11/11 Readings

This week I read the article on the evolution of virtual worlds. It  was surprising to learn that some of the games that I’ve played and still play have roots going back as far as 1979. Today, most people are familiar with games such as Second Life or World of Warcraft. These virtual worlds have grown into spaces where millions of people not only play but have the ability to create, interact, and communicate. From text based multiuser games to virtual societies that are completely open ended, the online gaming world has been changing for decades into a very complex system.

From my early teen years on I’ve been playing online games. I never really got into World of Warcraft or Everquest but I can remember a time where I spent entirely too much time on games such as Phantasy Star Online and Counter Strike. While these aren’t the most well known online games, they are still online interactions that have directly stemmed from the early MUDs and MOOs. While reading the article I couldn’t help but think of all the services that have benefited from these early forms of virtual worlds. It could be argued that games such as Ultima Online and Everquest that brought subscription services and in-game transactions were the forerunners of Xbox Live, Playstation Network, and Nintendo’s Virtual Console.

I wanted to post this video for two reasons: 1) Kind of explains the kind of games I’m talking about. 2) It’s totally rad and makes me feel old.

Interestingly, today virtual worlds aren’t limited to medieval adventures or futuristic questing. Second Life and games like it offer blank slates for users to create any type of experience they wish. Even some of the worlds most famous corporations and politicians have used the space to expand their marketing reach. These worlds are always expanding, and with the growing number of people who aren’t afraid to jump online and experience new things, show no sign of slowing down.

11/11 Readings

This week we are discussing online games, SNS games, and SNS in general.  Urista and others conducted a focus group discussion about why college students used Facebook and Myspace.  These groups suggested that we use the two sites for five reasons: 1) efficient communication, 2)convenient communication, 3) curiosity about others, 4)popularity, and 5)relationship formation and reinforcement.  The authors propose that these motivations fit into a “uses and gratifications” theory meaning that the users liked how they were able to use the technology as well as how that use makes them feel.

I really enjoyed a lot of the direct quotes from these students.
“…Sometimes I’m busy and don’t have the time to talk with [my friends] or find out what’s going on in their lives”… Yet others said that you can’t be a true friend unless you reply to sad or otherwise “important” statuses they post.

"Facebook Status Updates Are Out Of Control"

Still another person said they thought it was easier to announce an engagement on Facebook, while I know several friends that are offended if you don’t tell them about relationship changes before it appears impersonally on Facebook. Annnnd crazily “Facebook engaged” is actually a term on Urban Dictionary:  “Replacing your profile pic with one of you and your spouse at the same time as them just before linking relationship statuses. Thus two circles of friends are informed and sent a pair (2) of pictures of the happy couple!”
Here’s the best contradiction though, just about every Facebook and Myspace user checks up on other people without their knowledge, but may still set their sites to private to prevent others from doing the same.  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard–and said *cough cough*–the term “facebook creeper” nonchalantly. In fact, I would probably consider purchasing the shirt below for my best friend lol   Stalking your friends on Facbook is practically a sport in some circles.  It really is amusing that many people hate the idea of being stalked, when one of their friends is most likely doing it this very moment.

…It seems to me that there’s a major disconnect between how people use the site, and what they say or feel is appropriate use.  I know there are a lot of legit reasons for privacy settings, etc., but the general theme seems to be “do as I say, not as I do.”

-Mary Klinestiver