Second Life Forums Archive - But is Second Life a game???

Lo Jacobs

Awesome Possum

Join date: 28 May 2004

Posts: 2,734

02-09-2005 14:41

From: Chicago Kent

Its a fucking game.

Deal with it.

Thank you.

Pshhh piss off.

_____________________

http://churchofluxe.com/Luster

Jessica Robertson

Registered User

Join date: 3 Dec 2004

Posts: 412

02-09-2005 15:03

From: someone

2. Or..it's a psychological test being done by the Lindens, who are actually a small contigent of aliens from a highly advanced civilization, that have landed on our planet and are investigating whether we should be allowed to continue as a species.

You know, considering they are in game a lot, very nice and keep us informed of any changes being made to the system, usually very helpful and cooperative, try and deal with problems in a pretty timely manner.... AND a corporation? I think that alien idea has a lot of merit.... If I were an alien, and I saw some of the things that go on in our world (the real one) and how people treat other people, it would be really hard to classify people as an 'intelligent race'

Aimee Weber

The one on the right

Join date: 30 Jan 2004

Posts: 4,286

02-09-2005 16:50

From: Adam King

Thank you all for your comments. It was interesting to hear what you thought of the environment. I liked the idea that as soon as money is involved it is not a game... with reference to sport I started thinking about poker, a game that is played for money yet is still a game.

I currently believe SL is more than a game although when analysed with the same conditioners as a typical game, one can start to see SL as a game - experiences of time loss and 'flow'.

Thank you all for your comments - I feel that the conclusion of my paper will be that SL is a game BUT its is also more than than...

Cheers.

Adam

Sounds like a good conclusion Adam. Here are some questions you may want to ponder to highlight the complexity of the problem:

1. IGE Wheeling is the account used by IGE to process currency exchange transactions. He doesn't build or socilize. It's just an account for IGE employees to carry out their tasks. Is IGE Wheeling playing a game? Does he enjoy it?

2. If Linden Labs pays me real life money to make clothing, am I playing a game during that time I am working in photoshop with Second Life closed? How about if, rather than Linden Labs, I was making the same amount of money via SL sales which is later transfered to USD?

3. Am I playing a game during that time that I am uploading my photoshop work, applying these textures to clothing, and setting up stores/boxes to sell my items?

4. Would it matter if I made clothing in Second Life JUST for the money and didn't enjoy SL at all? Would that change your view on the question of SL as a game for ME?

5. If, to increase profits, I throw a promotional party in SL, am I playing a game?

6. Are designers playing a game if they converse with each other about design, business, techniques?

7. Am I playing a game if I spend an hour having a frivolous chat, laughing and joking, with friends in Second Life? Am I playing a game if I was laughing and joking with them over some other instant messaging application like Skype? Would your answer change if me and my real life friends use SL as a kind of instant messaging when we are not hanging out in real life?

8. Is it more accurate to describe Second Life as:
"a Game but much more"
or
"a medium where one can participate in activities like communication with friends, currency exchange, meeting new friends, making a profit on artistic work, and playing games"?

Some food for thought. Good luck with your paper.

_____________________

Zuzi Martinez

goth dachshund

Join date: 4 Sep 2004

Posts: 1,860

02-09-2005 17:09

SL is a game except when it's not.

if you believe in this then you'll probably think everything is a game. in other words this is an unanswerable question.

Barbarra Blair

Short Person

Join date: 18 Apr 2004

Posts: 588

02-09-2005 17:12

Anything is a game if you approach it with a playful attitude.

Torley Linden

Enlightenment!

Join date: 15 Sep 2004

Posts: 16,530

02-09-2005 17:16

From: Barbarra Blair

Anything is a game if you approach it with a playful attitude.

Hahaha... shades of the days I used to analytically ask "What is fun?" I think I'm beginning to see that, at last.

_____________________

Aimee Weber

The one on the right

Join date: 30 Jan 2004

Posts: 4,286

02-09-2005 17:48

hehe well yes. There are a lot of ways we can define "game". Literally, figuratively, spiritually, etc. Life is a game. Life is also a tale told by a fool full of sound and fury! It's also a box of chocolates.

But I think Adam and I are aiming at a more literal definition of game.

_____________________

Devlin Gallant

Thought Police

Join date: 18 Jun 2003

Posts: 5,948

02-09-2005 19:54

Chicago Kent is a game, ceptin when he is a poo-poo head.

_____________________

I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.

Adam King

Second Life Resident

Join date: 7 Nov 2004

Posts: 5

02-10-2005 03:28

Thanks again to everybody, especial Aimee. I have almost finished another paper which is regarding economics in MMORPGs, the transformation from play to work so I agree that 'you' may be working and not playing but you can still be working in a game - think Ultima Online where users spend all day farming gold, they are not playing they are working.

I understand SL is different to a MMORPG but this is the distinction I am trying to discuss. FOr SL still falls into this category, for many users are playing the role of their avtar. I personally try to be myself in SL, although i didnt have to patience to configure my avatar to mirror my actual image (i will go back after I have finished my degree). I know for a fact that many users in SL are not playing themselves - I had a run in with a power hungry avatar who appeared as a Jedi but must have been turned by the dark side for he attached me when I wouldnt join him.

i believe this question can not be answered, to some it is a game, others work and the rest a whole lot more. Philip Rosedale has said they are not in the game business but in the world building business.

Thanks

p.s I have email the lindens a while ago with a few questions, I am still waiting for a reply. For those that do not wish for questions to be asked about SL, i am sorry, I am a university student in my final year - this research is for my benefit but not at your lose, i will not be making money from it nor will i be damaging SL reputation. The paper will most likely be view by no more that 5 people.

If i do decide to use information from this thread I will contact you to ask permission, but at the moment its just to give me extra insight into SL and I am a relativly new user.

Catherine Cotton

Tis Elfin

Join date: 2 Apr 2003

Posts: 3,001

02-10-2005 06:00

www.3d.com

used to be more but that seems to of been a fad.

_____________________

Adam King

Second Life Resident

Join date: 7 Nov 2004

Posts: 5

02-10-2005 07:04

Can i ask while in SL who is role-playing and who is themself? i understand many avatars do not reflect their actual image

but even so are you yourself or do you pretend to be someone else?

Thnaks

But is Second Life a game???
Lo Jacobs Awesome Possum Join date: 28 May 2004 Posts: 2,734	02-09-2005 14:41 From: Chicago Kent Its a fucking game. Deal with it. Thank you. Pshhh piss off. _____________________ http://churchofluxe.com/Luster
Jessica Robertson Registered User Join date: 3 Dec 2004 Posts: 412	02-09-2005 15:03 From: someone 2. Or..it's a psychological test being done by the Lindens, who are actually a small contigent of aliens from a highly advanced civilization, that have landed on our planet and are investigating whether we should be allowed to continue as a species. You know, considering they are in game a lot, very nice and keep us informed of any changes being made to the system, usually very helpful and cooperative, try and deal with problems in a pretty timely manner.... AND a corporation? I think that alien idea has a lot of merit.... If I were an alien, and I saw some of the things that go on in our world (the real one) and how people treat other people, it would be really hard to classify people as an 'intelligent race'
Aimee Weber The one on the right Join date: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 4,286	02-09-2005 16:50 From: Adam King Thank you all for your comments. It was interesting to hear what you thought of the environment. I liked the idea that as soon as money is involved it is not a game... with reference to sport I started thinking about poker, a game that is played for money yet is still a game. I currently believe SL is more than a game although when analysed with the same conditioners as a typical game, one can start to see SL as a game - experiences of time loss and 'flow'. Thank you all for your comments - I feel that the conclusion of my paper will be that SL is a game BUT its is also more than than... Cheers. Adam Sounds like a good conclusion Adam. Here are some questions you may want to ponder to highlight the complexity of the problem: 1. IGE Wheeling is the account used by IGE to process currency exchange transactions. He doesn't build or socilize. It's just an account for IGE employees to carry out their tasks. Is IGE Wheeling playing a game? Does he enjoy it? 2. If Linden Labs pays me real life money to make clothing, am I playing a game during that time I am working in photoshop with Second Life closed? How about if, rather than Linden Labs, I was making the same amount of money via SL sales which is later transfered to USD? 3. Am I playing a game during that time that I am uploading my photoshop work, applying these textures to clothing, and setting up stores/boxes to sell my items? 4. Would it matter if I made clothing in Second Life JUST for the money and didn't enjoy SL at all? Would that change your view on the question of SL as a game for ME? 5. If, to increase profits, I throw a promotional party in SL, am I playing a game? 6. Are designers playing a game if they converse with each other about design, business, techniques? 7. Am I playing a game if I spend an hour having a frivolous chat, laughing and joking, with friends in Second Life? Am I playing a game if I was laughing and joking with them over some other instant messaging application like Skype? Would your answer change if me and my real life friends use SL as a kind of instant messaging when we are not hanging out in real life? 8. Is it more accurate to describe Second Life as: "a Game but much more" or "a medium where one can participate in activities like communication with friends, currency exchange, meeting new friends, making a profit on artistic work, and playing games"? Some food for thought. Good luck with your paper. _____________________
Zuzi Martinez goth dachshund Join date: 4 Sep 2004 Posts: 1,860	02-09-2005 17:09 SL is a game except when it's not. if you believe in this then you'll probably think everything is a game. in other words this is an unanswerable question.
Barbarra Blair Short Person Join date: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 588	02-09-2005 17:12 Anything is a game if you approach it with a playful attitude.
Torley Linden Enlightenment! Join date: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 16,530	02-09-2005 17:16 From: Barbarra Blair Anything is a game if you approach it with a playful attitude. Hahaha... shades of the days I used to analytically ask "What is fun?" I think I'm beginning to see that, at last. _____________________
Aimee Weber The one on the right Join date: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 4,286	02-09-2005 17:48 hehe well yes. There are a lot of ways we can define "game". Literally, figuratively, spiritually, etc. Life is a game. Life is also a tale told by a fool full of sound and fury! It's also a box of chocolates. But I think Adam and I are aiming at a more literal definition of game. _____________________
Devlin Gallant Thought Police Join date: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 5,948	02-09-2005 19:54 Chicago Kent is a game, ceptin when he is a poo-poo head. _____________________ I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.
Adam King Second Life Resident Join date: 7 Nov 2004 Posts: 5	02-10-2005 03:28 Thanks again to everybody, especial Aimee. I have almost finished another paper which is regarding economics in MMORPGs, the transformation from play to work so I agree that 'you' may be working and not playing but you can still be working in a game - think Ultima Online where users spend all day farming gold, they are not playing they are working. I understand SL is different to a MMORPG but this is the distinction I am trying to discuss. FOr SL still falls into this category, for many users are playing the role of their avtar. I personally try to be myself in SL, although i didnt have to patience to configure my avatar to mirror my actual image (i will go back after I have finished my degree). I know for a fact that many users in SL are not playing themselves - I had a run in with a power hungry avatar who appeared as a Jedi but must have been turned by the dark side for he attached me when I wouldnt join him. i believe this question can not be answered, to some it is a game, others work and the rest a whole lot more. Philip Rosedale has said they are not in the game business but in the world building business. Thanks p.s I have email the lindens a while ago with a few questions, I am still waiting for a reply. For those that do not wish for questions to be asked about SL, i am sorry, I am a university student in my final year - this research is for my benefit but not at your lose, i will not be making money from it nor will i be damaging SL reputation. The paper will most likely be view by no more that 5 people. If i do decide to use information from this thread I will contact you to ask permission, but at the moment its just to give me extra insight into SL and I am a relativly new user.
Catherine Cotton Tis Elfin Join date: 2 Apr 2003 Posts: 3,001	02-10-2005 06:00 www.3d.com used to be more but that seems to of been a fad. _____________________
Adam King Second Life Resident Join date: 7 Nov 2004 Posts: 5	02-10-2005 07:04 Can i ask while in SL who is role-playing and who is themself? i understand many avatars do not reflect their actual image but even so are you yourself or do you pretend to be someone else? Thnaks

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But is Second Life a game???