I got my first computer when I was 11. It was mainly used for playing video games like “Driver”, and “Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine”. I was running Windows 98, with some pretty crappy hardware. It was a good computer for the day, but as with all computers, time caught up to it.
I first started using the internet to create things when I was 13. I got into a browser based game called “Neopets“. On Neopets there is a feature called “Guilds”, which basically allow you to create a little portal page for other users to look at, and if they liked it, they might join your guild. You could use HTML to edit the guild page to your liking. So I got into learning HTML, which was a huge pain for me at 13 years old. Luckily Neopets has a little HTML guide to help the newbies.
After about a year learning HTML, I started making my own HTML websites, nothing major, no moneymakers, but it was enjoyable, and a learning experience. After a while I came across another text based game called “Monocountry“. In Monocountry you basically start off as a criminal, and build up your stats: strength, agility, guard, and attack other players, commit crimes, etc. Really simple. Eventually, the owner of this game released the script to make a game of your own. He also released a new version of the game, and kept the old version up as the “Classic” version, which I eventually convinced him to let me run, and view the code. From that, I learned how to code PHP and MySQL. I got the owner to allow me to bring on a partner, someone you all know as “Cronus”. I showed him a few of the basics, and he went from there and learned to be a great coder.
Eventually we went our separate ways, and I created my own game, while Cronus created mods for the script of the game, and sold them to other game owners. After a while, Cronus started a game called Criminal Vengeance, and then eventually I shut down my game, because the economy was ruined. Cronus sold his game, and we got back to being business partners again when we found a new site, one with a great idea. This site was AdBux. We rushed to get our PTC up, called AdverCash.
Advercash made a lot of cash for us, we were young, and the money was great. We didn’t have to get a job! That was my favorite part. After a while, I sold my shares of AdverCash, and a sister site we created called TitanClicks to Cronus for $10,000. After the sale, I had no source of income, and a lot of spare time, so I decided to start up TurboBux. TurboBux is a PTC just like TitanClicks, and AdverCash, but smaller. It gave me a steady income for a good 6 or 7 months, enough to keep up with my college tuition, but it also ate up all of my time. So, after a few talks with Cronus, we decided to sell TurboBux, PTCTalk, TitanClicks, and the TitanCash Network name. We added it to sitepoint and had a “Buy It Now” offer within an hour.
I am attending the University of Northwestern Ohio, and am majoring in Network Security Administration. My online business adventures have paid for my college so far, and I plan on paying for the rest of it the same way.
So, there is my story. Consider yourself updated on me-ism. I’m sure if you work hard, and take what I say to heart, and mind, and I am sure you will be able to make a similar, and probably more interesting story.
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