Is SL a Game?

How can something with no objective that all participants are trying to reach, be catagorized as a "game"?

It's not, and the Lindens don't call it a game.

Next topic.

Next topic? I say next we discuss people who post on a forum so much they somehow feel as if they have some kind of control over the content of said forums and do so by flaming other threads just to drive their post count.

SL at the moment is a game because it competes for time against entertainment products.

When it evolves far enough that entertainment can exist within it, even for those who don't find SL itself entertaining, then it will become a platform (which AFAIK is LL's goal)

No, it's a toy. It competes against games, but it's not one itself. It's like Lego being an alternative to Cleudo; they're both ways of passing the time, but they're not the same.

Toys are great, I prefer them to games.

Of course, one can create games with toys.

Not so quick...
SL is whatever you make of it. If you want it to be a game, then it is. You decide the goal of the game yourself.

I have a hard time explaining exactly what SL is whenever someone asks

Actually, maybe SimCity, which has specified parameters but no actual goal, is a better comparison. You can't win SimCity. You set your own goals - create a perfect environment where everybody is happy, build the nastiest smelliest place you can imagine, maximise the number of skyscrapers... whatever you choose.

There are basic assumptions underlying the environment which encourage certain goals, or make some easier than others, which is true in SL as well, but if you want to you can counteract those.

It's, you know, this thing. You download a program and you can go on it and do stuff and make yourself look like whatever you want and chat to people and build things and reprogram the environment and... oh, just try it, you'll see what I mean.

I was doing that last night.

Splunge!

SL is actually a type of plush toy.

Think about it.

What type?

Does it go "squeak" if you squeeze it?

It has a squeaking add on you can either script+build yourself or buy for a nominal fee OF COURSE.

SL is Love.

For more insight, I'd check out these fun threads:

Is Second Life a game?

"SL is a GAME!" group formed

If SL isn't a game...

SL Is A Game - Because!

Enjoy!

This topic has been beat to death. I suggest a search followed by (if necessary) a new thread with an original topic or point to get it going.

Wouldn't that be more like a chew toy?

Neat. New users can't create a thread on a topic that veteran users have already discussed. And they can't engage in the horrific and disgusting Necroposting.

At least they can still swear.

That's f'n bullshite.

/ears perk

of course they can, case and point, this thread exists. I can also tell them to do a search . Aint freedom grand.

Down with freedom!

7 entries found for game.

n.

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

A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other
according to a set of rules: the game of basketball; the game of gin rummy.

A single instance of such an activity: We lost the first game.

games An organized athletic program or contest: track-and-field games; took part
in the winter games.

A period of competition or challenge: It was too late in the game to change the
schedule of the project.

The total number of points required to win a game: One hundred points is game in
bridge.

The score accumulated at any given time in a game: The game is now 14 to 12.

The equipment needed for playing certain games: packed the children's games in
the car.

A particular style or manner of playing a game: improved my tennis game with
practice.

Informal.

An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement
or adherence to rules: “the way the system operates, the access game, the turf
game, the image game” (Hedrick Smith).

A business or occupation; a line: the insurance game.

An illegal activity; a racket.

Informal.

Evasive, trifling, or manipulative behavior: wanted a straight answer, not more
of their tiresome games.

A calculated strategy or approach; a scheme: I saw through their game from the
very beginning.

Mathematics. A model of a competitive situation that identifies interested
parties and stipulates rules governing all aspects of the competition, used in
game theory to determine the optimal course of action for an interested party.

Wild animals, birds, or fish hunted for food or sport.

The flesh of these animals, eaten as food.

An object of attack, ridicule, or pursuit: The press considered the candidate's
indiscretions to be game.

Mockery; sport: The older children teased and made game of the newcomer.
v. gamed, gam·ing, games
v. tr. Archaic

To waste or lose by gambling.
v. intr.

To play for stakes; gamble.
adj. gam·er, gam·est

Plucky and unyielding in spirit; resolute: She put up a game fight against her
detractors.

Ready and willing: Are you game for a swim?
Idioms:
ahead of the game

In a position of advantage; winning or succeeding.
the only game in town Informal

The only one of its kind available: “He's the only game in town for the press to
write about” (Leonard Garment).

-----------------------------------------

Second Life is not a game, it's a sport.

Second life is a game in the same sense that picking scabs is a game, or perhaps scratching a mosquite bite till you bleed.

Second Life is a game. If you have a properly functioning sesion in all respects, and can prove it, you win the big jackpot. The jackpot continues to grow.

Is any of that from Wikipedia. Otherwise, I'm not listenin'.

we doing this shit AGAIN?

*sigh*

Second Life is a 'thingamabob' - you use the 'doohickey' to connect to the 'whatchamakallit' and voila!

SecondLife.

It's what you make it - and it's different to all people - so you're all right, and you're all wrong - live with it.

I'm wright!

The first part is from dictionary.com, which is sort of like wikipedia except that some of the definitions are correct.

The last ones below the big "---------------------", sometimes referred to as a "dotted line", I produced.

----------------------------------------------------------

dotted line

n : a line made up of dots or dashes; often used to indicate where you are supposed to sign a contract; "just sign on the dotted line"

lol, I like that.