted member 386356]

It seems that there are plenty of games on the market ending their titles in ".io", what's up with that?
I know agair.io was what started it, but it seems that there are either parodies, or games that are similar but play different, an example would be the recent "emoji.io".
Seriously, what's with this gimmick?

 

[Deleted User]

Like agar.io, diep.io, slither.io, etc? Dunno.. but it's quite annoying

 

[Dayfid]

While we're at it, what's this .com gimmick? SO many websites use it?????

 

[Boogieboo6]

Agar.io did it and it was a successful game. Now people copy it.

 

[DeoNaught]

I think with .io its People jumping on to the agar.IO bandwagon.

 

[osaka35]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.io

 

[laudern]

I've never heard of any such game with that ending. Must be a younger generation thing.....

 

[Ray Koopa]

Agar.io was quite a great game created by a hobbyist game developer until Miniclip bought and ruined it, being the money-whore they are, not fixing gameplay issues.
It's basically taking place on a really wide 2D game board with a lot of players on it (up to hundreds), and simple controls just moving you on the board in any direction and a few special actions.

Other devs created similar games with a wide 2D board, many players on it and simple movements and thought hosting their game on an .io domain shows the similarities in the name already.

Agar.io: You're a blob which grows by eating other blobs. Special actions split your blob into two.
Diep.io (IIRC): You're a circle gaining more firepower and guns by killing others. Special actions are of course shooting with the guns.
Slither.io: You're a snake (like in the original snake) and try to let other snakes run into you which then explode into food, eating it makes your snake longer and fatter. Special actions are consuming length for a speed-boost.