Please Shut Up if you say SL is not a game.

I know, I know.... rough subject line, but I'm sure you'll get over it.

Haven't you noticed that whenever someone says/posts "this game" or anything that refers SL as a game, somebody (all parties included) comes out and says "Your question is not valid because SL is not a game."

I think this has become an easy way out of answering the original poster.

I realize the Lindens have stated that SL is not a game....trust me, I'm not bashing them.

Let's take a look at the definition of "Game" as it is on Merriam - Webster OnLine:

"game:"

"1 a (1) : activity engaged in for diversion or amusement"

Well, damn... that pretty much covers anything that you do for fun, but still would define SL as a game. You could also say it is a videogame, which is defined by a electronic game.



Rather than people saying:

"Your question isn't relevant because SL is not a game"

How about they use this statement instead:

"SL is what you make of it and we don't wanna answer your question, thanks!"

If you're going to quote a dictionary definition, find a decent dictionary first.

There are many definitions of the word 'game', but there is only one relevant one.

In this sense of the word, a game has a specific goal. You either have to score points, solve a puzzle, or compete against an opponent.

Second Life is not a game.

Which is why just dismissing someone's argument with "SL isn't a game", without finding out what definition of "game" they were using, is so irritating - as you've just said, there are many definitions, and you've just admitted that only one of them is the one that doesn't apply to SL.

I suspect a fair number of people who've referred to SL as a "game" mean it in the sense of any online multiuser system that has a focus on anything other than pure socialisation, because "world" and "platform" are not yet established in the wider real world as terms to use for such a thing.

Is SL a game in the same way that Let's Pretend is a game?

But Second Life is not a game. And why am I being told to shut up?

I've played many games without preset goals. Heres the only definition thats relevant to SL:

game1 [url=http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/edu/ref/ahd/t/pron.jpg]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/edu/ref/ahd/t/pron.jpg[/url] (ghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/edu/ref/ahd/s/amacr.gifm) KEY

NOUN:

1. An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime: party games; word games.
   

Reference: American Heritage Dictionary.


No mentioning of goals. Set your own goals in this GAME that is SL.

Second Life IS a game..... but only in the sense that your First Life is a game too.

Lost me at "Please shut up" - that's not in my nature.

With the 874th rebirth of this topic, can we please start using auto-response macros?

Everyone can see SL as something different. Doesn't make me or person b wrong, even if we disagree. To some SL is a game. To others it isn't.


Just ENJOY it and stop trying to force others to accept your definition.

The very fact that this discussion even comes up proves your point, Jonas.

I've never seen the WoW or EQ2 boards argue over whether those are games, though.

I think the original poster was talking about a point of forum etiquette - that it'd be nice if we could avoid the case where someone makes an (often reasonable) point about SL but happens to use the word "game" in it, then someone posts "but SL isn't a game", and this is followed either by silence or a big row about whether SL is a "game" or not while the original point sits in the corner wondering why no-one is paying attention to it.

By telling us to shut up?

SL is a toy. Use it however you like as long as you find it entertaining.

One interesting aside is that Robin was the brand manager for Sim City for a lot of years. During that time period they chose to define Sim City as a "software toy" rather than a game, as it was open ended with no set goals other than what the user chose. Sounds remarkably similar to SL...

Which games?

lol - I thought I was experiencing deja-vu!

Yes, he was just talking about it in an abrasive way

Heh wow! Such a strong reaction. I'm sorry if you were offended by the words "Shut Up", but then again if these little words offend you it's hard to be apologetic.

SL is what you make of it.

I think people have a hard time calling it a game because it takes away the fact that people take this as real. They assume that calling it a game will dumb down the real feelings they feel in SL everyday.

It CAN be a game.

It CAN be a learning tool.

It CAN be drama.

It CAN be relaxation.

It CAN be a job.

It CAN be whatever the hell you want it to make it.

Games do not need goals, thats total BS. You make your own goals.

Party games and word games all have goals.

I sometimes wonder whether this is a cultural thing, and whether the definitions of the word are diverging slightly in American and British English.

I wasn't dismissing someone's argument with 'SL isn't a game." What a curious thing to say!

I said there were many definitions, for example, to 'game' a system, but that only one of them applied to Second Life. The opposite of what you think I said.

Let me reiterate. Rather than posting "Your question is not relevant because SL is not a game." please don't post at all because it is an easy way out of the posters question and does not add to the discussion.

anotherwords "Please shut up"

I'd say im blunt rather than abrasive.

Hence, it is a toy.

Damn Straight... hehe... my toy.

But what if somebody says "Because SL is a game, <insert some opinion dependent upon SL being a game>"? Isn't "but SL isn't a game" a valid response in that instance?

Second Life is a game because it facilitates an environment of anonymity.

I'm just hoping we can one day use the software itself to build useful, professional virtual worlds that serve purposes other than amusement.

In my opinion, SL isn't a game nor is it a "platform" either. I think SL is better described as a "Virtual World," a "MultiUser Environment," a "Demi-Virtuality," or "Metaverse."